Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-15
j. s. MARINES USED
To CLEAR SETTLERS
FROM TEAPOT LAND

WASHINGTON, March 13.-Turn-
ing its attention to the use of ma
rines to clear Teapot Dome of tres
passerss after it had been leased to
Harry f. Sinclair, the oil committee
was told today that the order for
the marine expedition had been is
sued at the request of Albert B. Fall.
Theodore Roosevelt, who, as act
ing secretary of the navy, signed
the order, said Fall had told MIN
President Harding desired that
course pursued.
Later letter on the subject from
Mr.. Harding to Fall, dated June "A, i
1922, was put into the record. In
it the president said that unless
James G. Darden. of the Mutual Oil
company. withdrew from Teapot, he
should be elected
Appointment of Senator Ladd, of
North Dakota, a member of the La
Toilette group, as chairman of the
oil committee to succeed Senator
LenrOOt, of Wisconsin, resigned, was
confirmed today by the senate with
out discussion or a record vote.
The Republican committee on com
mittees did not fill the vacancy on
the committee caused by retirement
of Senator Lenroot as a member.
Major General lie Jeune, com
mandant of the Marine Corps, was
the first witness. He said orders for
the action were issued by Theodore
Roosevelt, then acting secretary of
the navy, who also was called to
testify.
This was in July, 1922. General
LeJeune said, and George X. Shuler,
then a captain Of marines, was Sc
lected, after a conference with Sec
rotary Fall, to command the detail
sent to Teapot.
-Four enlisted men were selected
to accompany Shuler, who now is
treasurer Of New York state.
Roosevelt Ordered Tact
Roosevelt had ordered that men
of tact and discretion" be chosen,
General lie Jeune said, SO as to
avoid trouble.
Shuler telegraphed on August A
that his mission had been accom-
plished Later, Fall wrote the navy
Asked whether he did not regard
this as an extraordinary use of the
marine corps, the general said he
did not consider that point at all.
He simply obeyed orders.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt tes-
tilted that the request for the clear
ing of the Teapot Dome came from
Fall, who was quoted as saying he |
-, Il : =
"squaters" elected as thew were /
about to take out oil on which the |
government would get no royalty"
Fall told him, Roosevelt said, that
Secretary Daniels had taken sim, |
liar action.
Secretary Roosevelt said he did not |
recall anything very clearly about a
p otest from the governor of WyOm-
ing against employing force to re-
move trespassers.
On July 20, 1922, Colonel Roosevelt
said, he found a note from Fall to
the effect that there were trespas-
sers or squatters on the dome" about
to take oil from which the govern
ment would get no shares.
In conversation with him later, the
witness continued, Fail said he and
the president wanted some marines
sent to put these people off the oil
reservation. The secretary added. he
said, that he had not expected Presi-
dent Harding to favor the action
because one of the men engaged in
-respassing was a friend of his.
This, however, he declared, made no
to the president
SpIpnt1nC a nff e.,
he duty, Colonel Roosevelt pro-
ceeded he had Sought to get some
man who would not do ANYTHING
rash, get into a fight or shoot some
body"
Nesterner Wrote Christian
Senator Walsh read into the rec.
)rd letter sent to George &. Chris.
ian. Jrr secretary to President Har-
ling by II. H. Tammen, of the Den
yer Post under date of August l,
~, characterizinG the situation in 1
teapot Dome as IAN awful mess"
Tammen called Christians atten-
ION TO an article in the Post on the
election of the Mutual Oil company
rom Teapot. Christian transmitted
he letter to Fall with a request for
material on which to base an an
'Wer, and Fall responded with a his
DRY of the naval reserve and q dis
;ussiOn of the legal controversy
'alSed as to titles upon it.
1t was the duty of the navy. the
Interior secretary's reply insisted. to
protect the reserves. and he added
hat the marines were the navy's
police force for that purpose.
President Harding was personally
acquainted with "a certain gentle
man. chiefly concerned in the Mu-
ual Oil comrany attempt to get
Dome oil, and took a hand himself.
he Fall letter indicated, in trying
o dissuade his acquaintance from
pursuing the enterprise. This Ger
ain gentleman" refused to yield to
he presidents representations.
Senator Walsh asked who the
certain gentleman" was, but the
The witness said he didn't know.
Marines Set Precedent
Senator Bursum Republican, New
Mexico. asked if there was any prec-
7dent for the marine activities. and
he witness replied shat none could
Dc found in the records in the navy
department. He added that there l
was an opinion among naval men ]
that threat 10 use the marines in {
California for a similar purpose had
been made some years before.
Roosevelt said he had casually
mentioned the sending of marines
to Teapot to President Harding,
who had approved
There was nothing in my mind
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