Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-09
DEFENSE BY DENLY
Of FALL OIL DEALS
IS CLOUD|NC ISSUE
Democrats Now Forced to
Accomplish Convictions to
Back Up UItimatum-Par-
tisan Lines Drawn Tighter
by DAVID LAWRENCE
Leased Wire Service TO The Journat.)
(CODyri.nt, I91I.)

Copyright l92i.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-Secre-
tary Denby's outspoken defense Of
his action in signing the Teapot
Dome oil leases is the turning point
of the controversy.
There always have been two
schools of thought on the wisdom OF
the policy involved in easing the
naval oil reserves, and but for the
revelation of q loan TO thu former
secretary of the interior. Albart &.
Fall, by one of the parties to the
contract, the discussion would have
been carried along on exactly the
lines announced by Mr.. Den5y in the
last .tWenty-four hours.
Il means that even il the senate
resolution demanding Mr.. DENLY s
resignation should be adopted, the
secretary Of the navy will stand ms
ground and, therefore, President
Coolidge will be in the post OF
being compelled to suspend Judg-
n1vnt while the question is being de-
bated in congress or tr.al IN the
cOilrts. NO resolution o. the senate
can force the president 20 demand
the resignation of q member of his
cabinet VINO has once been confirm
Ell Impeachment proceedings may,
Of course, be started, bur the trlal
must result in a conviction befor
there is q removal from office
Sensations Promised
The Democrats are beginning 10
talk of impeachment, but ii present
writing it looks as if they VIII &C.
pend on the march of events IN the
next few days in the senate inVesti-
eating committee before making any
such move. Some important testl-
alonv is Forthcoming which is said
20 lie even more sensd tlonal than
that W HIGH has been produced. Ihe
exact relations between tie men
who sought the oil leases and the
navy department VIII be examined
thoroughly.
The action of Secretary Denly is
in the nature of Il challenge, for 1t
turns the fire in his direction once
more.
There are rumors that President
Coolidge was about to adopt the
has just been proclaimed by the sec
rotary of the navy, and that a state
ment to that effect was in prepare
ton aboard the MayfloWer just be-
fore Senator LenrOOt went to the
president and told him of the testl-
mony about to be given with respect
to the Doheny loan to former Secre-
tary Fall. In view of these circum-
stances, Mr.. Coolidge is said to have
abandoned the idea of standing by
the leases as made until they were
proved in court detrimental to the
government. Instead q statement
was issued at midnight directing
criminal proceedings.
Denby's Only Move
From political standpoint the
declaration of the secretary of the
navy is regarded as the only move
he could have made. To have main
tanned that he knew nothing about
the making of the leases would have
stamped him as unaware of impOr-
tant transactions in his own depart
ment. To have resigned under fire
would be construed as a confession
of guilt, and of possible knowledge
of some of the sensational things
which have been disclosed by the
senate investigating committee. 1t
is said Mr.. DENLY told friends he
would resign if they thought he was
embarrassing the president. On the
other hand, there was Il well defined
opinion that it would be far more
harmful if he resigned at this time
without having given the country
his side of the story.
Mr., Denbys decision TO fight at
least will becloud the issue and di.
vide opinion more or less along par
tisan lines. The whole controversy
is getting more and more compli-
Gated every day with evident efforts
on both the Democratic and Repub
| lican sides to expose the mistakes
of the officials in opposite parties
whose names have been mentioned
in the case. MIR. Denby's statement
starts the fight that has been lullet
for d few days owing to the death
of Woodrow Wilson. From now or
the secretary of the navy will be ir
the limelight and on the defensive.