The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-05-01
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Wheeler's Fight for Honor
and Toga-Dawes Again
Hits Senate Rules.
BY EDWARD W. PIckARD

c ENATORBURTON K. WHEELER'S
- trial In Great Falls, Mont, moved
swiftly toward its conclusion last week
and it appeared probable that within
a few days he would know whether he
was to retain his honor and his official
position, or lose both because he was
convicted Of misusing the latter.
Largely the governments case rested
on the truth or falsity Of the testimony
given by George B. Hayes, New York
attorney who swore that on March 16,
1928, at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel,
New York, Senator Wheeler sought to
get him to represent the Gordon Camp
bell land cases before the Department
of the Interior in Washington and Of
fered to-. split profits, which he said
might run into millions. Hayes said
his attention was called to Wheeler
and the Campbell case by Edwin Booth,
then solicitor or the Department Of
the Interior, whom he had known
for years Booth, he asserted, called
him up by 1ong-distance telephone.
Under, cross-examination Hayes said:
Senator Wheeler and both went
on the assumption that Booth had
made the offer Of fees, think he said
to me: Booth may have suggested
that l will split $3.50 with YOU re-
piled that was satisfactory. I think
he stated 1t would run into very SUBJ
stantial figure. I think he mentioned
millions, the same as Booth did"
Senator Walsh, senior counsel for
Wheeler. said he would show that no
longsdistancei call was put in from.
Booths Office to Hayes office during
March, 1928. A. Fl. Furr, former secre-
tary TO Booth, admitted there was
such call. but could not remember
the date.
Booth, on the stand. swore the dis
cussions with Hayes over the Campbell
affairs were entirely on the question Of
getting new capital into this Montana
oil field. So ls;e
wheeler took the stand in his own
defense Wednesday and denounced as
false the testimony of Hayes and sew
eral other government witnesses. He
swore that he never met Hayes in the
Waldorf-Astoria hotel, and never had
seen him until Hayes appeared in the
Daugherty investigation, when the law
yer was subpoenaed as a witness As
to his agreement with Gordon Camp
bell, he said there was no discussion
or permits at any time except once,
when he was called into Campbells
office to- hear the story of II. J. Cole
man, who had a controversy with
Campbell over the Lincoln well permit.
Under sscross-examination however
Wheeler admitted that after he had
been retained by Campbell he was told
about certain government permit and
that he also had defended the Steven
son receivership complaint, which re-
cited seven doubtful permit cases. He
admitted that he told Campbell that
after he got to Washington he would
take up the permit in question and
that he probably told him he was 60
Ing to take 1t up with Booth; but he
asserted he was taking it up as his
senator, not as his attorney.
XTICE PRESIDENT DAWES, being
invited to address the members
of the Associated Press at their an
nual luncheon in New York, found an
excellent opportunity to renew his
fight on the rules and general conduct
of the senate, and took full advan-
tage of it. The editors present
ciieered him, and so did probably a
vast majority Of the uncounted
thousands who. heard the address
through the radio. Mr.. Dawes plead
ed for nonpartisan aid in the accom-
plishment of the reform he urges.
Said he: ctiS
''The issue, fssthis: Shall the senate
continue unchanged its existing rules
which admittedly make possible, at
times. the exercise by minority or
even. one senator of power to block
the purpose of a majority of the SEN
ate to legislate? a
'Of what material relevancy is the
claim that this power Of blocking leg