Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-13
|PauIey Assents
To Withdrawal
OF Nomination
Truman Reluctantly.
Accepts; Statement
Books Integrity

1TeSIQenC truman To-Day re-
luctantly" withdrew the nominal
ton of Edwin w. Pauley for I'M
dersecretary OF the Navy at Mr..
Pauley's request after a bitter
six-week fight before the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee.
Coincident with the withdrawal.
Chairman Walsh made public q
statement in which a majority Of
the Naval Affairs Committee ex-
pressed confidence in Mr.. Pauleys
personal integrity and administers
tive competence.
Mr.. Truman, in his reply to the
nominees request for withdrawal,
also reaffirmed his faith in the CALI
fornia oil man and former treasurer
of the Democratic National Com
mittee. The President wrote:
THE disclosuresof all the evidence
has indicated my confidence in you.
Your own feeling that there is no
immediate antidote to the tactics
which have been employed against
you is the only reason I would ac-
cept for the action you now ask me
to take. On that basis alone I con-
sent to the withdrawal of your nomi-
nation. Your defense of your good
name has been valiant and con-
elusive
SpOrtsmanship Praised.
My faith in your integrity and
ability has been strengthened. Both
the fight that you have waged and
your request for withdrawal now,
have been made in good grace and
with true American craftsmanship.
The Nation win know, in more
temperate times, the full worth of
your devoted and patriotic services"
Today's developments ended one
of the bitterest fights in recent
years over presidential appoint
ment and came after influential
Senate Democrats became convinced
that Mr.. Pauley lacked the votes to
be confirmed if the battle had gone
to a. finish.
The appointment split Democratic
ranks Of the Senate and led to the
retirement from the cabinet of Sec
rotary OF the Interior Ickes, whose
testimony was the heaviest blow
dealt to the Pauley nomination.
In his letter to the President, Mr..
Pauley requested withdrawal be-
cause Il do not feel that I would
have the opportunity to render the
Navy or you the high order OF serv-
ice both deserve" in view of the
"hysteria" stirred by Mr.. Ickes'
charges.
+ Ickes Not Mentioned.
! Mr.. Ickes was not mentioned by
name in the exchange of correspond
ence, but the President reiterated
his confidence in Mr.. Pauley and
said, you stand before your country
men after vicious and unwarranted
attacks with integrity unscathed,
with ability unquestioned, with
honor unsullied."
Although several other issues were
raised by Senators Tobey of New
Hampshire, and Brewster of Maine,
the Republicans who led the fight
against the nominee, it was the testi-
mony of Mr.. Ickes that strengthened
the opposition most.
Mr.. Ickes told the committee that
on September 6. 1914. when MIR.
Pauley was treasurer of the DEMO-
cratic National Committee, he told
the cabinet officer that $500 900
could be raised among oil men for
the party campaign fund If the
Government did not press a suit
claiming Federal title to oil-bearing
tidelands.
Mr.. Pauley repeatedly denied this
and other complaints raised against
him, but prominent Democrats on
Capitol Hill continued to urge his
withdrawal in the interest of party
harmony.
Hit Back at Critics.
Mr.. Pauley continued to fight on.
however, and several times in the
past week plans for his withdrawal
with an expression of confidence
from majority of the committee
were delayed.
In reply to his critics Mr.. Pauley
struck back vigorously against the
argument that no oil man should
hold high Office IN the Navy because
OF the Nays interests in oil re-
serves,
When the time came for the COM
mittee to hold a closed session at
1850 am. today. the Democrats
gathered in the regular COMMITTEES
room, while the Republicans were
asked to wait temporarily In room
across the hall. Presumably, the
Democrats were going over the de-
tailed arrangements for the with
drawal, including the text of the
statement.
After Is minutes, the Republicans