Evening star., 1928-09-25

formed by one of the Republican cabi-
net officers involved that the leasing OF
these oil reserves was discussed in the
cabinet of the Republican President OF
the United States.
What was the reason for keeping
these oil leases secret for such long
while? What was the reason for max
ing these leases contrary to the estab-
lished custom without any public bid
ding and without any publicity?
It is a matter of record that one OF
the prospective bidders, who desired to
make an offer if there had been pup
lication of the proposed letting, was lne
vice president of the Texas-Pacific Coal
e. Oil Co, who wrote communication
protesting against the secret leasing OF
Teapot Dome.
One of these communications was
sent to Secretary Hoover and he turned
it over to Secretary Fall after writing
thereon the following:
"Any reply that you may suggest.
He sent a similar communication VI
protest to the Republican Presloen'
himself.
Other Circumstances.
let lis consider some of the other cir
cumstances which caused the supreme
COuTU Ol tIlc OAiOSN oeeA0N
these transactions as corrupt:
The executive order transferring the
control of these naval reserves from the
Navv to the Interior Department was
kept secret long after it was made. lts
existence was vehemently denied by Oh
ficials of both departments. NO recoro
of it was filed where executive ORDERS
are usually filed. 1t was held by
the courts to be absolutely unWar-
ranted in law. After it was MADE the
Republican Secretary of the Interior
began to move on what the supreme
Couwt called "a trial of corruption ano
fraud"
High officers of the Navy. who had
been patriotic and diligent in their op--
position to these transfers were sent out
of Washington. The Republican Secre-
tary of the Interior issued an order on
the pretended plea of military necessity
that no publicity in oil matters was to
be given out. He wrote letter to one
of his leSSees assuring him: There Will
be no possibility of any further conflict
with the Navy officials in this depart
ment, as I have notified Secretary
DENLY that I should conduct the matter
of the naval leasing under the dlrec-
ton of the President"
Secrecy Is Attacked.
The Supreme Court of the United
States refers to this letter as follows:
"This exultant declaration that he
was in a position to handle these vast
properties as he pleased discredited Fall.
His desire to get control of the reserva-
tions and then so proclaim that he had
it strongly suggests that he was willing
to conspire against the public interest"
With respect to the Teapot Dome
lease there was also complete secrecy.
The Supreme Court said there was never
any legitimate reason for this secrecy.
The Secretary of the Interior even made
false statements about the lease, saying
to an inquiring oil man, three days after
he had signed it, that no lease was being
contemplated. Long after the leases were
made repeated denialS were made by
Government officials of both the In
terror and Navy Departments that any
such lease had been made.
No wonder, indeed, that when he
opened an attack upon the Teapot
Dome, Senator La Toilette said:
when all the disgraceful details of
his scandalous deals are made public
the Senate will be staggered by them"
What the Government was to lose and
the lessees were to gain from these
transactions is evident from the testi-
mony of one of the lesSees that it would
be case of i'll luck if his company did
not make $100000,O00 out of its lease.
This was the lease as to which the Su-
preme Court pointed out that it was
obtained and consummated by means
of conspiracy, fraud and bribery"
Court Decision Since 1924.
Here we have as cold-blooded and as
deliberate conspiracy against the
United States Government for private
gain as can be found recorded at any
time in history. 1t would have been
less of treason against the Government
of the United States to have destroyed
her battle fleet or to have demolished
her coast defenses, both of which could