Evening star., 1924-03-08
Continued from First Page.)

planned by Homer as a mininterpre-
tation of what he had said to one
of McLean's men over the telephone.
He denied that he ever meant to re-
fer to the White House. When he was
pressed for the meaning of some of
the messages he himself received
from Mclean, he refused to answer.
saying the communications were
privileged as between client and at
torney
Delving further into the meaning of
the Mclean code messages. the COM
mittee made another unsuccessful at
tempt to get the peaches and april
cots cipher from John F. Major and
others of the Mclean employees.
Curtis Takes stand.
Senator Curtis, after comforting a
moment with Senator Walsh, took
the stand as the first witness and
read newspaper reports concerning
Benefits testimony. He saw Ben
nett and John Major. he said, on
January 2 or 5. They told him
Mclean desired to be relieved" from
testifying before the oil committee
for reasons of health. They asked
him to see Senator Walsh.
Senator Curtis said he suggested
to them they had better see some
one on the other side" mentioning
Senator'S Underwood of Alabama and
Senator Curtis said. he learned a
subpoena already had been issued for
Mclean.
The next time he saw Bennett, SEN
ator Curtis proceeded, it was because
Senator Norris had mentioned .one
of the members of the Mclean fam
lly' in a Senate speech and Bennett
desired this speech withdrawn from
the Congressional Record. Senator
Curtis said that he and Senator
Borah. republican. Idaho. had already
taken up successfully the matter of
getting Senator Norris to withdraw
the remarkr- He had talked with
Senator Walls in the matter as we'll
Told to hank Others.
Bennett tried to thank Senator Cur
tis, the latter said, but he told him
IT would be better to have Mclean
wire thanks to Borah and Walsh.
Senator Walsh, questioning, re-
that the Norris speech was
made on January 30-the day after
the principal telegram was sent.
Asked If he remembered any dis
cusSlon with Bennett as to political
effects OF the oil inquiry, Senator Cur
tis replied:
! .I do not
No other committee members de-
sired to question the senator, and he
was excused.
Then Bennett took the stand. Sena
tor Walsh asked if he desired to make
any further statement "in view of
the statement just made by Senator
Curtis
-. The witness said Senator Curtis
had apparently forgotten one con-
Versation he had with me, if not two"
What he says, so far as he states
our conversations" Bennett added,
lis entirely correct"
He had seen him a number of
times. Bennett continued, but added
gotten the conversations" When
Senator Dill suggested "it would be
welf to relate the conversations,
Bennett said:
There are some parts of the con-
Versatlon I'd rather not discuss"
Would Avoid "ScandaI.,
Il don't want to spread any scan
dal. I won't do it unless I am COM
pelled"
Senator Walsh suggested vote of
the committee. Senator Stanfield, re-
publican, Oregon. asked if the matter
was relevant. and Bennett said that
1T had political relationship to the
inquiry.
The committee having voted to di-
rect Bennett to answer, he said the
conversation dealt with the policy of
the Washington Post as to whether
1T should be non-committal and pub
!ish nothing but the reports coming
in
Senator Curtis, he said, had been
very kind to advise and that
through Mr.. Mclean and myself"
the effect of the advice had been to
get Everything official published"
of .'scandalous matter"
Senator Bursum, republican, New
Mexico, asked if any one had sug-'
gested that the Post withhold publi-
cation Of authentic news and Ben
nett qualified his answer.
Proceeding, Bennett insisted that
Curtis had discussed "the political
implications" of the oil inquiry. SEN
ator Dill asked If matter of scandal"
had been discussed, and Bennett said
that the connection of mans name"
with the oil inquiry became a scandal.
Senator Dill, again referring to
the principal message, then asked
if the appreciation of the principal
was that Senator Curtis appreciated
the fact that he could tell Mr.. Mclean
witness replied in the negative.
Asked About Daugherty.
Senator Walsh asked how closely
had been associated with At
torney General Daugherty. Bennett
said they were not very close. To the
best Of his. RECOLLECTION. he said, he
had first met Daugherty during the
of 1920.
Didn't you know him in the Morse
pardon matter" asked Senator Walsh
"Oh, yes. that's right" said Bennett
'I was in more or less relationship
with Mr.. Daugherty in the Morse
He added that he was working to
the same end, now much to his re-
gret.
;. WAS not the pardon actually given
to your pursued Senator Walsh.
The piece of paper?" asked Ben