Evening star., 1924-04-26
CHARGES WHEELER
/. DISCUSSED FIXING
PERMITS FOR OIL
Ex-EmpIoye of Montana Op-
orator Tells Senators of
1923 Conversations.
SAYS SENATOR MADE
NO Definite ANSWER
Declares Impression Left, However,
That He Would Use Influence
to Aid Campbell.

II. L. Closer. formerly employed
in the office Of Gordon Campbell. the
Montana oil operator indicted with
Senator Wheeler, testified today be-
fore the Senate committee investi-
eating the indictment that in Janu-
ary, 1923, he heard a conversation
between Campbell and Wheeler, in
which there was talk of getting the
formers oil permits fixed up in
Washington"
Mr.. Campbell said that IL Mr..
Wheeler could get this fixed up in
Washington" CLOSER said ave can
afford to cut lot Of money or some
thing like that"
What did Senator Wheeler say
asked Senator Sterling, Republican,
South Dakota.
81 don't recall that he made any re-
ply. Oh, yes, he did later"
But not that evening""
"No, but he left us under the i'm
preston that he could fix it up at
Washington because of the influence
he had there"
Closer VALVES Immunity.
Closer waived immunity and was
put on the stand when todays ses-
sion began. He said he was private
secretary to Gordon Campbell during
parts of 1922 and 1928 and had met
Senator Wheeler in January, 1929, at
Great Falls.
Was anything said about Mr..
Wheeler's employment as an atter-
ney?" asked Chairman Borah.
"Oh, yes. He was there trying a
law suit then. We discu ssed the law
suits and Mr.. Campbelfs busin esss
generally. We discussed also Mr..
Campbell's land permits"
did you discuss with Mr.. Wheeler
the scope of his employmentT
No, sir. took it for granted that
orally"
Glosser's recollection was that there
were twenty some" law suits against
Campbell, but he did not think Senator
Mheeler appeared In any except that
pointnent of a receiver for the camp
bell Company.
Il know the terms of Mr.. wheeler's
employment. but / never talked it over
with him." CLOSER said.
The witness said he had made an affl-
davit March 27 covering the matter
about which he was testifying. He
made it for Blair Coan, he said. adding
that he understood Coan was represent
ing the National Republican, published
by Lockwood Later he made a second
affidavit for Coan in Denver.
Says Coan Paid Expenses.
AT whose expense did you go to
Denver?" asked Senator Borah.
"At Mr.. Coan's."
Did you testify before the grand
jury?"
Yes, sir"
Senator Borah read from the sec
ond affidavit, which said CLOSER got
Senator Wheeler and Campbell ''to-
gether" at a Great Falls hotel. A
Mr.. Rhea also was present
CLOSER said he had first discussed
Wheeler's employment with James
Watson in Great Falls on the evening
of the day he first met Coan.
How did you come to discuss IT.
asked Senator Borah.
Jim Watson told me there were
some people out from Washington
who wanted to know about Senator
Wheeler's employment"
The witness said he had been in
troduced to Coan by Mr.. Meigs, at
tached to the federal district attor
neyS office.
Used Freight Elevator.
The witness said he had testified
to this incident before the Montana
grand jury which returned the indict-
ments. In them Senator Wheeler is
charged with accepting a fee for ap-
pearing before the Interior Depart
ment in land cases for Campbell, who
was his client in litigation in the
Montana courts.
The conference referred to was
held in a Great Falls hotel room.
Closer said, and Campbell came up III
the freight elevator because he had
a lawsuit pending and had been ad
vised not to put in an appearance at
Great Falls.
When Senator Sterling asked about
any conversation Closer had with
Campbell about Senator Wheeler's
employment, Chairman Borah OBJ
jected unless Senator Wheeler were
present. The question went unan-
swered.
The South Dakota senator took up
the payments Campbell made TO
Wheeler. CLOSER said there were two
checks for $4,000 each.
This affidavit says one check was
for $1,000 said Senator Swanson.
of the two sworn statements CLOSER
said he had made for Blair Coan, an
employe of George B. Lockwood, sec
retary of the Republican national
committee.
''YeS. that was in error, AS learned
when L went before the grand jury"
CLOSER said
The witness named the various per
mits that Campbell held and said they
had been assigned to him in blank
by those who took them out. They
covered 10000 acres. he said.
And the limit under the law is
1850 acres" said Senator Sterling.
Two of the permits CLOSER said
passed through my name"
Seantor. Borah asked what the
relevancy of this testimony was.
"It is to show that Mr. Campbell
had business before the general land
Office" said Senator Sterling.
Did Coan tell you what he wanted
with your affidavits?" asked Senator
Caraway, Democrat, Arkansas.
He wanted it for a newspaper"
The witness said, "Coan paid his
actual expenses to Denver when he
made the second affidavit, but added
also paid his expenses to Billings,
Mont, he said, where the first affida-
Wit was made"
Did Coan or any one promise you
immunity when you went before the
grand jury?" asked Senator Caraway.
mo, sir"