The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-02-28

1 ANNtA'A@AS7 80
oil reserve, a debatable question. Most
naval strategists, many of the ablest
biologists believe his cource was wise.
Many of the ablest lawyers believe
his course was clearly authorized by
the Iaw-not the Standard Oil Attor-
ney, of course, but then, his company
was profiteering tremendously by the
failure of the Navy Department to
lease its lands. Moreover, the Presi-
dents appointment and the Senate
confirmation of ex-senator Pomerene
| and Owen ]. Roberts and the certain
ty that the oil leases will be adjudi-
Gated in the courts give DENLY a pros
pect of complete vindication; whereas
the kind of charges Senator Wheeler
has preferred are so obviously base
less and partisan that they afford lit
tie chance of vindication and promise
only TO become the football of parti-
san politics. Wheeler's charges, in
the words of the New York Tribune,
are "mere blatherskitis."
The full extent of the demoraliza-
ton of the Senate can best be appreci-
ated when it is realized that the Re-
publican leaders are actually consider
ing permitting Senator Wheeler to Sc
lect his own Committee to investi-
gate the Department of Justice. That
menas, of course, that the investiga-
ton would be conducted by a hand
picked committee as completely insur-
ed in advance to bring in a verdict of
guilty" as would be jury of hand
picked by the prosecution. In fact,
hand-picked jury, having no politi-
cal fish to fry, probably would bring
in a fairer verdict.
A fine example of what a hand
picked jury will do has just been af-
forded by the conference of McAdoo
supporters and henchmen who have
Just sat in judgement on their chief
and employer and solemnly decided
that his relations with E. L. Doheney
in no way disqualify him for the
presidential nomination. If McAdoo
had not kept his relations secret and
had not quit the minute his client got
into trouble it might have been pos
sible to save the McAdoo boomlet.
But it will take more than the verdict
of the hand-picked McAdoOdle-ites to
give their boss coat of whitewash
that will hide his really contemplate
conduct from an observing public.
While the Senate is devoting itself
to hysteria and "blatherskitis," grave
developments are taking place in the
House. Corner, the Democratic lea
der, has frankly avowed his purpose
to go Just as far as he dares to des-
troy the Administration tax revision
bill, although he does not want to
make it quite bad enough to compel
Mr.. Coolidge to veto it. And un-
fortunately, some nineteen insur-
gents are helping him, they holding
the balance of power in the House.
There is, however, grave danger that
the Democratic-insurge combine
will go so far that Mr.. Coolidge will
veto the bill, or at least that there will
be a deadlock which will prevent the
taxpayer from getting any relief in
the way of reduced taxes. The Pres
ident and the Republican leaders have
pleaded with the insurgents to give
the Mellon plan fair trial, pointing
out that if Mr.. MELONS contentious
are right no one will want to amend
it, and if they are not it can be easily
amended later; but without avail.
They know it is useless to appeal to
the Democrats because they are only
playing politics and are entirely will
ing to sacrifice the taxpayers to put
the Republican administration in bad.