Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-14
DENNY RE:SIGNAT
AWAITS j. 6. MOVE:
To VOID OIL LEASES
Lawrence Predicts Judg-
n1ent viii Be ''Suspended"
Only Until Counsel Take
Definite Action in Court
BY DAVID LAWRENCE


Copyright, 1921
l. DENLY, secretary of the navy, is ex-
pected to resign just as soon as gov
eminent counsel decide to ask the
federal courts to vacate the leases
given to the Sinclair and Doheny oil
interests.
President Coolidge's speech in
New York, together with his previous
statements asking for suspension
of judgment, merely mean that he
does not believe the expression of
an opinion by the senate or anybody
else that the secretary of the navy
acted unwisely is sufficient basis for
permitting the resignation of Mr.
DENLY.
The president feels that questions
of policy involved in the leases will
have to be studied by special counsel
and if they should decide to ask for
the annulment of the leases, this ac-
ton would be a judgment upon the
wisdom of the original acts. Frien Is
OF the president are authority for the
statement that it would be incom-
patIble for the secretary of the navy
to retain office while the judicial de-
partment of the government was
asking the courts toNannul an action
taken by the navy department in
conjunction with the interior depart
ment. Mr.. Fall, who was secretary
of the interior, must face the ques-
ton of whether he was influenced
by the 100000 loan" made to him
by Mr.. Doheny before the leases
were consummated. Mr. DENLY
must answer the question why he
signed the leases in conjunction
with Mr. Fall.
Resignation Inc vitabIe
The secretary of the navy has said
he would do it all over again if he
had another opportunity. Should
government counsel decide that all
that he did should be undone. the
secretary of the navy's resignation
IS inevitable. In fact, even in ad.
mlnstratlon quarters, the prediction
IS made that Secretary DENLY will
not be in office when the Republican
national convention meets in Cleye.
land, next June.
The Democrats in the senate are
AL much pleased with the presidents
refusal to obey the senate resolution
suggesting Mr.. Denby's resignation,
They concede privately that the reso
luton was not mandatory and that
Mr.. Coolidge is we'll within his RIGHTS
IN refusing to dismiss a cabinet Off
Ger at the beheSt of the senate, but
they believe Mr.. Coolidge has aligned
himself with Mr.. DENLY to such ex-
tent that the issue of the next cam
paign may be Mr. Coolidge's defense
of Mr.. DENLY.
All this, of course, is predicated on
the theory that Mr.. Coolidge will re-
tain Mr.. DENLY and defend the oil
leases. The Democrats have com
PEELED, on the other hand certain Re
publican senators to go on record in
defense of Mr.. DENLY and the vote
on the resolution will he a campaign
issue Just as was the vote of the SEN
ate on the seating of Truman II.
Newberry, U. S. senator from Mich.
gan, who it was alleged was elected
through the use of excessive sums
of money. Senator NeWberry was
personally acquitted. of wrong doing
by President Harding and the Re
publican group declined to help I'M
seat him. Very little was heard
about the Newberry case in the east
but it was a vital issue in the west
and it figured in the defeat of several
senator's
See Political Capital
The Democrats who are angling
for western support believe the Den
by case will be even more compre-
hensible to the voters of the west
where leases and public lands are a
matter of every Gay discussion than
was the NewberrX election contro-
versy. 1t will be noted that TIE in
surgent Republicans and farmer-la-
Dor senators who voted with the Dem
ocrats in favor of the resolution re-
guessing Mr.. Denby's resignation
hail from west of the Mississippi
river.
At the moment the Coolidge sup
porters feel confident that the pres
ident'S course has gained prestige
for him and that he will not lose by
suSpending judgment. That is I'M
questionably the view in this atmos-
phere. Whether the west agrees or
whether it will speak an adverse
opinion at the polls next autumn is
the most important political query
that has arisen out of he Teapot
Dome controversy.