The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-10-28
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Teapot Dome Lease Is Can
celed-Woman Fails in
Atlantic Flight.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD

BY EDWARD w. PICkAHO
EINAL victory has been scored by
4 the federal government in its three
years fight to regain the valuable oil
fields that were leased to others by
Albert B. Fall when he was secretary
of the interior. Last week the SUI
preme Court of the United States viii
ated the Teapot Dome lease held by
Harry F. Sinclair. The decision sus-
tanned the ruling of the Circuit Court
of Appeals which reversed Wyoming
federal court that upheld the validity
of the lease. This brings back to the
government Wyoming oil lands esti-
mated to be worth $100,000000, plus
100000 in cash now in the hands
Of the courts receivers; 100000
worth Of oil taken out by Sinclair be-
fore suit was started and for which
he must make restitution, and more
than 100000 worth Of oil tanks,
pipe lines and other improvements con-
Structed by Sinclair, but for which the
court denies him equity because of the
leasing form.
The courts decision last March, sim
llarly denouncing the Doheny lease of
the Elk Hills (Calif) naval reserve as
illegal and fraudulent, restored even
more valuable oil lands to the navy.
A survey just completed by oil experts
estimates that the Elk Hills lands con-
tain 720000O00 barrels Of oil, or near
ly three times the amount previously
estimated. Its value is place at fully
$300,000,000. The government also re-
covered $24,000,O00 for oil drilled out
by Doheny and for value of tanks, etc.
Last weeks decision, which was
unanimous, branded Fall as "a faith
less public officer" 1t held that the
Teapot Dome lease to Sinclair's Mana
moth Oil company was contrary to the
oil conservation policy of the govern
ment Falls contention that develop
ment of the reserve was necessary to
prevent drainage was denounced as u
representation made in bad faith"
D UTH ELDER, daring and skillful
An Florida aviator, almost achieved
her ambition to be the first woman to
fly across the Atlantic. With George
Haldeman as co-pilot, she drove the
plane American Girl to within about
1000 miles of Paris despite strong
head winds that forced them off their
course, and then a broken oil line
forced them to come down in the
ocean. Fortunately the Dutch tanker
Barendrecht was close by and picked
up the two flyers unhurt. An attempt
to salvage the plane was made, but
q gasoline tank exploded and it was
burned. The rescue took place about
800 miles northeast of the Azores and
the aviators were taken to the islands,
whence they were to continue their
trip to France by steamer.
Miss Elder and Haldeman were In
the air more than Al hours and flew
2,574 miles-a record for all-water
flights. The storm they encountered
reduced their average speed from the
expected 100 miles an hour to about
u. The last five hours of their flight
was made with no oil pressure in
their motor.
a MEXICAN workers still yearn for
A their beer and have not given up
hope of getting it. The American Fed
Grafton of Labor, in convention in Los
Angeles, adopted by viva voce vote
resolution demanding that congress
modify the Volstead act $50 as to per-
init the manufacture and sale of whole
some beer"
President GREEN'S policies were up
held when the convention voted, 49,
to 80. against application of the fed
eral quota law to Mexican immigra-
ton. The executive council, after a
years investigation of the relationship
between labor and the government in
Mexico, reported that it did not con-
slider the Mexican government trades
union regime, though the relations be-
tween it and the labor movement are
''very intimate"
Max S. Hayes of Cleveland, who was
Farmer-Labor candidate for vice presi-
Y dent in 1920, offered plan for(a labor