Evening star., 1925-04-11
Editors Favor Suspending
Of Judgment In Wheeler Case

General agreement that only
through public proceedings in court
can the facts be made clear in the
case against Senator Wheeler appears
In newspaper editorial comment on
the Montana Senator's indictment
In the present circumstances there
Is nothing for the public to do but
suspend Judgment" Is the advice of
the Newark Evening News. which,
reviewing the case, says: I'm the
Washington indictment, which Is the
more serious, Mr.. Wheeler Is accused
Of conspiring with a Montana oil
operator and a former solicitor OF the
Interior Department to obtain, by
the use of dummy applicants. oil and
gas prospecting rights on 5000 more
acres of Government land than they
were legally entitled to. Mr.. Wheeler
Is fully entitled TO the presumption
of innocence. ALL the facts will be
brought out in due course"
The proceedings in Washington,
however, are regarded with suspicion
by the Des Moines Tribune News. an
political quarrels," says the Tribune
News, these indictments are looked
upon with great suspicion. The only
thing that gives any color to the pro-
ceeding is the fact that Justice Stone,
lieved that the matter ought to be
gone into. Justice Stone is not a
politician in the sense that he would
procure an indictment where he did
not believe the law had been violated
But the feeling Is that Wheeler will
be exonerated." The former Attorney
General Is defended also by the Chi
cago Tribune, which contends that
the Department of Justice Is en-
titled to the presumption that in
bringing Senator Wheeler TO trial IL
lis performing its duty. The Attorney
General Is as much entitled to the
presumption of honesty in public
service as is Senator Wheeler"
Speaking from the Senator's place
of residence, the Butte Daily Post
says: "Of course the citizens of Butte
Will note with interest the court
processes that are to follow the in
diotments. They assume that the
prosecution will proceed on its mer-
Its. Consistently, that has been the
attitude of citizens of Montana since
the time, months ago, when first they
heard of Federal court litigation in
volving Senator Wheeler. With few
exceptions the Senator's constituents
without partisan interference or
prejudice. have simply taken notice
of the course of events, while realiz-
ing the serious import of the whole
business wherein the Common
wealth's good name is concerned"
1. X X x
The Great Falls Tribune stoutly
champions the cause of the Senator
Contrary to all CUSTOM" declares
this paper, "the documents presented
to the grand jury, or some of them
were given to the press before the
trial. There Is nothing in them that
constitutes any evidence against Mr.
Wheeler inconsistent with the theory
that he was anxious to help in the
Development Of the natural resources
|. Of the State There Is no intimatior
| In them that he had any personal
financial interest in the Ksvin oil
| fields"
The Indianapolis Star contends that
the Senetor is not strengthening his
cause with the public by denouncine
| the Attorney General and proclaim.
| ing that the affair is an attempt to
dfscredit him. Mr.. Wheeler may es-
| tablish the innocence he Is proclaim.
| ing so loudly" says the Star, but un.
til he has done SO he, at least, should
| have the tact to refrain from trying
| to convict his accusers."
The case of Senator Couzens IL
| linked with that of Senator Wheeler
| by the Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch
| which submits that the fact that ac-
tivity in Congress may have eventu.
J eted in an attempt to punish then