Evening star., 1924-01-27
HULL SEES BIGGEST.
SCANDAL IN LEASE
Democratic Chief, Denounc-
ing Oil Deal, Says Issue
Is Clean Government.

The leases Of Teapot Dome naval
oil reserve and naval oil reserve No.
1. In California, have become "the
greatest political scandal OF this or
Iany other generation" Chairman
Cordell Hull of the democratic ma
tional committee declared in state
ment last night.
He said that the multiplication OF
scandals under the republican ad-
ministration which came into power
/ March 4, 1921" has created an ad-
ditional issue for the 1924 campaign.
"The issue, bluntly stated" said
iMr Hull. lis: Shall the United
States nave corrupt government or
clean government
When this administration came
into power" continued Mr.. Hull, 'it
was dominated by the most reaction
AIRY element ever known in the his
tory of a political party, which was
in league with the most selfish and
ipredacious financial and industrial
Especial interests ever grouped to-
gether for public plunder and ma
.tionai exploitation. The prcdatori.
Especial interests. which own and
financially support the reactlonary
jclement in the republican part
lleyied tribute upon the masses OF
the people as did the bandit Tart
and his followers in Spain in th'
Ieighth century. and have looted tn
government OF property and re
Isources Adminstrati ton officials hayc
ieven turned over to private interests
the oil reserves upon which our OIL
burning Navy and merchant marin"
would have to rely in time Of war
/ Scandals Listed.
This administration came in undcE
| the shadow of the Newberry scandal
| and the Daugherty scandal. Others
| followed in quick succession, includ-
| ing the bureau of engraving scandal.
| the Goldstein scandal, the ship sub
sidy and ship sales scandal. the
| Veterans Bureau scandal, the sugar
profiteering scandal, the naval oil re-
| serve scandal .Gncluding Teapot
| Dome), the reclamation service scan
! dal, the income tax bureau scandal,
! the packers and stOckyards scandal,
| the Tolbert scandal. the Slemp scan
| dal, and long list of others less
| known, with one now brewing in the
F.. tariff commission, where three com
| missioners are or ought to be dis
1 qualified from acting by reason of
| present or past affiliation with in
terests affected by their decision.
| There is scarcely department of the
government under this administra-
| ton that is not discredited by its
i ana many buTt aus not dlfSdIS
| ScandaliZed are under suspicion.
Since this crowd of reactionarleS
have been in control Of the govern
ment federal officials at Washington
have been SO subServieRt to them that
Senator Caraway declared so long as
iAttorney General Daugherty sits at
the helm OF the Department of Jus
tice they may sell the White House
and be immune from any prosecution
in the federal courts None Of the
Il. s,.ls - 1t 1rs-
posed by reactionary republicans.
Not a detail of the infamous Teapot
! Dome scandal would ever have been
known except for the exposures
made by democrats; in the face
tion. eliminating in the startling and
shameful recent revelations developed
. Through the persistent efforts of the
| tana, Mr.. Walsh. No one connected
! with administration scandals has been
| punished by the administration. The
!; Department of Justice. which Il Unit
ed States senator alleges to be under
wide suspicion, has made no move
to protect or defend the public inter
ests. so far as they were threatened
or affected by these scandals:
During most of this administration
Mr. Coolidge was Vice President CT
the United States and sat rs an u1-
official member of the Presidents
cabinet. For nearly six months he
has been President of the United
States. During all this time he has
uttered no word of condemnation of
any of these scandals, nor a word OF
| warning against those impending nor
| against the rolicy pursued bv the
republican reactionaries who domi
nate the administration.
! Presidents Statement.
1T was not until yesterday, when
the testimony concerning the alleged
I MIL do rr1rh
The was aroused from his lethargy TO
! make any statement concerning the
Teapot Dome scandal. and then only
to say that he is reluctant to believe
| that any one has been guilty or
terminal intent, but that If evidence
iof criminality is shown, the admins
tration will take action to punish the
guilty and to bring about the annul-
would be a mere matter Of routine.
Until the testimony referred to was
given he has been as blind appar-
emily as Secretary of the Navy penny
! protested to be when he testified in
/ the Teapot Dome scandal. Secretary
+, Denby, who signed the naval oil
leases. is still in President Coolldges
cabipet. and Theodore Roosevelt. who
| TESTIFIED he approved the leases. is
still Mr. Denby's assistant. DR.. Work,
! responsible for the reclamation serV-
! ice scandal. is still Secretary OF the
Interior. others less offensive: but
Ino less dtscredited, continue TO OCCUPY
Iuostiions of honor and trust.
although the time would seem to
/, be ripe for a house e-cleantng through
out the entire administration there
| ia no promise Of 1t nor any indication
that it is contemplated.
s"The work Of cleaning these Augean
stables devolves upon the peoPie
md decide the question: Shall the
United States have corrupt govern
ment or clean government" They They
know. or should ,aI knoT, tTs IN better tel can can
t,Se taSe mace I,H under a republican Presi;
peactionary react element in Il,,,,+ the party party
which is in league eHd with The eorru Tepnbiicsn %
mess. no matter VINO INC
lnominee may be.