New Britain herald., 1924-02-12
THE LINIELIGHT

HE LiNElI1HI
 Two prominent men in this country today stand in the lime!ight, their actions discussed more than the ac- tions or attitudes of any others. One
 is the citizen who has been elevated to
 the highest place in the country,
 President Coolidge. The other is one
 who seeks to hold that position, Will
 liam McAdoo. Both are being eriti-
 cized, President Coolidge for not re-
 moving from office a cabinet official
 appointed by him, Secretary of the
 Navy Denby, whose integrity has been
 attacked by the preamble of a reso-
 lution passed by the senate; and Will
 liam McAdoo because he seeks 10 run
 for the presidency while only few
 days ago he severed his connection
 with the oil interests, shown to have
 obtained at least questionable leases
 through dubious transactions with an
 official, or officials, whose positions
 would be filled by Mir. McAdoo were
 he to obtain that high office of Chief
 Executive. The president refuses to
 remove Secretary Dcnby from office
 until his investigators have laid the
 facts Of the case before him. Mir.
 McAdoo refuses to withdraw from the
 race for the greatest honor in this country, insisting that he has done nothing that would disqualify him from being a proper candidate.
 One of these men is republican and one is a democrat. Objection may
 be made to coupling their. names in
 this connection. But criticism is criti-
 cism and if the criticized arc follow ing the proper course if the criticisms or innuendocs are unfounded in both cases, both men stand on the same level. undeserving Of criticismfs For this reason no offonse may be taken properly because of this mention of them both.
 The criticisms of MT McAdoo have been inspired by tho republican desire 10 bring foFmer democratic ad- ministration into the atmosphere of disrepute which is being attached 10 the republican administration under the late President Harding and now under President Coolidge Those cfiti- eisms placed the leaders Of the rcpub- | lican party in a predicament for few doubt but that the accusations made ] against at least one public official . Fall, were we'll founded. Eagerly | those leaders caught at the straw pre- scented by the fact that McAdoo. a . former democratic cabinet official. was connected with the oil interests, even ] though such connection came after he . became a private citizen and he did : not meet Mir. Doheny until he had left ] office. At first attempt was made to suggest that his interests existed while he was in office-that he had betrayed the people. Now. however, having failed to establish this situation. the criticism of him is that he should not have run for the nomination for the presidency while such connection existed. AS to this there is no proof, no suggestion. even. that he knew anything Of the oil leases which have caused such a scandal. There would srcm 10 e. no more reason for his severing his connection with the oil interests than there would have been for him to discontinue services for any man for any client might be engaged in questionable transactions quite un- known 10 McAdoO. The criticisms of this candidate for the nomination for Inc presidency may put him out Of the running. On thc other hand the reac- ton. coming from fuii appreciation Of the fact that he has been unjustly accused. may make him all the stronger with the people--and his strength with the people will have great influence upon the delegates who will name the candidate.
 Tn regard 10 President Coolidge's decision not to remove Secretary Denby. in spite ot Che generally ap- ,reeiated fact that he has shown al- most stupidity in dclegating his 1 power over the oii properties of the | United States to another. it is charac- I eristic Of him to wait before taking 1 .otion- Whether or not Denby is .houn 10 have had 9 selfish interest i n the matter. it is quite certain that i me need go no farther than the ad- ] nitted facts to realize that the coun- 1 ry could be more efficiently served by I on1eone eIse. Even if no charges Of rroue doing are proven. President , 'ooiidss would do 'is' thing for the