The Colorado statesman., 1924-03-01
DOHENY DESTROYS
SOME AMBITIONS
HIS REVELATIONS WRECK THE
HOPES OF ONE CANDIDATE
AND MAY HURT OTHERS.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

clans of neither party are showing
evidences OF oyerweenlng affection for
Edward L. Doheny. who has been one
of the most picturesquely interesting
witnesses to be called before the
senate committee investigating the oil
lease scandal, for scandal is the word
now generally employed in connec-
ton with the case.
A the politicians view II, Mr.
Doheny Is a champion manipulation of
the guillotlne. He has been at work
decapitating the captains. Irrespec-
tive of party feelings, Washington to-
day seems to think that one great
Democratic chieftain has been eliml-
mated as presidential possibility by
the fact that he was employed as
lawyer for the oil company which, 1t
Is charged, was trying to make too rich
u strike In the public domain. OF
course 1t is William G. McAdoo who
is counted by good many men here
as being out of the Democratic race
for the nomination. Whether this is
true or not remains to be seen.
Washington politicians speak of Mr..
McAdoo today as definitely out OF
consideration, and with him are one
or two Democrats who, 1t must be
said, we're only remotely possible ul-
Innate nomination winners. No Demo-
crat and no Republican of the So
called conservative school thinks that
Mr.. McAdoo's former connection, as
attorney, with the Doheny interests
ought to disquallfy him from the
1t.
they say the people will look at 1t
differently and that therefore 1t is a
case of down and out for the hitherto
most conspicuous candidate for the
Democratic nomination.
Public Opinion Has Changed.
Things work curiously in politics
Fifteen years ago it is probable that
most of the people would have APP
pl2uded any man who entered into the
service of an Independent oil company
In any proper capacity. All that one
had to do in a somewhat elder day In
Washington to rouse suspicion and
awaken words of scorn would be to
mention the Standard OIL company.
Anything which was done in the way
of attack on the so-called trust in be-
half of independents fighting against
1t in the field would have been com
mendcd as II patriotic duty. To-day
things have changed.
1t seems many people feel that indie
pendents in the oil fields can have
as much of the mark of the devil of
capitalism us a trust can have. 1t is
case of big money" whether it is
made, handled or spent by an indie
pendent company or by one which
wears the gives and shackles of Com
bination In Restraint of Trade.
one great Democratic newspaper
already has eliminated Mr.. McAdoo
from the field of presidential nominal
ton possibilities This newspaper
said editorially from the first that it
would be dangerous for Democrats in
congress TO try to make political capt
tai of the Fan incident. II seems to
have spoken truly.
Democrats plans Are Misty.
What are the Democrats going to do
with MIR. McAdoo OUT of it? A good
many of them were trying to put the
former treasury chieftuin out of il at
time when they did not have such
pow rful ousting implements MS they
I'VE today. William q. McAdoo was
by far the most likely choice of the
Democratic convention for the prcsl.
Dental nomination. II was believed he
would have II minority of the dele
gates and would he likely after II few
ballots to secure the required two
thirds majority.
It is probable that the Democratic
81. oil, La. q,
while in their endeavor To liX upon
someone Who is big enough for the
presidential job and yet who can stnn,!
gnblinkug in the light of publicity.
No one knows yet who Doheny, the
kl --Eiler, is likely to bring next TO
The block.
Republicans here are somewhat
Liant. possibly more so than the Oc-
casiun iusiiiics. but they say they
have found justification for their first
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Mat guilt is personal
and not partisan. 1t matters moth
iug that they would have made II
nurtism If 1t had been IL Democrat
working under II Republican admins
tration who first had been accused
of doing the thing which ought TO have
been left undOne.
So ii seems to he that some gentle
men with ambitions are to he sacrificed
not because they had anything 10 10
with oil leases which ought not tn
have been granted, but simply because
they accepted retalners and pay from
men who. developments seemingly have
shown. thought that any means of
money-inaking were justiiiable even II
they involved the tempting of men
whose clients were supposed to be
the people and no one else.
Wilson and the Correspondents.
Woodrow Wilson's relations with the
PRESS of the United States were unlike
those maintained by any other recent