Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-13

plain why I was shocked by the sus-
eestion that liberal campaign con-
tfibutions might be forthcoming Il
the Government should forego what.
ever claim 1t might have to the oil
rich lands lying of the coast Of
California. Above all departments
the Department of the Interior mus
always be on guard against any as
ISOLATION of money with politics, ane
even jealous, by the standard.
OF some men, in defending the Gov.
ernment's legal proprietary rights
The forces that ruined Secretar,
Fall will always be playing upor
any one who is Secretary Of the In.
terror.
1t is not now certain that othel
departments will be immune to sim.
liar sinister pressures. And thu
forces that ruined Secretary Fall be.
cause he made the mistake OF de.
Gliding that. politically, he had Il
yield to them will always be seeking
to GUST or to discredit any Secretar,
who will not surrender to them.
Always, in one form or another
they will be urging (a) that because
of what 1t has to give out tt
the public treasure, the Department
of the Interior can be made a flush
source of money for use In politics
and (b) that Secretary who in.
sists upon protecting the public do.
main, as If it were his own property
from the encroachments Of men 20.
litically and acquisitively ambitious
is an intolerable scold and brake
on progress.
Warns of Cloud.
The incapacity to resist this kind
of political pressure spiritually
the Republican party in the
days of Secretary Fall long before
It's debacle in 1882. And so, as
leave the department, feel that
ought to warn you of a cloud, now
no bigger than mans hand, that
my experience sees in the sky.
This cloud is the brash criticism
Of me voiced by party members
other than yourself for the alleged
failure Of my department to make q
during the last national
of an amount deemed sat
lsfactory. That I have found it
on occasion to decline to
produce lists Of the names and adj
dresses of the department personnel
10 be used for purposes Of political
is quite true. My justi-
has been that such a pro.
cedure would be against my prin-
ciples and, furthermore, would vio-
late the law.
1t Is also undoubtedly true that
my personal contributions have not
been as large in terms of money az
those Of some others, although
have contributed within the limit OF
my ability to do so. Aside from
financial contributions, doubt II
many members of the administra-
ton have given more than I. How
ever, even II I could afford 1t,
would not care to enter into a com.
petition for political favor on thl
basis Of cash contributions made.
1t continues to be q source Of salts,
faction to me to recall Presiden
Rooseveltis word to me at my homs
on the Sunday afternoon following
the last election. He said that hi
had come out to thank me PERSONAL,
for my services in the campaign
services which he appraised so gen,
erolsly that I refrain from quotint
his exact words.
Need Steady Supply Of OIL.
I need not emphasize the concern
that have felt about the oil situa.
ton along the Pacific Coast, whers
we have . steadily declining pro.
lduction with q paucity Of new dis.
coveries. For strategic as well as I'd,
domestic purposes, we need in thu
Pacific Coast States, a steady ant
reliable supply of crude oil.
Naturally, in view of my respon.
sibilities as the head of this depart.
merlt, ! have felt that the nationa
interest In the oil lying of of tn,
shore Of California should be care.
fully guarded. It may be that ou]
future supplies in this area VII
come more and more from under tn,
waters OF the Pacific Ocean. I
I have felt that the national In.
terest requires the determination o.
the ownership Of this oil by thu
branch Of government set up by tn,
people to decide such questions
namely, the courts. II Is for thi,
reason that I have for long tint
pressed for the prosecution of a sui
50 that the courts might say whether
or not the Federal Government ha.
any title in or to any part of thi,
OIL, '9 " !
For the same reason T,have op.
posed all proposals that, without
waiting for the courts so to decide
Congress simply quit claim any In.
terest Of the United States to othel
and private interests. It would b,
strange If, In view Of my interest II
the oil situation along the Pacifi,
Coast, I should not feel some con.
Germ about the business afiliation,
and the natural aptitudes of am
man nominated for the CRITICALLY
important post Of Undersecretar,
Of the Navy. /
Interior Staff Praised.
I cannot understand why an,
American should be afraid to entrus
to the courts such q question as the,
were instituted to pass upon-ans
I am suspicious when I ind sucl
distrust. You must know how mucl
I appreciated your instructions &
the Attorney General to file al
original suit against the State o
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