Evening star., 1924-07-11

Indictments returned by the federal
grand jury against Fall, Sinclair and
the two Dohenys, transferring the
naval oil lease scandal from the po-
litical to the judicial field, meet the
approval Of the American people IL
editorial comments reflect the public
sentiment. Because of the political
cast given to these cases probably
more than the usual interest attaches
to the court action. Editors generally
express the hope that justice will be
secured and that the rights of the
people will be protected.
ITO a public which could not fail to
believe that where there was so much
smoke there must be some fire." the
Newark News independently declares,
'the indictments come as welcome
tioning even when those affected are
in high station" Two valuable re-
suits, the Milwaukee Journal Gnde-
pendenD claims "are already attain
ed" because the country knows now
that the Investigations were amply
minder that the cost of good govern
ment is eternal vigilance" The chief
result to be hoped for, the Detroit
News independently argues. "is that
to light, sepa rated from buncombe and
partisan emotion, sifted by a court
of law and delivered to the people
in an orderly manner" The indict-
ments. the Omaha World-Herald Gn-
dependent is confident ARE the suf-
ficient justification of the Senate in
vestigations that were opposed by the
administration and Sneered at in the
Cleveland convention"
* az X
The Lansing State journal (independ-
ent) regrets that the trial is to be post
poned until October. because this means
the Oil scandal will continue to be a
political ISSUE" therefore at should be
decided prior to the national baIloting,
SO that the campaign may be waged
upon the constructive and important is
sues Of the present and future" No
matter when the trials come there is
one thing sure to the Springfield Repub-
lican independently, that is "Messrs.
Doheny and Sinclair will contribute
nothing this year to the funds of either
party for acceptance of either mans
money by a political party would spell
suicide" Since the indictments have
been returned, the Reading Tribune Gin
dependent) holds, the political connec-
ton should be ignored, and "the case
henceforth should be considered the
same as any other criminal case"
The indictments of these men are
welcome because they are necessary if
any standards of honesty in public life
and equal justice are to be preserved in
this country" in the opinion of the Hart
ford Times independent Democratic), J,
which insists they will not even IL they
result in convictions absolve the Repub-
lican party from the necessity of ex-
planning its completely in the oil scan
dals." The indictments, the Brooklyn
Eagle Independent Democratic) is con-
vinced, should end, once for all, the
charge that the oil investigation is a
political plot engineered by the wicked
Democrats to injure the Republicans in
the forthcoming campaign" and "the
pressing of these cases by the Coolidge
administration also disposes Of the
charge that Mr.. Coolidge Is inclined to
shield those who may be guilty of
wrongdoing," Furthermore the indict-
ments "are a great personal triumph for
Senator Walsh"
The average citizen, continues the
Charleston Post independent Demo
cratic), will read in the indictments
Of Fan, Doheny and Sinclair for con-