Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-20
|Fortas Heard
|Pau|ey Discuss
|0iI Lands Stuff
But Cont Remember
| If 1t Was Linked With
Campaign Funds
By ]. A. OLeory

Abe Fortas, former Undersec-
rotary of the Interior, told the
Senate Naval Affairs Committee
today that he heard Edwin w.
Pauley discuss Democratic cam
paign funds and the tidelands
oil suit in a conference with
Harold L. Ickes, but he could not
remember whether the two sub
jects were linked together ION
"a contingent basis"
Mr.. Fortas took the stand after
Secretary of the Navy Forrestal had
testified he agreed to the nominal
ton OF Mr.. Pauley as Undersecre-
tary of the Navy with the UNDER
standing that the Oil man and
former treasurer of the Democratic
National Committee, or any other
appointee. would not succeed him
until they had six months expert
ence.
The testimony of Mr.. Fortas did
not go to the extent of giving direct
support to the charge of Mr.. Ickes,
former Interior Secretary, that Mr..
Pauley said he could raise $500, 900
for the Democratic campaign fund
from California oil men if the Gov
|ernment did not file the tidelands
suit.
After Secretary Forrestal had
read a carefully worded statement,
In which he stressed the value Of
experienced men in the Navy De.
partment, he told the committee he
believed Mr.. Pauley would sub
ordinate his personal interests to
those OF the Navy If confirmed.
Stewart Charges Party Split.
Meanwhile, Senator Stewart, DEM
ocrat, of Tennessee declaring the
Democratic party is seriously split"
over the nomination, said Mr.. Pauley
should withdraw his name 'out of
common decency."
Senator Stewart, in a statement
released to reporters, said "We have
had one Tea Pot Dome experience
IN this country, and I hope we do
not have to have another one"
You cannot mix oil, water and
politics" the Tennesseean continued.
The Democratic party is split, seri-
ously split, over the nomination, and
Mr.. Pauley is due, out of common
decency, to withdraw his own name"
Deplores Such a Battle.
A fight of this kind "does not do
the Democratic party and the Ad-
ministration any good. he added,
pointing out that one cabinet men,
Der tMr. Ickes) already has re-
signed.
"At the time of the 'contribu-
ton conversation, Senator Stew
art said, MIR. Pauley, SO far as I
know, was not being considered for
Undersecretary of the Navy, but
now since the law suits actually are
pending and speculation goes the
rounds as to whether the Navy
might have control of the tidewater
oil wells in the event the Federal
Government is successful in the
courts, Mr.. Pauley appears on the
scene and wants charge of the
Navy"
Mr.. Fortas emphasized that he
kept no notes or memoranda of the
Pauley-Ickes conversation, as Mr..
Ickes had done, and could not re-
call the date. Mr.. Ickes testified it
was in September, 1914. .
Confirms Part of Testimony.
Mr.. Fortas placed it at more than
oy,l avya1os,,4I
when he was called into Mr.. Ickes'
office that day, Paul Porter, Robert
E. Hannegan and Mr.. Pauley-all of
who were officials of the Democratic
National Committee at the time
were present. A discussion of CAM
paign radio speeches was in prog
ress, he said. He confirmed Mr..
Ickes' statement that Mr.. Hanne-
gan and Mr.. Porter left first.
Getting down to Mr.. Ickes'
charge, which has endangered Mr..
Pauley's chances of confirmation
more than other issues raised in
the hearing, Mr.. Fortas said:
Il have recollection that at that
time Mr.. Pauley mentioned con-
tributions to the Democratic CAM
paign by oil interests, and that he
also mentioned the tidelands suit"
Senator Tobey, Republican, of
New Hampshire, chief opponent of
the Pauley nomination. brought out
that he had called Mr. Fortas about
the case, and asked the witness if
(See PAULEY, Page A-4.)
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