The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1927-12-09
IS OIL BOMB FINALLY READY TO BURST?
WASHINGTON OBSERVERS
BY CHARLES P. STEWART
Washington correspondent


Washington, Thursday ug-
lest bomb sometimes will hang
fire unaccountably. After every
body's sure it's dud. it will burst
and wreck neighborhood.
The coil cases" act like that.
About this time four years ago,
they, and the justice department
scandals, "broke" in Washington
The graft figures mentioned ran
into the hundreds Of millions. The
names involved were those of null
timillionaires and the highest Off
cials- some of them so high that,
even yet. have hardly been spoken,
but only limited at. Two cabinet
members were forced to quit their
positions.
Washington rocked with the sen
sation.
Congress was in a furore over it
up almost until the 1924 presiden-
tial campaign opened.
To the party of the outs it
seemed impossible but that the af-
fairs effect would be tremendous,
at the ensuing election. Leaders of
the party of the ms while OF
course outwardly confident. never
theless awaited the result with in
ternal trepidation
The public voted as if it never
had heard of a scandal
The outs" not only were bitter
u disappointed; they were dumb
founded. The "ins" thanked provi-
dence, but, in confidence, didn't
pretend to understand it.
TO this day, the completeness OF
those scandals failure to take al
that time is a puzzle to politicians.
However, the trouble was not
ended. Indictment followed indicr-
ment. Who cared!-insofar as he
public appeared TO be concerned.
The scandal-tainted group strucf
back.
Senator Wheeler of Montana, out
standing among their baiters, was
dragged into court on a criminal
accusation. Acquitted. lie openly
charged an attempt TO frame him,
by perjury. What of it?-was the
public's only apparent reaction.
Ex-Attorney General H arr
Daugherty and ex-Alien Property
Custodian Tom Miller fought graft
indictments and Miller was found
guilty. The Fall-Doheny trial end
ed in an acquittal, but further
charges remained. and still remain
for both defendants to face later.
Harry F. Sinclair was convicted Of
contempt and has prison SEN
tence hanging over him.
sNot one of these cases attracted
tie attention of good" murder
hearing.
xl'he civil courts cancelled the
transfer of fabulously rich govern
naent oil lands which "faithless
officials" they were plainly
termed from the bench-had tried
practically to give away to private
owners, in consideration Of graft
paid to the "faithless officials The
pNblic remained Indifferent.
Safasa
Embellishments trial opened re-
Gently in the usual way-a day or
TWO of languid interest and then
nothing but routine proceedings.
BY this time, politicians and law
yei.s alike had given up trying 10
explain to themselves the country's
righteousness toward series CT
contests of such supreme national
Importance. They simply accepted
il as matter of course.
Then, one morning. came. the alb
lrpt disclosures of grave suspicious
of jury tampering.
1t was of no great consequence IN
comparison with the three preced
> q
ing years of revelations, but from
that split second, the popular out
cry for swift, final justice in the
''oil cases" has gained volume hour
by hour.
Call it the psychological moment
Call it the last straw
~ You'll