Evening star., 1924-02-11
Democratic Candidate, on
Stand in Senate Probe,
Holds Connection With Oil
Firm Perfectly Proper.
WARM APPLAUSE GREETS
APPEARANCE AT HEARING
Glad Name Brought Out, But Was
Indignant at Method Used.
Says Former Employer Appears
Guilty-Was Never Asked foi
Advice on Leases.

In an atmosphere surcharged with
political tension, William G.. McAdoo
faced the Senate oil committee to-
day and explained his connections
with the Doheny interests.
At the very outset he read d pre-
pared statement charging that had
he not been prominently mentioned
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 re-
talners' fee as counsel for Doheny
after he left the cabinet, and in the
course OF long cross-examination
reasserted iorcibly over and over his
assertions that the attack made OH
him had been purely political.
Mr.. McAdoo declared that he haG
severed his professional relation
with N. Dohsny on February 2. the
day after the oil magnate last ap-
peared before the committee.
Il conceive that the matter is
wholly irrelevant to the subject-mat-
ter of your inquiry" he said in CON
ciusion, but L have been willinl
to come here and give these facts To-
such use and for such value as th..
may have in the pursuit of your in
Iestigation."
Greeted With Applause.
When he appeared in the commit.
room, accompanied by David Roc.
we'll of Ohio, manager of his cam
paign for the democratic presidential
nomination, the former Treasur.
Secretary was greeted with "a burst
OF applause, which continued for :.
minute or more. He smiled and bowed
as he made his way to a seat to
await the call of the committed
Many members of the Senate anu
House mingled with the crowd
You will be sworn as all witnesses
are, Chairman Lenroot said after he
mad called Mr.. McAdoo to the stand.
DO You desire to make statement
TO the committee?" asked the chair
man after the oath had been admin
iStered.
Seating himself under a battery of
cameras, MIR. McAdoo adjusted his
glasses and replied by reading his
prepared statement.
questioned by Senator Walsh, demo-
crat, Montana, Mr.. McAdoo said he re-
signed as Secretary of the Treasury
on December 10, 1918, and gave up
the post of director general OF the
railways on January II, 1919. After
a three-month rest in California he
entered the law firm of Cotton &,
Franklin. in accordance with an
agreement previously made.
Began Service in 1919.
When did you begin service with
Mr.. Doheny:" asked Senator Walsh.
November so, 1919" was the reply.
Asked if there had been any ar
rangement while he was in the cabi-
net to enter the service of Mr. Do
heny. Mr.. Mc-Adoo replied in tho
negative, adding that he had not
met Mr.. Doheny until after lie had
retired from office.
His resignation as counsel was sub
mitted on February >, he said, the
day after ,nohcny: testifying before
connection. He said he had advised
Doheny only on Mexican affairs.
81 think l may say that if he had
advised me about this matter" h"
added. he never would nave gotten
Mr.. McAdoo said Doheny was mis-
taken in saying that his services
here for the Doheny companies end
ed with the passing of the Wilson
administration. In 1921. he said. he
appeared before Cndersecretary Of
State Fletcher to earnestly" express
the hope that the Mexican policy of
the Harding administration would be
as vigorous as was that of the Wilson
administration.
Asked of Doheny Guilt
Asly Cd l,1- hai l.,
regarded Mr.. Doheny equally as
guilty" as Mr.. Fall in the oil lease
matter, Mr.. McAdoo said:
Not equally. But i think he's
guilty of a very serious matter. OF
course, 1 don't undertake to express
Judgment until your evidence is
completed. Therefore, 1 say it ap-
pears"
The former Secretary said naturally
he had felt some Indignation that his
name had been brought into the in
vestigation.
Il think any honest man would feel
precisely the same way
Senator Dill, democrat, Washington,
wanted 10 know If Doheny delivered
the 100000 retainer fee paid Nc
Adoo's New York firm. .'in a satchel." !"
He did not, sir" replied Mr.. Nc
Adoo. 1T came TO me in the form
of check.
Chairman Lenroot said he wished 10
explain outside of the record" that
the questions which had been put to
Mr.. Doheny and which had resulted
i'll the disclosure of Mr.. McAdoo's en-
ployInent as counsel had been at the
request of Senator Reed, democrat,
Missouri.
1T was in these questions that your
name was brought out as one of his
counsel" Chairman Lenroot said. DO
you think this committee would have
been justified in refusing the request
of Senator Reed?'
Approves Committee Action.
NO. sir" replied Mr.. McAdoo. "I
am glad you brought it out. l hope
the committee will continue its in
vestigations and bring out all the
facts. I think the matter of my en-
ployment is absolutely and wholly
irrelevant to this inquiry, as 1t is no,
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