Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-08-22
walsh Arraipns Coolidge OIL Stand

AhC VI OOohNbO W." ohA
the oil disclosure was assailed in strong
terms at Helena. Montana, last Friday
night by Senator Thomas J. Walsh, prose-
cutor for the Senate oil investigating COM
mittee and chairman of the Democratic
National Convention.
The President, he declared, is giving no
thought to the more serious moral aspects
Of the oil scandal. now that he has turned
the evidence over to Government counsel.
HE has not the sensitiveness to official
misconduct that the American people ex-
pect and demand Of a President of the
United States" Mr.. Walsh asserted.
The Senator'S condemnation Of Mr.. Cool
idee's attitude. delivered in the course Of
an address opening the Democratic cam
paign In Montana. was followed by praise
Of John W. Davis as "a fitting choice to
lead a fight for clean government" of
proven ability and progressive in thought
and action"
Senator Walsh declared the four leading
issues Of the campaign to be honesty in
government. the revenue law, the tariff
and the policy Of isolation" The differ
ence between the Mellon tax plan and 1.-THE
Democratic plan now in operation" he
said. formed clear line of demarkation
between the policies of the Republican
and Democratic parties. The Republican
tariff. he said. had robbed the farmer"
while the Republican foreign policy had
contributed nothing toward reconstruction
except to send abroad a species Of leaves
troopers" to watch the course Of others.
Referring to the separations negotiations
conducted by Charles G. Dawes and Owen
D. Young. the Senator pointed out that
they went abroad as private individuals,
with mo authorization from our Govern
ment." and continued:
"The saddenine part Of the whole affair
Is that Dawes and Young acted as the
representatives Of group Of International
bankers. who actually took the conduct of
our foreign affairs out of the hands of our
Government and are themselves directing
the course Of the present exchanges about
the council table in London"
Mr.. Walsh prefaced his discussion OF the
oil scandal with review of the Senate
inquiries into the Veterans Bureau. the
Department Of Justice and oil leasing,
coupled with references also to the three
major scandals" Of the Taft administra-
tion-the Archbold impeachment. the Lori
mer case and the Ballinser affair.
The Republican party" he said. has
twice been found wanting and asks to be
tried a third time. II there were any
evidence Of repentance. the country might
be disposed to take another chance. The
danger to free government lies in the fact
that Republican leaders affect to regard
the revelations as Of no great consequence,
the misdeeds Of their associates as matters
Of course. or manifestations. as the Presi-
dent expressed 1t, Of after-the-war psychol-
oey. He expressed surprise. not that the
rottenness existed but that there was not
more Of 1t.
Lord save US, one may reverently re-
mark. how could there be morei Our an
mails will be searched in vain for any
record bearing comparison TO II. One Cabi-
net member under indictment and already
condemned by public opinion for bribery
another driven from Office by an outraged
public opinion third forced to retire for
stupidity permitting buccaneers to pillaee
the oil reserves so essential to the national
safety.
THE nearest the President has come to
criticism of this infamy is found in state
ment issued by him to the effect that III
there is any guilt II will be punished il
there is any civil liability it will be en-
forced; II there is any fraud 1t will be
revealed. and II there are any contracts
which are Illegal they will be conceded
Imagine President Roosevelt or Presi-
dent Wilson dealing thus gineerly with
such rotteness as was disclosed before the
Committee on Public Lands.
Tt may be impossible to convict Fall.
What theni fas the President no word
In reprobation Of the transaction at which
the country stands aehasti
Suppose proof Of the delivery of the
money should be made. and the jury should
not be convinced beyond reasonable doubt
that ii was bride rather than loan.
What does Mr.. Coolidge think Of Cabinet
member who. while carrying on neeotia-
tons looking to lease of 10000 acres of
oil lands, estimated to contain 250.000.-
900 barrels Of oil. accepts loan of $l00-
900 from the prospective lessee, who after
ward secures the lease out Of which he
expected to realize $l00.000,O0Of Ap.
parently he doesn't think about il at ALL
Suppose it be decided that Fall or Dem
by, or both. had the right under the law
to make these leasesi What does Mr..
Coolidge think Of the policy Of taking the
oil out Of the ground and storing il in tanks
contrary to the views Of three Of his pre-
decessorsf
Can he emancipate himself from these
malien influences dominant in the Re-
publican party that are responsible for
foistins Fall and Daugherty upon the
publici He still retains every subordinate
Of either. even those who were coenizant
of and silent concerning their official acts
which aroused suspicion and provoked the
unrestrained resentment Of the country.
His election would be conformation Of the
record Of the last three and
a-half years and distinct lowering of the
moral tone OF the public service"
At Lincoln. Neb., before q large gather
81 long time friends and supporters and
national and sectional party leaders. Gov.
Charles W. Bryan last Monday night form