Evening star., 1928-03-10
Will Hays Is Flayed by Press
For His Part i'm Sinclair Gift

the Republican party. And It's RESPONSE
BILE leaders were beneflciaries Of his
acts z"
These gifts or loans" in the opinion
If the Santa Barbara Daily News Dem
ocratic1, "are based on The theory that
somewhere. somehow, there will be a
proper recompense for such generosity
This system puts a premium on
dishonesty in public life because 1t pro-
vides an incentive to serve private in
terests and reward those who have
loosened their purse strings to aid the
party" Similarly. the Des Moines Trib-
une-Capital independent Republican,
argues: 'One can syinpathiZe to some
degree with the problem of campaign
manager who has gone in the hole and
wants to get out. He may be simple.
naive and incidentally hard pressed,
and so fail to think about any quid pro
quo. But does anybody question that
Harry Sinclair thought he was strength
ening himself and securing his interests
when he cheerfully bought the deficit
Of the Republican national committee2"
AS for Hays himself. the Dayton Daily
News independent Democratic) OBJ
serves: "As q prominent national figure.
ought he not 10 have come. all quibbling.
all technicalities aside. long ago to the
help Of his Government. ms 1t sought,
against obstruction and odds, TO protect
Itself from great fraud? Ought he not
to have done this. Notwithstanding the
facts would embarraSs his party? Would
not he and his party. indeed. be far
better OFT today II he had done that?"
u y y X
The Richmond Times-Dispatch Dem-
ocrattc) offers the comment: But why
be charitable In dealing with Mr. Hays?
In his dealings with the Senate commit
tee. which represented us. the people
OF the United States. he was not fair or
above board. The truth Is, MIR. HAYS
was anxious TO keep from the public q
smelly piece OF business-~~a transaction
involving the Teapot Dome oil scandal.
Perhaps the former Postmaster General
knew what he was about, but those old
fashioned folk who believe in the strict
est truth under oath never again will
regard Mr.. Hays In the same light ms
they do other elders OF the Presbyterian
Church" The Morgantown New Do
minion independent Democratic) insists
that when the oil magnate put up to
pay the old bills. the Republican party
knew that Falls action In leasing the
oil reserves was crooked and yet the
tainted money was accepted,
THE interests OF the Republican
party and the policies of government for
which 1t stands are inescapably hurt by
the revelation" In the Judgment OF the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin tinde-
pendent Republican,. while the Chicago
Tribune Republican) makes the gen.
erai statement: After the Harding ad-
ministration. the Republican party re-
formed itself discreetly. Government
was cleaned up. but the party reforma-
ton has lacked moral quality. 1t pre-
sented virtues OF expediency rather than
Of conscience" The Tribune. however.
holds that "Mr. Coolidge has been large
ly instrumental In regaining public con-
fidencr."
The Roanoke Times independent
Democratic) concludes, Even though the
Republican candidate. whoever he may
be, may be able to cry. My hands are
clean the country will ask. why didn't
you help trace down and punish tho
guilty parties'?" The Charleston Eve
ming Post independent Demoeratic)
asks: "lias any eminent member of the
party stood up and denounced the great
conspiracy or called for punishment Of
the conspirators? Not that anybody
has heard" Is that papers reply.