Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-08
Plan for PauIey
oWithdraw
StrikesSnag
Truman Is Reported
Wanting More Time
To Consider Question
By J. A. O'Leory

BY J. A. OLeory
Plans for the withdrawal OF
Edwin w. Pauley's nomination
for Undersecretary of the Navy
were reported to have been held
up today because President Tru-
man wanted more time to con-
slider the matter.
Senators confirmed privately that
there was an understanding last
night that Mr.. Pauley would an
nounce his withdrawal tomorrow
after reading his formal statement
of rebuttal to the Senate Naval
Affairs Committee today, with the
understanding that a majority of
the committee would join in state
ment unfolding Mr.. Pauley's ability
and integrity.
Word is said to have reached
members of the Naval Affairs Com
mittee this morning that Mr.. Tru-
man was busy on other matters
and wanted action on the Pauley
nomination delayed until Tuesday.
otlChS w otdtcIltutS,
At his news conference today, Mr..
Truman was asked if he expected
Mr.. Pauley to withdraw. The Pres
ident dismissed the subject by say
ing he had made four statements
on it and intended to stick by them.
The President has stated con-
sistently that he would stand by his
nominee, emphasizing his belief in
Mr.. Pauley's honesty.
These developments were followed
by a stormy morning session of
the committee, marked by frequent
verbal clashes between Democrats
and Republicans, over old and new
issues.
When the committee recessed for
lunch, Senator Tobey, Republican, of
New Hampshire, chief opponent of
the nomination, told reporters:
I'm all my 48 years have never
had an experience comparable or
like the one of the last 48 hours.
Definite promises and assurances
given me have been reneged upon.
The program that was agreed upon
as to time and places goes out the
window"
Some committee members, how
ever, gave the impression that to-
days developments do not neces-
sarily mean that plans for with
drawal are definitely off.
Won't Quit Under Fire.
Mr.. Pauley himself, however, told
the committee he intended to stay in
the fight, asserting: .--
mo real man quits under fire
no honest man withdraws when he
knows he's right"
This assertion and another state
ment in his rebuttal that his de-
termination to fight for confirma-
ton is stronger than ever" are
understood to have taken by sur
prise committee members who
thought agreement had been
reached on a withdrawal.
When the committee met at 10
o'clock, however, there were no
longer any signs that settlement
had been reached.
On the contrary, Senator Tydings,
Democrat, of Maryland, leading de-
fender of Mr.. Pauley, and Senators
Tobey and Brewster, Republicans, of
Maine, chief opponents, wrangled
for more than an hour over several
exhibits relating to litigation in
California between different oil
companies.
The upshot was that Mr.. Pauley
demanded time to call more wit
resses from California by next
Tuesday to testify regarding two
pieces of litigation in California in
1885 which Senator Brewster had
asked him about.
$4,000 Called d. C. Quota.
In his rebuttal statement, Mr..
Pauley asserted that the now
famous figure referred to in his
September, 1914, conference with
Harold L. Ickes was the District of
Columbia's quota for the Demo-
cratic campaign fund and had no
connection with the issue of owner
ship of the tideland oil areas.
For five weeks I have take i the
most vicious punching a m Il can
receive" Mr.. Pauley declar d. For
five weeks these hearings h We been
a public forum for any ne who
wanted to slug me.
"You have heard it all and now
you're hearing Ed Pauley | No real
man quits under fire 70 honest
man withdraws when he Knows he's
right.
"The basic issue before you is
whether I have the proper qualifi-
cation to make good and efficient
Undersecretary of the Navy. I am
convinced can serve my country
well and efficiently. I know that ]
have served her loyalty, honestly
and faithfully in the past. I SUBJ
NIT my record for your considera-
ton"
Flat Denial Repeated.
Repeating his fiat denial of former
Secretary of the Interior Ickes'
charge that he said 100000 in
campaign funds could be raised
among oil men for the Democrats
if the Government did not press Its
suit for Federal title to the tide
lands, the nominee and former Dem
ocratic treasurer said:
"At no time did say to him that
II he would lay off anything that
could raise money from California
(See PAULEY, Page A-15.)