The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-28
OIL STEAL
CHARGE ST|RS
HOOvER'S IRE
DenOunCeS Colorado Shale
Criticism as Reckless,
BaSeIeSS, Infamous,
KELLEY is ASSAILED
Public Service Damaged by
Such Cases, Says
Chief Executive.
BIZ United Press

WASHINGTON, Oct. Discharges
against the administrations han
ding of Colorado oil shale lands
were denounced today by President
Hoover as reckless, baseless and in
famous" and supported by hostile
political agencies in way that can
only damage the public service.
In the most scathing language
that has come from the White
House in months, President Hoover
at his press conference today Sc
verely condemned the course Of
Ralph S. Kelley, former chief of
the field division of the general land
office who recently alleged the gov
eminent was permitting oil COM
panies to usurp public rights on
Colorado oil shale lands.
The President said he conceived
it to be his duty to uphold honest
public service. "Such reckless
charges can only be a damage to
public service" he said. They dam
age faith in men,"
Political Motive Charged
The President emphasized that
the Kelley charges were made at
the height of the political campaign
and were published in a newspaper
opposing the administration.
Publication of the stories of Mr..
Kelley in the press was an attempt
to charge oil scandals in this adj
ministration, Mr.. Hoover said.
Charges have been found by At
torney-General Mitchell and his
assistant, Seth Richardson, to be
without any basis on substance.
the President stated.
The government has not leased
hundreds of thousands of acres Of
these lands, but only few thou
sand, mostly upon the order of the
court and with the approval of
Kelley himself, Attorney General
Mitchell held.
$4O,OOO.OOO,OOO Steal Claimed
by the merest inquiry in his own
department or the department of
justice, the falsity of Kelley's
charges could have been proven.
Mr., Hoover said the articles were
sold to journal of the opposite
party, possibly with the idea of pre-
venting adequate investigation.
Kelley in his charges declared the
governments oil shale lands con-
tanned oil estimated at 100000 100000
barrels by the geological survey,
worth at current prices $4,000
100000.
Il may say" the President added,
"that proper inquiry or proper criti-
cism by the press is a safeguard Of
good government. But this investi-
cation shows more than this. Kel-
ley had been called to Washington
last summer to discuss with his i'm
mediate superiors questions of or
ganization in the Office, of which he
had charge, he made no suggestion.
AsSaiIs Reckless Allegations
GAS piece of journalism, it we1
may be the newspaper involved was
mislead. 1t certainly does not rep
resent the practices of better
American journalism. AS a piece
of politics it is certainly far below
the ideals of political partisanship
held by substantial men in that
party.
Il hope the American people
realize that when reckless, baseless
and infamous charges in the face
of responsible denial with no at
tempt at verification, are supported
by political agencies and are broad
cast, rejecting upon the probity Of
public men, such as Secretary
Wilbur, the ultimate results can
only be damage to the public service
as a whole.
Kelley Maintains Stand
1.-THE one hope of high service
and integrity and ability is that
such men should be willing to I'M
dertake it and when men of life
time of distinction and probity do
undertake it, they should not be
subjected to infamous transactions
Of this character"
After the justice department is
sued it's report Monday upholding
the interior departments course,
Kelley issued a statement declaring
the report was a ridiculous white
wash"