The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-05-23
SEN. WHEELER
FAILED TO PROVE
''FRAME-UP"

0ENAIOR STERLING IN MINORI
~ REPORT DECLARES GUILT
1 OR INNOCENCE OF MONTANAN
Is MATTER FOR COURT DECI
SION.
WASHINGTON. Nav 19.-Tbe fed.
ti ieI grand jury in Montana was Jus.
a oined IN returning an Indictment
asaIiSt Senator Wheeler, Democrat
% 'ildt state, in the opinion of Sena-
tOL oteFiIng, Republican, South Da-
Nota' VINO submitte da minority re-
port 70 the senate today in his ca
petty as member of the special
S 9. which investigated the in
senator Sterling limited his report
20 the question of Justification. declar-
ing the question of the guilt or innO-
CeIlse OF Senator Wheeler is not a
proper subject of inquiry by the com
IlItIee' but solely a matter for de-
termination by the courts.
senator Sterling asserts that Sen
atOr Wheeler's charge that the in
uICtInen was the result of a frame
up Iailed entirely of proof"
MONIANA WITNESSES
Declarlng that several witnesses
were brought from Montana at the
request OF Senator Wheeler to testify
IN 10 support of his "frameup" charge.
the minority report declared that
since none of them were called to tes-
IIy, 1t is fair to assume that thew
hau no information bearing on the
question"
Senator Sterling based his conclu-
sions almost entirely on the testi-
mohy. OF w. H. Rhea, former field
superintendent Of the Campbell pro-
pef1es and H. c. Closer, former
private secretary to Gordon Campbell.
montana oil operator, and the docu-
menCary evidence submitted bv the
department of justice at the request
eating committee.
documents Dispute Testimony.
From the testimony Of Rhea and
CLOSER, together with the document
airy evidence" his report said. It
would seem clear that the grand Jury
at Great Falls was justified in re-
turning the Indictment against Sena-
Tor Wheeler, and from the view which
has heretofore been expressed in this
statement as to the proper function |
oil the committee it is unnecessary to |
discuss the testimony of other wit |
nesses, further than to say that this !
testimony is all contradictory if not /
refuted by the documentary evidence. |
The testimony of Senator Wheeler |
consists largely of categori-
cal denial of the charge in the in
dlctment and a denial of the state
ments Of witnesses, qualified in the
Indictment and a denial of the state
nents Of witnesses, qualified in some
instances by the statement
o the best Of his recollection certain
',Iatements had not been made or GER
.hlngs had not occurred"
Senator Sterling charged that the
majority of the committee in its re-
)ort holding that Senator Wheeler
lad not, in violation of the law ac-
epted employment by Campbell to
epresent him in land permit matters
,eIore the interior department had
encroached upon the functions of the
judicial branch of our government"
These conclusions" he said. "pre-
Judge the issue made by the pending
Indictment and plea of mot guilty.
'hlch 1t IS assumed will be entered: ]
M to this extent the majority report !
pstructs and interferes with the due /
of Justice" ]
Says Campbell Offered Bride.
senator Sterling also charged that !
ampbell offered a bride to Edwin 6. T
Doth, former solicitor of the depart- 7
lent OF the interior, in connection +
18th one of his oil land permits and 9
Campbell showed his evil h
ngness, Notwithstanding any agree
-ent TO pay Senator Wheeler $4,000
II these and for any other services, f
1d TO pay TO Booth and to any other c
hclaI OF the department of the in q
nor whom he might be able to cor \
lpt, an additional premium to Sc 7
ire results"
That Booth listened with interest
~ sympathy to Campbell's corrupt F
lei, the report added, as evidenced N
his telegram to Campbell on Nav ii
n and by his letter of MAY 18th at h
men Times Booth had left the de- #
of interior, and was with II
e department of justice, but appar- [.
CIy having so recently severed his n
with the interior depart
enG that his influence still obtained"
BORAH ATTACKS VIEWS. OF
Chairman Borah, replying on the
nate floor to the minority report de- M
red Senator Sterling's view seemed Of
most peculiar one" The commit tn
was directed specifically, the Ida f.
senator said, to determine the s.
Us surrounding the charges against
major Wheeler and its whole proce- CC
re mas been carefully drawn to car on
out those Instructions. RI
II We had done anything else" he on
d we would have encroached on Vi,
prerogrative of the grand Jury Ie,
courts and I state now would lee
,er nave sat on a committee which ca
that duty in hand" Ga
wen If the Montana courts found en-,
lator Wheeler guilty the chairman
tlnued, 1T still devolves upon the
ave TO determine whether he should Fx
ms seat" He said that when tbe
'e time was offered he would re- DF
Y the evidence in detail, "and will
4 disclose that Mr. Wheeler never
my time violated the letter or the
1t of the law"
TTV EATTC n AOA