Evening star., 1946-02-17

tdent Roosevelt would have ap-
pointed Mr. Pauley.
Mr.. Ickes declared that "the one
great regret" he has in the present
controversy is what I regard as the
Presidents lack of adherence to the
strict truth"
Questions Truman's Memory.
Perhaps, Mr.. Ickes suggested, the
Presidents memory "is at fault even
about the recent Incidents adding
that Il want to be as charitable as
] can"
Alluding to Mr.. Truman's news
conference statement yesterday that
Mr.. Ickes would not dare to reflect
on the Presidents integrity, the
former cabinet member said:
After all. the President of the
United States is neitherwan. absolute
monarch nor a descendant of pu-
tative sun goddess"
THE President ought to. be the first
to insist that the civil rights of the
humblest citizen are safe in his
hands" Mr.. Ickes declared. HE
ought not to make accusations with
out submitting himself to the right
of cross-examination
He should not pass judgment in
volving anether's integrity. without
considering all of the evidence. The
White House offers no immunity not
vouchsafed to ordinary men. Above
all others, the President should
speak the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.
Hits Political Fayors.
Particularly" Mr.. Ickes' state
ment continued, "he should not
throw the weight of his high Office
in favor of any man merely because
of political favors already rendered
or expected"
Mr.. Ickes' resignation came as a
result of the Presidents statement
at an earlier news conference that
the then cabinet member might
easily have been mistaken about
what Mr. Pauley told him at the
conference where campaign contri-
buttons were discussed.
Mr.. Ickes' statement last night
dropped into a political pot already
boiling briskly, with oil State SEN
ators generally rallying to Mr..
Pauley's support and Senator Tyd-
ings, Democrat, of Maryland taking
informal leadership of the fight for
confirmation.
Mr. Truman, on a yachting trip
down the Potomac with some of his
advisers, was reported, meanwhile,
to be studying list of names of
possible successors to MIR. Ickes.
List Cut TO Three.
Some officials who have talked
recently with the President said
they came away with the impression
that the potential appointee list had
been reduced to three - Senator
O'Mahoney, Democrat, of Wyoming;
Supreme Court Justice Douglas and
Gov. Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Governor is active
IN the oil business and that was
counted against him at this time.
Chairman Walsh of the Senate
Committee said that at the request
OF Senator Tydings, representatives
OF Mr.. Pauley had been permitted
to examine and photograph a
memorandum Mr.. Ickes left with
the committee when he told of his
conversations with Mr.. Pauley.
Some Pauley supporters hinted
they might attempt to prove the
memorandum was of recent origin.
Copy of Original Memo.
But Mr.. Ickes, through an aide,
authorized this quotation:
"The copy which was presented
to the Senate committee was copy
of the original memorandum" The
aide, who asked not be quoted by
name, said that to his personal
knowledge. the copies given to the
committee were prepared within
the last 10 days.
Senator Walsh said it was his
understanding that Mr.. Ickes
would be asked to produce the
originals, if any question is raised
as to the time when they were
written.
Senator Tydings denied himself
to reporters after what another
committee member described as a
conference with Mr.. Pauley. But
he has indicated in committee hear
lags that he is interested In seeing
the nomination of the California
oil man confirmed.
Support From Oil States.
Mr.. Pauley also drew support
from several Senators who hail
from petroleum producing States.
Senators Eastland and Bilbo,
Mississippi Democrats, are backing