Evening star., 1924-03-18
NEELYRAPSL0DGE
F0RG. OF. DEFENSE
Senator's Activities in Face
of Teapot Dome Inquiry
Bitterly Assai!ed.

Debate on the oil disclosures, the
possible political consequences of it
all broke out afresh today in the
Senate. $. .....-.
Making his maiden speech, Senator
Eeeiy, democrat, West Virginia, bit
terly assafled Senator Lodge, the re-
publican leader, for his recent ad-
dress in defense of the President, and
declared Mr.. Coolidge must abide by
the results of his unhappy choice" Of
visers.
Reviewing hostile editorial comment
upon the oil inquiry. Senator Neely
SAID 1t served to show the intimate
connection between big business and
corrupt politics." Attacks by news
papers upon the Senate, he said, clearly
indicated that their interests were be-
ing hurt by the continuing exposures.
Referring to the Presidents tele-
grams to Mclean, Senator Nicely said
that the President indiscretion in
communicating with Mclean does not
arouse our sympathy as dc. the affiic-
tons he Is suffering as a result of the
countless sins Of officers of his cabi-
net"
"Inherited Cabinet" He Says.
The President inherited the men,
bers Of his cabinet" he said, but he
did not inherit Ned Mclean. He VOL
unfairly chose Mclean for his adviser
and friend and he must abide by the
results OF that unhappy choice"
While every one will hope that
Senator Lodges confidence in the ulti-
mate exoneFation of President Cool
idge may be realized, he continu ed,
we cannot be tnmindful that the
M2GCarhn 70 for hoe ya,
one occasion been conspicuousiy
wronged." He. then cited a glowing
tribute to former Secretary Fail, said
to have been written by Senator Lodge
In February, 1921. -
I'VE do not wish to interfere in any
ones enjoyment of hts delusions con-
corning the perfections of republican
officials" Senator Neely said, "but we
do protest against these delusions
being made the keepers of our
thoughts, our consciences, and our
tongues
Chides Senator Lodge.
But the senator from Massa chu-
setts evidently sees the President as
a superman, towering like a Colossus
above the rest of the, race. As to
dent the members of this body should
be blind and deaf and dumb
"fhe day before the President sent
his ambiguous telegram to Mclean
1T was published far and near that
the latter had told a deliberate false
hood about his having lent $4,000
to ex-Secretary of the Interior Fall
in connection with the oil scandal
that was at that time engroSSing the
attention Of the nation.
"Some contend that in the circum-
stances, ordinary prudence should
have restrained the President from
seeking counsel or information from
Mclean"
To emphasize his suggestion that
Senator Lodge might be mistak en-
sometimes in his estimates of public
men, Senator Nicely quoted from the
Philadelphia Record a letter said
to have been written by Mr..
Lodge to Herbert Welsh, president OF
the Indian Rights Association. who
had protested against the appoint
ment of Fall as Secretary of the In
terror. The letter as quoted said: I;
"FaIl Thoroughly Upright, ~.
Senator Fall is a thoroughly. up-
right and high-minded man and ut
terly incapable of using his office for
his own financial interest, which I re-
gret to say is implied by some Of the.
expressions Of your letter.
MANY Of us neither question nor
doubt the integrity of the President,
nor the sincerity Of the senator from
Massachusetts, in proclaiming the
Presidents virtues" continued Sena-
tor Neely, but in view of the error
made by the senator from Massachu-
setts in passing judgment on Mr..
Fall, we must decline to surrender
our right to criticize the action of
the President, when We believe they
deserve 1t, notwithstanding the GER
uhcate of political perfection of char
aeter given him by Senator Lodge"