Evening star., 1928-03-29

had fought every proposition 10 per-
nit the oil in the naval reserves to be
taken out by anybody and that he
stood for the policy exclusively to con-
serve oil in the ground?' And why do
Democratic Senators at this late date
Still rise and Solemnly declare that Sec
retarv Daniels did not permit private
oil interests to operate in tbs naval re-
serves?
So far as the official record shows.
Franklin X. Lane. Secretary OF the In
terror in the Democratic adminiStra- :
ton. was the originator OF the proposal
To lease naval reserve oil lands TO pri-
vate oil interests. to be exploited by
them The record shows that on
August /. 1917, Secretary Lane COM
muniCated with other members OF the
cabinet. namely Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels. Secretary Of War Baker. Sec
retsry of Labor Wilson. Secretary Of
Commerce Redneld and Secretary OF
Agriculture Houston. to The effect that
Naval Reserve No was being drained
by private oil wells located Just outside IT,
borders and that rs an offset territory
within the reserve ought to he leased
at once 10 private corporations. This
communication was. in the form Of a
formal letter which exists III the files
Ol All Oh lilCSt uGDAIlIltIlAN,
The Senator from Montana. however,
Is authority for the statement that the
campaign TO permit private oil inter-
eStS to invade and exploit public oil
reserves began earlier He is authority
for the statement that 1t began as soon
as the Democratic party came into
power in 1918 and that the campaign
was headed by Secretary of the In
terror Lane and Democratic leaders In
both branches OF Congress- including
the Senator himself This admission
The Senator made on the floor OF the
Senate September 3. 1919. when the
leasing act. now a law. was being de-
batcd
Cites la Toilette Charge.
Senator Robinson said that Sens-
tor La Toilette Of Wisconsin ha6
charged when the leasing bill was under
consideration in 1919 that the Stano-
ard oil Co would be benefited by the
legislation and that the public would
suffer. Senator Robinson continued:
1t was in an attempted answer to
this direct and serious charge of the
late Senator La Toilette that the Sena-
tor from Montana diVulged the fact,
offered in defense Of his attitude al
that time. that the whole scheme ot
turning public oil lands over 10 private
corporate tons was fsthered by the Lead
rrs of the Democratic party with SeCre-
tarv Lane as the head Of the movement.
III other words, instead Of answering
Senator La FolletteS charges that the
leasing act which he was supporting
would work out in favor OF private oil III
terestS the Senator from Montana at
tempted to explain his position by Cit
ing the fact that he was IN complete
harmony with the leaders OF the Demo-
cratic party. His words we're as fol-
lows.
The eenlses OF this bill goes back TO
a bill which was introduced IN 1918 or
1914. il being in all essential particulars
like this although. of course, differing
some in details. That bill was intro
duced by myself. having been prepared
by committee called together by Sec
retary Lane, consisting Of the chairmen
OF the committees on public lands, the
chalrmen OF the committees on mines
and mining and the chairmen OF the
committees on agriculture II my reCoi
lection is correct. of the Senate and
House Of Representatives. They. in
conjunction with Secretary Lane ana
assistants. prepared the bill That is all
l care to say about this being Stand
ard Oil bill
L read these comments because the
other day the Senator said he had no
recollection OF ever being interrogated
by the late Senator LA Toilette with re-
Spect to this situation and he then at
tempted to introduce the late Senator
La FolletteS attitude as a reason for his
present position. This Is an alibi which
will not stand the test OF the record
The attempt OF the Senator in that de-
bate 10 Justify his position by quoting
Senator La Toilette was made In an
swer to my repeated interrogations as
TO the circumstances under which for
mer Secretary Lane resigned his posi-
tiOn In the cabinet after a controversy