San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-13
Roosevelt Says He Was
Told That Harding APP
proved Move.
LEJEUNE TAKES STAND
Marine Commander Says
He Merely Did Duty by
Obeying Orders.

Washington, ID. T.. Marcn To-
Turning its attention TO the use OF
marines to clear Teapot Dome of tres
passers after it had been leased 70
Harry L. Sinclair. the oil committee
was told today. that the order for the
marine expedition had been issued al
the request of Albert j. Fall.
Theodore Roosevelt, who as actlns
secretary of the navy, signed the order
said Fall had told him President
Harding desired that course pursued
Later a letter on the subject from
Mr.. Harding TO Fall dated June Il
1890. was put into the record. In II
the President said that unless James
g. Darden of the Mutual Oil Company
withdrew from Teapot, he should &c
elected.
Major General Lejeune. command
ont of the marine corps. was the tirSt
witness in this line of inquiry. lie sald
orders for the action were issued os
Theodore Roosevelt, then acting secrc-
'" ) " In June. 1922. I,
This was in June. 1922: General
Jeieune said. and George IL. Shulpt'
then captain of marines, was se.ee.,
cd ,fter a conference with Secretar!
Fall 10 command the detail sent, 10
-Four enlisted men were selected 70
accompany Shuler, who IS now treas
urcr of New York state. -,
Roosevelt had ordered that men ol
,"tact and discretion" be chosen, Zen,
cral I.ejeuae said, so as TO a''lu
trouble. ,s+ 4
Shuler telegraphed on August
that his NISSAN had been completeI'
Later Fall wrote the navy commehu'
ing Shuler for his work, u,,
sked whether he did not regard
this as an extraordinary use OF tnS
marine corps the general SAID he q,u
NOT consider that point at all. 1T
simply obeyed orders. II. .os4i.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt test
God that the request for the clearing
as Teanot Dome came from Fall, VINO
,ras ouoted as saying he and the f'res,
;dent wanted the "sQuatters' eJacteu
as tbav were about to take out oil on
al +be goyernme-t would get no
~" Saw Daniels Did Same Thing. .,
SECRETARY Roosevelt did not recaiI
onvtbiny very closely" about pro-
TEST from the governor of Wyoming
against employing force to remo''
'r. on July 30. 1922. Colonel Roose,
velt said. he found note from all
IN the effect that there were tres
mossers or sduatters on the Dome
ahout 10 take OIL from which the
government would get no shares.
In conversation with him later, inc
witness continued. Secretary Fan said
he and the President wanted some
marines sent to put these people 9,'
the oil reservation. The secretary aun,
cd. he said. that he had not expec!eu
President Harding to favor the act"'h
because one of the men engaged IN
trespassing was friend OF his. lnis'
however. he declared. made no dllier-
ence to the President. A..
In selecting a marine officer Tor 'he
duty. Colonel Roosevelt proceeded, Le
had sought 10 get some man VINO
would not do anything rash, get INTO
fight, or shoot somebody.
Senstor Walsh read into the record
n letter sent to George II. Christian
Jr. secretary to the President. by Ill.
II. Tammen of the Denver Post. under
date of August 1. 1922. characterizlns
the situation in Teapot Dome as IAN
awful mess
Navy Should Protect Reserves.
Tammen called Christians attention
N an article in the Post on the eJee-
lion of the Mutual Oil Company IRON
Teapot. Christian transmitted the Iet
te- 10 Fall with request for material
ON which TO base an answer. and Fan
responded with a history of the naval
reserve and a discussion OF the legal
controversy raised as to titles upon q.
II was the duty of the navy, the
interior secretary's reply insisted; 10
protect the reserves, and he ADDED
that the marines are the navy police
force for that purpose.
President Harding was personally
acquainted with certain gentleman
chiefly concerned in the Mutual Oil
Tomnany's attempt to obtain Dome oil
and took a hand himself. the Fall let
Ter indicated. in trying to dissuade his
acquaintance from pursuing the en-
ternrise. This certain gentleman re-
fused TO yield to the Presidents repre-
sentations.
Senator Walsh asked who the Ger
tain gentleman" was, but the witness
said he didn't know.
Senator BurSum (Republicang. New
Mexico. asked il there is any precedent
for the marine ACTIVITIES, ahu lhe VIZ.
ness replied that none could be found
in the records in the Navy Depart
ment. He added that there is an opin-
ion among naval men that n threat
10 use the marines in California tor
a similar purpose had been made some
years before.
Mentioned Ii TO Harding.
Roosevelt said he had casually men
,ioned the sending of marines 10 Tea