Evening star., 1930-06-08

"I don't see any reason why I
shouldn't appoint this man."
1t was an utterance, both in tone and
manner, characteristic of Mr. Coolidge.
1t conveyed no assurance of what the
final executive action might be, but it
gave a basis for hope. A day or two
later, however, the question was settled.
happened to be presiding in the SEN
ate when the message from the White
House was received. 1t was opened at
the desk and was found to contain the
name of Owen j. Roberts.
On February IS, 1924, the Senate
confirmed the appointment by a vote
of 68 to 8. There were 20 abSenteeS,
but 10 of these, 1t was announced by
colleagues, would have voted aye If they
had been present. From my intimate
knowledge of the personnel Of the SEN
ate at that time consider 1t safe to
say that If all 96 Senators had been
present many more than 80 of them
would have cast affirmative votes.
OF course, in the brief interval be-
tween nomination and confirmation
there had been opposition to overcome.
The law firm of which Roberts was
senior member had some years before
represented banking house which had
Joined in the underwriting of the Sc
curities of some oil companies. Per-
haps this remote relation to the SuS-
pected industry might have contami-
mated Roberts and sapped his vigor.
Calm reflection, however, satisfied Sem
ators that this was an unreal danger.
But there was another. Roberts had
made, a year previously, a speech at a
dinner in New York and was charged
with having there given vent to hetero-
dox opinions. A newspaper report Sug-
gested that he had criticized the Senate
committee which was investigating the
oil transactions and that he had even
ridiculed Senate Investigations in. gen.
eral Roberts, when confronted with
this charge, denied that he had made
the statements attributed to him, but
said with the greatest frankness that he
is an individualiSt by temperament and
training; that he is opposed to the So
cialization of industry and to Govern
ment control Of business; that he re-
CARDS the Federal Government as hav-
ing. on occasion, abused Its wholesome
powers of regulation, and that these
views had been expressed in the speech.
This simple and direct explanation de-
natured the newspaper account OF the
New York speech, which thus came to
be regarded by most Senators as alto
gether harmless.
But did Mr.. Roberts know anyCnlnB
about land law, the special field OF law
which concerns the public lands OF the
United States and the 1ntricacies OF
practice in the Land Office? This ques-
tion was raised in the committee before
which Roberts appeared for scrutiny
and interrogation. No, he knew Moth
ing about it; but he was sure that with
the help of Land ONCE experts he
could in half an hour learn all that 1t
was necessary for him to know In order
to begin an Intelligent study OF the oil
cases. The objection was not further
pressed. The committee was tavofaoly
impressed and the Senate took the ac-
ton above recorded.
Teamed Well With Pomerene.
Pomerene and Roberts plunged at
once into the work Of study and prepa-
ration. They made a good team. Both
were good lawyers. One had had valu-
able training in Government and In
public affairs; the other had had q
wider experience in keenly contested
litigation. Throughout the years OF as
ISOLATION that followed these two. VINO
were strangers at the outset, worked
together happily and effectively Is col
leagues and friends. Their functions
were differentiated In satisfactory fash
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