THE OIL SCANDALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1924, Page 2

THE OIL SCANDALS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. A MARE'S NEST. WASHINGTON, February 15. The Senate Oil Committee investigated the sale of the late “President Harding’s Marion "Star” to-day, without finding any evidence implicating, P'esident Ifnrding in the oil lease scandal. .Mr Frank Vanderbilt, the financier, woo referred to the “Star” in a speech recently, testified that he had heard rumours only, hut he knew none of the facts. He said that lie was a life-long lricnd of President Harding and Ins*— asked for an inquiry into the circumstances of the sale of the “Star” in order to Scotch the rumours. A sharp collapse of stock prices has oc( lined in the market as the result of the circulation of a report in tlio financial district that a prominent operator had suddenly turned bearish, on the theory that the public confidents will he undermined bv the TV ash- y" ingtou oil disclosures. WASHINGTON. February 15. The oil scandals are rendering the nation callous to daily disclosures of new frauds and corruptions. Another newspaper magnate to-day testified that i. ■ leceived from the oil interests nine-t\-two thousand dollars, wherefore he was unable to name the services rends red. Nevertheless, he indignantly d( nieil the sum represented the price of his silence. President Coolidgo, meantime, has withdrawn the nomination of Mr Strawn ns prosecutor, already cabled/"? This follows on. the Senate Committee’s disclosure that Strawn is a (Elector of a Chicago hank, wherein tin Standard Oil Company is the major depositor. President Coolidge has substituted Mr Owen Roberts, a noted constitutional lawyer, whom the committee approved. and thereafter adjourned until February 25. Meanwhile Mr McAdoo, following on ins testimony, cabled February 11, has .summoned a special conference at Chicago consisting of Democrats, Progressives. aiul Labourites to determine whether the acceptance of an oil retainer should prejudice his availability as ». Democratic nominee for the Presidency.