The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-29
DEMOCRAT OH.
PLOT CHARGED
BY ROBINSON
Conspiracy Was Hatched in
Wilson's Regime, Says
Indiana Senator.
HITS DANIELS AND LANE
Called to Account When He
! ASSaiIS Walsh for Aid
M ing Legislation.

By United Press
s.. WASHINGTON March 90
The conspiracy" to get control of
the nations oil reserves was not
Matched at the 1920 Republican
convention, but was formed in
Washington during the Wilson Ad-
ministration "by high officials of the
Administration, aided and abetted
by still other Democrats of high
standing" Senator Arthur Robin
son (Rep), Indiana, told the Sen
ate today.
Robinson charged that former
Secretary of Navy Daniels asked au-
thority to take naval reserve oil out
of the ground and leased fifty-fve
we'll in the Elk Hills reserve. He
said former Secretary of Interior
Lane originated the idea of leasing
the lands to private oil interests.
He contended that Senator Walsh
of Montana, investigator of the Tea
pot Dome scandal, was charged by
the late Senator La Toilette with
acting in the interests of the Stand
ard Oil Company in connection with
Democratic leasing legislation.
Walsh Takes Issue
Walsh rose to a question of per-
-sonal privilege to declare Robin
sons charges "nisstatements of
fact"
Perhaps the Senator does not
understand what he is talking
about, but when he refers to my
connection with leasing legislation
he must say that the legislation
had nothing to do with the naval
oil reserve" Walsh said.
Robinson answered that he would
"take that up later" and Walsh
thereupon called him to order, de-
manding that Robinson retract his
charge.
A parliamentary debate ensued
which concluded when Walsh said:
"Oh, very well, let the Senator make
any statement he desires to make
I shall not challenge him further" F"
Robinson resumed speaking.
Democrats Assailed
"The record shows that almost as
soon as the Democratic party came
into power in 1918, ar extensive and
intensive campaign began, headed
by Secretary Lane, participated in
by the Democratic leaders in Con-
gress with the Senator from Mon
tana as it's spokesman in this body,
to open up naval oil reserves for
exploitation by private oil corpora
tions.
This was done upon the ground
that private wells just outside those
reservations were draining the oil
from the Navy's reserves, and it was
matter of self defense to sink
offset wells within the reserves and
to permit this to be done by private
oil interests" Robinson said.
Let some righteous Democratic
leader arise and explain away the
employment, by oil interests, of a
Democratic secretary of the interior,
, his private secretary, his assistant
secretary and his commissioner of
public lands; of a former Demo-
cratic attorney general; of former
Democratic Secretary of War; of
the Democratic Secretary of the
treasury, who also was Son-in-law
of the President; and of the director
of public information of the DEM
ocratic administration representing
all told. an annual investment in
salaries of more than $36O,0O0, or
$1,000 day.
Oil on Doorstep
"When it comes to the issue Of
restitution and cleaning house and
getting rid of tainted money, 1T is
perfectly obvious that the Demo-
cratic leaders have several days
work ahead of them if they would
keep their doorstep from the ac-
emulation of oil.
"And if they believe in their doc
trine, preached from the floor OF
this body in the last few weeks,
that a party should eXpel from its
councils all those who have received
oil money, it is perfectly obvious
that some of the most distinguished
members of the Democratic party
are going to be absent from the next
Democratic national convention.
"Was it nothing that private oil
interests obtained leases on naval oil
reserves from secretary OaI1le1S anu
operated them at profit?
Tells of Lease
"Was it nothing that a Demo-
. cratic national committeeman from
Colorado and his associates were
given a lease by the Democratic
Secretary of the Interior on public
oil lands adjacent to naval re-
! serves-the lease covering 1000 acres
approximately half the size of
Teapot Dome and approximately
one third of the total amount of
public oil lands leased by the
Democratic Secretary of the Interior
during the year Of his term?
"Was it nothing that other private
oilintereStS obtained leases, $50 in
number, adjacent to the naval oil
reserves, permitting them to drain
the oil from these reserves?"
Robinson said the Public Lands
IN Committee, which has been investi-
~ eating oil matters, Immediately
4 should report corrective legislation
to prevent another Teapot Dome
@rara%oT