Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1925-05-22
Why All This Zeal?
BY CHESTER NJ. WRIGHT


deectabe spectacle was offered the people of the
United States in the trial of Senator Burton H. Wheeler
at Great Falls, Montana.
There is growing and widespread belief that Sena-
tor Wheeler tried because he incurred the wrath Of
powers that be by daring to bare graft corruption In high
places and fraudulent transactions based on bribery OF
United States officials.
Dispatches brought the news that from 20 to 30 De-
partment of Justice detectives hand to look
after the Governments interests"
By whose orders are all those detectives there? What
did they intend to do? What were their instructions
Surely they were there just to create atmosphere
Did the persen head of the Department of Justice be-
live any overt action was threatened by Senator Walsh
who conducted the defense of Senator Wheeler?
Does anyone think 1t is necessary to watch Senator
Wheeler? The idea is absurd.
What is a Department of Justice for? Was the de
parment the job at the time of the bribery of FaWe
mean was it anywhere around to prevent that action?
Where the Department of Justice with its reg
ment of operatives the time of the disappearance of
Robert w, Stewart president of the Standard Oil Com
pany of Indiana James ONeil former president of the
Prairie Oil and Gas Company; H. M. Blackmer, chairman
of the board of the Midwest Refining Company and II.
Osler of Toronto head of the Continental Trading Com
pany?
These men were wanted as witnesses in the Teapot
Dome case at CHEYENNE. When the trial called all
absenta had gone abroad out of the jurisdiction
of the United States courts.
Did the Department of Justice with it's overpus
# operatives watch the of these take
steps keep them within the boundaries of the United
States? 1t did not They were permitted to get out of the
country.
The Teapot Dome trial ended March 26. On March ~
Robert W. Stewart reappeared His important business
engagements permitted him to return to the United
States within "a hours after the Cheyenne trial ended
Eighteen days after the trial ended H. S. Osler was
back in Toronto. Big game hunting in Africa longer
held him. The same day the announcement of the
resignation of James E. ONei director of the Amer
Petroleum Institute on account of the condition of
his health" Now that the Teapot Dome trial is ended
he may and return to the United States H. NJ
Blackmer may return any time he wishes. He need
longer remain in France What he knows about the
he may keep locked in his BOSOM
Was the trial of Senator Wheeler another matter?
Did call for horde of atfeet dicks and stool pigeons?
Why? Why the difference? Why all the sudden de
elimination to indict and keep ndicting Senator
Wheeler? Was there any connection between the Sen
ates refusal to confirm the appointment of Mr. Warren
the Sugar Trusts Michigan representative successor
to the position once occupied by Daugherty and the
prompt re-indicment and trial Of Senator Wheeler?
We merely ask to bring the question again to your
minds. You know the answer well as we
One more question: Why does the Government at
ach more Importance to the prosecution of Senator
Wheeler minor and purely technical charge than it
did to the stealing of the United States naval oil reserves
worth many millions and possibly involving the safety of
the Nation in of and the bribery of cabinet
officer?