Evening star., 1946-02-07
Truman BaIks
AT Withdrawing
PduIey' 5 Name
Convinced Nominee
Is Honest; Says Ickes
Could Be Wrong
BY ]. A. FOX.

President Truman declared
fatty today that he would not
withdraw the nomination of Ed
win w. Pauley, California oil
magnate. to be Undersecre-
tary of the Navy despite charges
made before the Senate Naval
Affairs Committee that Mr.. Pau
ley sought to block the Gov
ernment's suit to gain title to
valuable oil-bearing tidelands.
Expressing his conviction that Mr..
Pauley, former treasurer of the
Democratic National Committee, is
an honest man, the President re-
torted to charges against Mr.. Pauley
by Secretary of the Interior Ickes
by saying that Mr.. Ickes could be
mistaken just as any of the rest of
us may be.
In two appearances before the
Senate committee which has Mr..
Pauley's nomination under consid-
Grafton, Secretary Ickes alleged that
Mr.. Pauley had advised him he
could raise 100000 in Democratic
campaign funds from California oil
men If they got assurance that the
Government would not file the tide
lands suit.
Mr.. Pauley fatty denied the
accusations several times.
Didn't Want Showdown.
AS the result of Secretary Ickes
testimony, Democratic leaders in
Congress have been conferring on
the advisability of asking the Pres
ident to withdraw the nomination
to avoid bitter floor fight which
might end unfavorably.
In the light of this, a reporter
asked the President fatty if he
would withdraw the nomination.
Firmly, the President responded
that he was not going to take this
action. He quickly added that he
thought Mr.. Pauley is an honest
man and very capable administra-
tor who did magnificent job as
reparations commissioner. He COM
mented that he did not think Mr.
Pauley was the only honest man.
The President said Secretary
Ickes had not consulted him In ad-
vance concerning his testimony criti-
cizing Mr.. Pauley, but that he did
not believe this would change his
relationship with Mr.. Ickes.
1t was at this juncture that the
President said Mr.. Ickes can be mis-
taken the same as any of the rest
of us.
Asked whether he planned to call
in Mr.. Ickes to discuss his attitude
on the nomination, the President
said no.
Meanwhile, further hearings were
put off until next week on the
Pauley nomination. A group of
Democratic members of the COM
mittee met late yesterday to survey
the situation. Some favored asking
for withdrawal, while others were
disposed to fight the case through,
In other quarters there were reliable
reports that Democratic Senators
facing reelection this fall were not
anxious to vote on the nomination
in view of the controversy that has
developed.
Flynn Visits Truman
In response to another query at
his news conference, the President
said that he did not discuss Mr..
Ickes with former Democratic Ma
tional Chairman Edward j. Flynn,
who was White House visitor
yesterday.
Mr.. Flynn also had been brought
into the oil hearing when Secretary
Ickes said Mr.. Flynn had gagged"
him during the 1912 campaign. Mr..
Ickes blamed Mr.. Flynn because he
was not permitted to speak in Port
land, Greg, but Mr.. Flynn told
newsmen after his White House call
that Democratic leaders out there
did not want the Secretary to
appear.
Mr.. Truman said that his discus
sion with Mr.. Flynn dealt with DO
litical matters in New York, where
the governorship and one Senate
Seat are at stake this year, along
with all H0llSe seats