OIL SCANDAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1924, Page 3

OIL SCANDAL.

SHOCKING DISCLOSi: 1 {F.S. iUSTBALIAN AND N.Z- CABLE ASSOCIATION. {Received this day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 22. Will Hays, the Republican Campaign .Manager in 1220, told the Oil Committee that lie approached, aud obtained from Sinclair, who .subsequently received the oil lease, seventy-live thousand dollars with which to help liquidate the million dollar campaign deficit. Curiously enough Sinclair had boon a liberal contributor to both the Republican as well as the Democratic election expenses. Sinclair also appeared before the Committee, but refused to testify. The Committee indicated that | Sinclair would ho cited lor contempt. The Dougherty Committee's hearing reached a climax when Senator Wheeler demanded that President Coolidge suspend Dougherty until the investigation is finished. Senator Wheeler sharply attacked Mr Coolidge for permitting Dougherty to retain his tremendous power in controlling the Seeiet Service for personal advantage. “I think Dougherty stooped to a cowardly and dirty trick when he attacked the clmractei o, a poor, defenceless woman." he said. Wheeler here referred to the statement issued l.v Dougherty. following Miss Stinson's charges. Miss Stinson, resuming her testimony offered a variant concerning the late' President Harding's nomination, declaring that Miss Smith. Dougherty’s, closest associate told her of the machinations during the 1020 Republican Convention whereby Dougherty as a return for Mr Harding's nomination, extracted the latter’s promise to give the Secretaryship of the Interior to a representative of the oil inteiests. Senator Sliipstead. Minnesota, .addressed the Senate, bitterly criticising the State Department for its taduie t„ inform the Senate of the Fiend, loan He said it would seem a public duty for the State Department to keen the" Senate informed regarding then relations with other countries, because sooner or later, financial matters would Become political and financial entanglements would become political entanglements. Continuing. Senator Sliipstead said “Shall America, through its Bankers loans ho again drawn into the inaelstorm of destruction. Shall we he again drafted into the game of selfishness and greed that will multiply poverty, disease, misery, debts, taxes and death among the white lace.