Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-03-30
"Aunoying Able Americans. s.

The attitude Of stand-pst Republican
administration leaders and defenders tow
ard the Teapot Dome scandal is illustrated
by the following editorial statement Of the
New YOrk Hersld-Thbune on Thursday.
March %" says statement issued by the
Democratic National Congressional Com
mittee. In It's editorial. this adminisua-
ton spoloeist said:
The Senate spends large part Of its
time in considering resolutions TO investi-
gate and annoy able Americans doing their
days work. Another portion goes 10 oil
singing
TO properly appreciate the attitude Of
this. the chief newspaper organ Of the
Coolidge administration. it should be re-
membersd that one Of its principal owners
is Ogden l. Mills. Mr.. Mills is the defeated
Republican candidate for Governor Of New
York in 1925. He is now Undersecretsry
Of the Treasury. and therefore first assist
ant and chief adviser TO Secretary Mellon.
Among newspaper men who cover the
Treasury Department. it is general knowl-
edge that il is Mr.. Mills who writes most
Of Mr.. Melons reports and political state
ments. and that it was be who wrote Mr..
Melons belsted letter to Senator Walsh.
Of Montana. Of the Senate oil investisat-
ing committee. when the latter by acct
dent discovered that $4,000 Of the Sin
clair Liberty Bonds were In Mr.. Melons
possession about the time he gave $780,
600. at the solicitation Of Will H. Hays.
10 help clear up the Republican deficit
hanging over from the campaign Of 1920.
In that letter Mr.. Mellon admitted that he
for time had Sinclair bonds in his posses
sion. but returned them to the former Re-
publican Chairman. viii H. Hays.
In deplonns the annoying of able
Americans the Herald Tribune neglected
TO mention the names Of any Of those who
have been worried by the Senate investi-
gators. Among them may be mentioned
former Secretary Of the Interior Albert B.
Fall. who traded the oil reserves and re-
ceived in return large sums Of money and
Government bonds. Another Of the able
Americans who have been annoyed is
Edwin l. Doheny. and another is Will H.
Hays. the former Ch8irman Of the Repub.
iican National Committee. who 90, $780,
600 OF the Continental Trading Company
honda frorn Cfnrfaf. - as..-.k..-l -
out among able Republicans to cover fake
contributions to the Republican deficit
Mr.. Aeilos, who had some Of these bonds
IN his possession. but kept silent about
them for four years while the Senate Com
miftee vas trying 10 locate the crooked
pso6ts Of the corrupt bargain, was another
Of the able Americans who has been an
noyed. Another is William N. Butler.
present Chairman Of the Republican Ma
tioaal Committee. who vas offered some
Of the bonds. but whose puritanical con-
science prohibited him from either accept
ing the bonds. inquirine about them. or
telling the Senate. of which he vas a
member while the investigation was in
progress. anything about them. Former
Secretary Of the Navy DENLY. and his assist
ant secretary, young Theodore Roosevelt,
are other able Americans whom the Sen
ate investigators have annoyed, and it is
not beyond reason to imagine that even
President Coolidge. some OF whose closest
political and personal friends have been
damaged by the smear OF Teapot Dome oil,
has been somewhat annoyed at the per-
sistence OF the Senate in uncovenng dirty
deals inside his political family. As for
the responsibility Of the Republican party.
under its present leadership. for the oil
scandals. this recent Senate utterance by
Senator Borah. Republican, is in sharp
contrast with the Herald Tribune's fit of
peevishness over annoyance caused able
Americans.
Every dollar Of this money obtained
by Chairman Hays from Sinclair) wen,
into Its treasury in order to satisfy the
debt Of the Republican party. .
II paid the Republican debt and IL the
Republican party retains il and refuses
to repudiste the transaction, il becomes
morally responsible for II from the begin
ming TO the end. There is no escape from
this conclusion. We cannot remain silent