Evening star., 1928-03-21

Overwhelmingly, the Washington
theme of the hour Is the effect OF the
oil exposure on politics, politicians and
parties In this presidential year. Opin-
ion largely depends. of course, on whose
OK is being gored Republicans are
considerably more inclined than tney
were a month ago TO concede that the
situation Is highly charged with dyna-
mite for the G. 0. p. The Democrats
have consistently believed that 10 oe
the case and are now more fortineo
than ever in that conviction. Ihe
fierce ardor with which Republican
leaders ike Borah and Capper have
tackled the Sinclair campaign contriou-
tions Is tribute alike to the high
mindedness OF the two Western Sem
ators and to their political common
sense When the Kansas farm leader
Illuminated that the @. o. p. must
face the music or pay the flddler. ne
hhlrted out fear that innumerable
Republicans have. but which few nave
had the nerve publicly to express.
-
Practical politicians both those whose
knees are quaking over the oil revela-
tions and those who are pinning nlgh
hopes on then, are perturbed oy one
remember the disclosures now agitating
the country and monopolizing the front
pages of the newspapers? VIII the
public conscience still be pricked. or
viii II be effectually dulled by election
time? Is not the whole sad and sordid
story OF Teapot Dome and Its allied
scandals such old stuff that voters are
tired OF It? Or iS the newest develop
ment--the direct Harvesting OF Sinclair
TO the financial operations OF the re
publican national committee--an angie
that lifts oil TO the level OF current
issue? How far. In that event. Is IL
going 10 affect the fortunes OF Herbert
Hoover or Charles q. Dawes, botn OF
whom we're members OF the admins
tration which was sold out by one OF
it's faithless members? And In case
Calvin Coolidge should, after all, De
drafted into denomination, 10 What eN-
tent would 1t be possible to hanR upon
him some veStige OF responsibility lot
acts OF which his party Is now proved
To have been the substantial benenciaryF
These are the thoughts which are
dominating and permeatlng and agl-
tating every political soul In Wash-
inaton at this moment. II Is the ex-
pectation OF leaders in hoth parties
that oil viii be dragged into the pr,
mary lights IN various states ~ al
ia fair In love and political war, IL can
hardly be doubted that the mahaseIs
OF rival presidential candidates wiz
seek To derive proflt. by hook OF py
crook. from the Sinclair mess. FOR
instance. there are indications from
Indiana that Senator Jim" watson
friends are not averse to reminding
Itoosier Republican voters that one Oh
the nre.c0nvention Hoover paiadins,
until recently at least, was WIN a.
Uavs And. II II seems fruitful. anu
uooverites In Indiana and ELSEWHERE
uiii orobabiy not shrink from rechli'hs
the fact that the Secretary OF COM
merce sat Ia Harding cabinet meet'hgS
''where the oil leases must nave beeh
discussed"
oniuion is decidedly divided at Wash
inytou AS to the wisdom Senator ltop-
Inson Republican OF Indiana, displayed
in dragging Al Smiths name into thr
on uollution. AIbany's explanation
that GOV. Smith appointed sinclair
IN The New York Racing Commission
i'm 1920 two years before Teapot Dome
was stolen and three years before the
theft was discovered. pretty well bloWa
into smithereens the suggestion OF a
deal" with the oil magnate The
governors Adherents In Washington
are confident that Senator Robinson \
innu@ndo will prove boomerang IN
other words, they think II will do "AP'
more good than harm, The governor i
defenders say II shouldn't be forgotten
that the junior Senator from Indiana
mas been accused more than once OF
friendly relations with the ku KluN
Khan, which may Hmithites deciare, ek-
plain Rohins0n's attempt to smear The
Democrats outstanding presidential
candidate with oil
Senator Gerald q Nye, the Hepub-
iran progressive from North Dakota,
who Ii nov eomtaeniar III chief Of the