The Washington times., 1924-02-28
OPERATOR
BEGAN It
HERE
=. G. Curtis Was Grateful to
Old Friend-Came Near
Being President.
By JOHN T. LAMBERT,
Cosmopolitan News Service.

Cosmopolitan News Service.
Senator Irvine L. Lenroot's cam
paign for President in the last
election was promoted by oil mag
mates who derived handsome
profits from the lease Of Govern
ment oil lands at Teapot Dome,
according to statements being pre-
pared here today for presentation
to the oil scandal committee.
Missed the Presidency.
Senator Lenroot is himself chair.
man OF that committee. He was
supported for President at Chicago
and was later scheduled by the
convention Big-Wigs to run for
Vice President with Mr.. Harding
when an inconspicuous delegate
from Washington carried the con-
vention by storm with a one-sen-
tence speech: For Vice President, I
propose Calvin Coolidge, of Massa.
chusetts, the disciple Of law and
order"
That informal intrusion by the
hard-headed delegate changed the
history of the Nation. But for it,
Mr.. Lenroot would today be Presi-
dent Of the United States.
The act Of Congress which en-
abled the oil reserves to be leased
to Sinclair, Doheny, and others be-
came law on February 20, 1920.
The night before, q boom for Sem
&tor Lenroot for President was
launched at a dinner given in his
honor by the late Frank G.. Curtis,
formerly Of Jamestown, N. Y, then
o resident Of Casper, Wyoming,
scene Of Teapot Dome.
His Boom Launched.
Mr.. Curtis was president Of the
Oil Company, and the Virginia Oil
prior claims to leases in the Gov.
eminent oil reserves out there.
MoOdy's Manual is authority for
the Government leases were SUBJ
OIL Company through the purchase
OF his companies.
The press reported that Mr.. Len
dent at -the-dinner given In the
who was described as follows: "He
less worker in everything he takes
up. and generally gets what he
goes AFTER"
Mr.. Lenroot did not attend the
dinner. He said in a formal state
ment the following day he was
mot q candidate for President, and
he ascribed the campaign in his
behalf to the originality Of Curtis,
whom he described an enthusiastic
friend.
ChampiOned Oil Bill.
Senator Lenroot was a champion
Of the oil-leasing bill when he was
q member Of the House in 1915
and he and Senator Smoot were
generally accepted as its sponsors
when it finally went through Con-
gress, granting authority for lease
Of the naval oil lands, which
finally fell into the hands Of Messrs.
Sinclair and Doheny.
It is significant that the bin was
defeated one year by a three-days'
filibuster conducted by his colleague,
Senator La Toilette, who was also
responsible for the adoption Of the
resolution which finally resulted in
the present Teapot Dome investi.
cation.
Senator's La Toilette and Lenroot
have broken bonds which formerly
united them in intimate political
friendship.
Mr.. Curtis was one Of the fore.
most advocates Of the oil-leasing bill
which Mr.. Lenroot took in charge
In the lower House of Congress.
He was spokesman for It when
the measure was being considered
In committee by Mr.. Lenroot and
his associates.
A plea was made for the bill
on the supposition that It would
prove Of material benefit to small
oil operators. Mr.. Curtis was sup
posedly in that class. His holdings.
however, were subsequently acquired
by the Midwest Company, a Stand.
ard Oil subsidiary.
It Is assumed that Senator Lem
root will insist that the presiden.
tial boom was launched in his be-
half by Mr.. Curtis without his
knowledge or consent and that it
represented the gratuitous compli-
ment of a friend and well-wisher
over whom he had absolutely no
control.