The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-25

the 10VeSJlSd lNOH OUT VI ISdAAA
of gossip and fancy and return
it once more into channels that
will dig at the fundamentals of
the scandal
After a series of conferences
designed to develop a new line
of inquiry in the oil investiga-
ton, Senator Thomas ]. Walsh
notified Bascom Slemp, secre-
tary to President Coolidge, to
appear before the investigating
committee.
Slemp will be the first witness and
strong indications were given that
he win be questioned closely about
certain stock transactions.
Walsh made this announcement
after comforting with Senator Ad-
ans and Senator Kendrick, demo-
cratic members Of the committee.
Criminal Cases Object.
First off, Walsh would turn the
committee on the trail of the ain
side story" of the entire deal for
leasing the naval oil reserves. This
story, it is said, will yield the
grounds for criminal prosecutions,
because it is claimed II It can be
drawn out, it will show actual Grim
inal intent.
The man who is said to know the
story and to be willing to tell it
if his own interests are protected, al
ready is under a committee sub
poena. He wants to protect himself,
but. the committee has met his ed-
vances to this end with no promises.
Under this new trend q the case,
the plan for this week calls for a
getting "back to basic facts" Walsh
had a clearly defined program Of pro-
cedure which got out Of hand when
extraneous matters began to be
thrown into the hearings in order
to confuse its operations. This
reached a climax when Frank A.
Vanderlip was called in to explain
about rumors he had heard regard
ing the sale Of President Harding's
paper, the Marion Star.
Sabotage by officials.
1t was at this juncture that Walsh
decided it would be a good time to
suspend hearings so that he could
revamp the program. That is what
he has been doing during his alb
sence this week.
Meantime he points out that it is
singular fact that the committee.
of which he is the prime moving
factor, is "going il alone"
No aid is being contributed by any
Of the government agencies which
might well be expected to be func-
tioning in cooperation with the COM
mittee-the department of justice,
the navy department and the secret
service. All these are leaving the
whole probe to the senator's.
Here is the schedule as desired
BY Senator Walsh:
i.-Call Edward Mclean, Wash
ington newspaper publisher, who
was an intimate friend Of President
| Harding, and other leaders in the
| administration, to learn what he
knows or is willing to tell about
the inception of the scheme to lease
the naval oil reserves and who was
in on the play.
Call G. Bascom Slemp, secre-
tary to President Coolidge, for ques-
tioning about conversations he is
supposed 70 have had with Mclean
and certain government officials.
3.-Call Harry F. Sinclair, for
questioning about various phases of
this lease Of Teapot Dome naval re-
serve in the hope that indirect evil
dence now before the committee may
be obtained in form permitting it's
use in criminal prosecutions.
Fall Balks Committee.
The committee admittedly ran into
a stone wall when former Secretary
Of Interior Fall refused to take the
stand and tell his story. IL Is feared
Sinclair and even Edward L. Do
heny-the two lessees of the naval
reserves-may now decline 70 tes-
tify further and that the only hope
Of tearing the I'D of lies In obtain
ing the inside story from the source
already mentioned.
Slemp was in Palm Beach, Fla,
about the same time as Fall and Nc
Lean. II was at that time Mclean
said he had "loanedr 100000 to
Fall and later retracted his state
ment TO the effect that the checks
had never been cashd. Offis.als OF
local Washington banks are to be
asked II they have any definite in
formation regarding the transaction
Connections Sought.
Walsh did not make clear what
stock transactions" Slemp might be
questioned about. Other members Of