The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-12
MADOO IS GIVEN APPLAUSE AS HE FACES PROBERS Tells Oil Committee Of Connections With
 DOheny SAYS ATTACKS ON HIM ARE PURELY POLITICAL Reiterates Assertion That He Gave No Advice On Oil
 Leases

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.--In an atmosphere surcharged with political tension, William G. McAdoo faced the Senate oil committee today and ex- plained his connections with the DOheny interests. At the very outset he read prepared statement, charging tk:t had he not been prominently men tioned in connection with high Office'' his name never would have been brought into the inquiry.
 He declared he had acted in per feet good faith in accepting retain CTS fee as counsel for Doheny after he left the cabinet and in the course of a long cross examination reasserted forcibly, over and over, his assertions that the attack made on him had been purely political.
 Il conceive that the matter is wholly irrelevant to the subject matter of your inquiry" he said in conclusion, "but I have been willing to come here and give these facts for such use and for such value, as they may have in the pursuit of your investigation"
 Greeted With Applause
 When he appeared in the committee room accompanied by David Rockwell of Ohio, manager of his campaign for the democratic presidential nomination, the former treasury secretary was greeted with burst of applause which continued for a minute 'or more. He smiled and bowed as he made his way to seat to await the call of the com mittee. Many members of the Senate and House mingled with the crowd.
 You will be sworn as all witnesses are" Chairman Lenroot said after he had called Mir. McAdoo to the stand. Do you desire to make q statement to the committee?" asked the chair man after the oath had been admin istered
 Seating himself under battery of cameras, Mir. McAdoo adjusted his glasses and replied by reading his prepared statement.
 Questioned by Senator Walsh, demo- crat, Montana, Mir. McAdoo said he resigned as secretary of the treasury on December 16, 1918, and gave up the post of director general of the railways on January II, 1919. After a three months rest in California he entered the law firm of Cotton & Franklin, in accordance with an agree ment previously made.
 When did you begin service with Mir. Doheny?" asked Senator Walsh.
 November 30, 1919," was the reply. Did Not Meet Doheny As Member Asked if there had been any arrange. Esnent while he was -sins4the cabinet tc enter the srevfc of Doheny MT. Me. Adoo replied in the negative, addins that he had not met Mir. Doheny, until after he had retired from office. His resignation, as counsel, was sub. mitted on February ?, he said, the day after Doheny, testifying before the com mittee, first revealed their connection. He said he had advisd Doheny only on Mexican affairs.
 T think I may say that if he had advised me about this matter" he add ed. he never would have gotten into this difficulty"
 Mir. McAdoo> said Doheny was mis- taken. in saying that his services here for the Doheny companies ended with the passing of the Wilson administra- tion. In 1921, he said, he appeared be- fore Under Secretary of State Fletcher to earnestly" express the hope that the Mexican policy of the Harding admin istratiOn would be as vigorous as was that of the Wilson administration
 Thinks DOheny Appears Guilty
 Asked by Chairman Lenroot if he regarded MT. Doheny equally as gull ty" as Mir. Fall in the oil lease mat ter, Mir. McAdoo said: Not equally, but think he's guilty of very serious matter"
 "Of course, don't undertake to ex-
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