The Washington times., 1924-03-07

Democrats, Republicans ard in.
surgents."
But you made two special trips
to Senator Curtis?" asked Senator
Adams.
mo, it was three"
Source Of Information.
WAS Senator Curtis your choice
or McLean's?"
"He was my suggestion. thought
him the best informed man."
your purpose was to obtain in
formation?" asked Bursum.
ITO obtain and convey" Bennett
replied.
Il considered him the most suit
able Republican friend we had in
the Senate"
Bennett reiterated under question
ing by Bursum that there was
nothing in the message that came
directly from the President"
"Mr. Mclean asked me to have
a conference with Mr.. Daugherty,"
Said Bennett, answering questions
by Senator Bursum. II don't know
il Mr.. Mclean had any communica-
ton with Mr.. Daugherty."
Bennett told Senator Bursum that
he expected Curtis to try to obtain
no special privileges for Mclean,
but merely use his good offices. He
said he had had no private confer
ences with the President on the Oil
scandal. Nor did he have any with
the Presidents secretary, C. Bas.
! com Slemp, Bennett added.
did you know Mclean was an
agent Of the Department Of Jus.
tice," asked Senator Adams.
WAS the message given to 1.-THE
Principal verbally" asked Adams.
1T came by wire but I delivered
1t verbally"
What did the message say?"
1T suggested that / talk to him
and explain that Mclean had stood
up for Fall and that there was no
Interior motive and that Mclean
believed Fall to be a perfectly good
man and had no conception it was
mixed up in the Oil business"
Bennett said the appreciation Cur.
It's had expressed was for Mclean 8
political observations conveyed to
the Senator.
oh" suggested Senator Adams,
he appreciated being made a con.
Eidant Of McLean's, eh?"
No no." Bennett replied angrily.
What do you want to put such
stuff into the record for? You
ougth to be ashamed Of yourself"
Possibly" said Adams.
| well, am"
Thereupon, they wrangled for
several minutes. Bennett refusing
to repeat previous testimony to
Adams until ordered to do SO by
the committee by q unanimous vote.
Bennett Repeats Messages.
| Under demand or the commit.
tee, Bennett repeated the substance
or the message from Mclean suR.
costing that he BennetU see
| Curtis:
Mclean consulted me about who
was suitable, well-informed Re.
publican, preferably a friend of his,
or course, who would inform him.
self and also receive from Mclean
the political spirit of this whole
thing. What it all meant politi.
cally. What you (Adams) and other
| Democrats were aiming at.
II had spoken to Curtis once or
twice as a friend. I conveyed this
| W NuIILS. 110 NSuEIIS appreciated
the fact that Mclean regarded him
a well-informed, &ell.balanced Re.
publican who was in touch with
other Republicans who had a con.
ception Of the political balance he.
hind the whole case"
Bennett grew impatient at Adams
persistence and half arose, waving
his arms and exclaiming:
"Oh, Senator Curtis appreciated
McLean's political judgment, that's
all"
Denies Covering Up"
There was no reason particularly
to designate Curtis as principal,
Bennett said.
"Then, why cover up?" Adams
asked.
II didn't cover up" Bennett
barked.
do you suppose" asked Walsh
that McLean's sole anxiety was
about the probability Of his beins
called to testify?"
Eyes. He was overexcited, ]
think. He was a rich man--had 8
private wire, used code kilograms
and so on"
Walsh told Bennett that by com
ing to Washington without form