New Britain herald., 1928-02-15
WHO PAID THE DEFICIT:

 as Jobn D. Rockefeller Jr.,, he would not hesitate, even if some of his friends were injured in the process
 The rumor has been rife for a long time that the Republican cam paign deficit in 1920 was paid in a mysterious manner. It may be re- membered that the deficit. was SS0o,0O after Mir. Harding's cleo iion. Suddenly it. was wiped out. How did that come about? Not even President Harding knew. Some time before his death. when apprised that the deficit had been paid, Mir. Harding remarked that some good friends" of the party apparently came to it's assistance.
 They certainly did. The rumors accompanying the payment were more definite, at least as definite as rumors can become. These were that the deficit had been paid by the oil interests or their satraps who had profited by the Teapot Dome fraud.
 So far $:5.ooo In liberty bonds have been traced to the deficit pay ment. It is believed that Colonel Stewart could shed light on the trail of the remaining money, and it is likeN ise believed he is reluctant about it because he wants to shield the party as well as his friends, or the friends Of his friends. who are supposed 10 have had a hand in pay ing the deficit.
 Some of the bonds from the Con- tinental deal have been traced 10 former Secretary Albert B. Fall H. M. Blackmer and James E. O'Neiu, former associates in the deal. have fled to Europe and prefer to stay there rather than come to their na- tive land and answer questions. They can live in France without working and have plenty of spend- ing money.
 Every manner of obstacle has been placed in the way of Senator Walsh of Montana the arch inquisi- tor of the Teapot Dome fraud. He has surmounted many of them and the public is solidly behind him in his efforts to surmount the remain- ing difficulties. Political moguls as we'll as oil moguls should be ques- tioned by the Senate committee. So far the only individual connected with the oil industry who has shown a complete disposition 10 tell all he knows has been MT. Rockefeller, and 10 his credit be it said that he has done yeoman's service in at tempting 10 influence others in the industry, particularly Colonel Stew art. 10 do likewise.
 The story that the Republican deficit of 1920 vas paid out of the oil fraud profits persists and will be regarded 3s truth unless it can be definitely proved wrong. The public is justified in concluding that If the individuals who took part in the deal, who must know it's details, are unwilling to remember what oC- cured when on the witness stand, that the story ls correct. The Re publican party cannot afford to be shown as profiting from an oil fraud against the goyernmcnt; yet it can- not evade the responsibility through the silence and reluctance oe the persons involved.
 Whether any of. this money was paid to the Democratic party, of course, is just as necessary to deter mine. The public has a right 10 know whether any or both of the lnTlor parties rrofjtea ts the Teo- pot fraud.
 Al tho iuve stigatton of the S"nato oil Ioaa2 committee in 1923 and 1924 Nir. Sinclair testified ,he be lipycd he had contributed 10 both tn" T.opuF,Iicau and Democratic campaign funds. H. explained he had friends in both parties. But the bipartisan contribution story did not stick after Will II. Hays and George White, respective chairmer of the C. o. r. and Democrats, had testified. Hays said Sinclair had given S75,oo0 to the grand old par ty, White said Sinclair had not given a cent to the Democrats, but admitted F. l.. nohony had gwen ea4 aoo.
 If ie o,Idcut to all rantm soru-