Evening star., 1924-02-16


qualify him.
The correspondence also showed
that the committee acquiesced in the
request of Mr.. Strawn for withdrawal
lie criticism of his banking connec-
tions but had expressed their full
est confidence in the ability and in
tegrity of Mr.. Strawn."
Presidents Letter.
letter addressed by the President yes
terday to members of the Senate COM
mittee:
''Gentlemen:
Enclosed is copy of a letter from
Mr.. Strawn. whom 1 have proposed as
counsel in the investigation of oil
Mr.. Strawn conse nted to come into
the case without any knowledge of
the facts since disclosed. His reputa-
tion is such in the community in
which he lives as to merit the fullest
confidence that any client which he
efforts. even though such action
might result in his own personal dis
advantage. But under the circum-
stances. l want to take the opinion of
think he should proceed with the
case or be permitted to retire. If the
committee is of the opinion that he
should retire, / very much wish they
would communicate their opinion to
me, and 1 should in that case, of
course, withdraw the nomination.
EFT is exceedingly important that
counsel be secured with the single
end in view of having the ability to
direct the proceedings in these cases
for the purpose of protecting the in
terests of the United States. I cam
not find such counsel outside the
ranks of those who have had expert
ence. shall undertake to select
counsel with the view of securing
present ability and character who
will take up these cases and push
them to speedy conclusion.
II wish to thank the committee for
their helpful suggestions and their
desire to cooperate. This is a case
where we must join together without
respect to party for the purpose of
protecting the interests Of the peo-
pie of the United States"
Mr.. Strawn in the letter inclosed
by the President, written under date
of Tuesday, quoted the statement
| made by Mr.. Coolidge on January 26
with respect 10 appointment OF cOun-
sci and then continued:
You honored me by submitting my
! name to the Senate for confirmation
as one of the special counsel to carry
out the purpose you expressed. Pend
| ing senatorial action you instructed
me to Immediately proceed with the
investigation. in order that no time
! might be lost in the protection of the
public interests. This. in co1labora-
tion with the other nominee, ex-Sen-
ator POmerene. and our assistants, /
have been doing.
Cites Traylor Statement.
at an executive session of the
Senate committee on public lands and
surveys, held this afternoon, I was
told that earlier in the day Mr.. Mel
vim A: Tray1or, president of the First
Trust and Savings Bank of Chicago,
| had made statement to the COM
| mittee substantially as follows:
| That his bank was trustee under
a debenture agreement securing an
issue of securities of the Sinclair
Crude Oil Purchasing Company,
which is owned, one-half each, by the
Standard Oil and Sinclair companies:
that his bank participated in the dis
tribution to the public of securities
| issued under the debenture agree
ment and of other securities issued
by the Sinclair Pipe Line Company,
| which is also owned jointly by the
Standard and Sinclair companies;
| that the Sinclair Pipe Line Company
| is building the pipe line to the Tea
pot Dome, and that the Standard Oil
Company of Indiana had for many
years deposited funds in the First
National Bank of Chicago.
Mr.. Traylor further stated that I
am now and for several years last
past have been a director and stock
holder of the First National Bank of
Chicago and that recently I have
been made a director of the First
I Trust and Savings Bank of Chicago;
that I am not the attorney for the
bank and that I had nothing to do
| with its business; that as a director
| merely attended a board meeting
once a month, heard the reports of
| the officers and went my way,
Has First Information.
] '"rhis statement Of Mr. Traylors re.
I peated to me by the committee was
A.