The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-14

| Post OffiOe Inspectors near an htcIeshh
story OF the way John N. Thurston
was Captured for the Presldency-Why
Doesn't sOmebOdyCO me for the Letters?
The Post Ohics Department, II was
learned yesterday. has begun an lnvesd-
CATION Of the American Maritime League,
of which ex-senator John NJ Thurston is
president, and whose letterheads name
as members Of its advisory board Elihu
Root, ex-Secretary OF War; Paul Morton,
| Secretary Of the Navy; William II. MOODY
Attorney-G General; William II, Taft, SecTe-
tary Of War; Benjamin +, Tracy. ex-Secre-
tary Of the Navy; Warner Miller, and Others
most Of whom have stated that their names
were used without authority.
Since last Saturday a stop order has been
in effect on the leagues mail, which Is rap
idly accommodating in the post ofice box
the lea que rents here. The mail already
in the box, according TO those who have
seen it, ls Of an imposing character. IL
includes envelopes earring tho stamp Of
several Government departments and
Others bearng the names OF prominent
ban king houses and legal firms. From
what the inspecto have learned many OF
the lettens are designations from distin-
Ruished members Of the advisory board.
They haven't been Rcoe pied yet, because
since last Saturday nobody has come LOT
the mail 10 get Il, 1t will be necessary,
80 the Post Office authorities say, for some
body TO make an explanation.
since the authorities began 20 inquire
what kind OF an enterprise the league Is,
they have not been able 10 find =. Elliott
Curtis and II. X. Pc mmery, its organizers
These men rented the box month ago,
after giving up the ir oifico at ll5 Broadway.
Ey-Sanator Tlurston hasn't come for the
mail, although be was quoted az saying
/ In Mashing ton day before yeste rday that
the league was all right and that the sums
Of t25 collected from persons all over the
country in return for life memberships
could be accounted for. Mr.. Ihunton.
who came IN town late last night, has called
a Meeting at the Waldorf for o'clock
/ this afternoon, at which possibly some
interesting explanations will be made.
The readiness with which letters we're
obtained and used for the endless chain that
was started by the league appears 20 have
been due, in the first place, according To
the post Office inspectors, TO the TACT that
senator lhurston was the head OF the
league. The authorities would like 70
know by Just what representation Mr..
ThurstOn WAS induced TO take the preSi-
dency and they intend TO ask him. They
have heard one explanation, which they
say fits In with what certain distinguished
men whose names have been used without
I
According to this story, Mr.. Ihurston,
when approached by Curtis and Pommery
to take the presidency agreed to do 30 pro-
viding he was asked by some Of the emil
nent men whose names appeared on the
list OF members they showed him.
They told Mr.. Thurston, 20 We have been
informed, said one Of the INSPECTORS yes
terday, that men like Mr.. Root and Mr..
Belmont had sent them 10 request him 70
leone ne PTd 5 inland and Tbu Of o0u
insisted that he would have TO he asked
first 4 short time after this Mr.. Belmont
end other men Of prominence got letters
signed with Senator Thurston's name
announcing that he had taken the presi-
dency and intended to devote great deal
Of time to the league.
In reply to these letters they sent Senator
ThurstOn letters congratulating him on
his election, When Mr.. ThurstOn got these
letters he decided II wouldn't do at all 10
decline ar Office which men Of such eminence
believed he already filed. Some Of the
noted men on the list Of officers have told
us that when they saw copies Of these let
ters and we're assured by Senator Thurston
that he was the president they consented |
10 become members and subscribed US. !
They also agreed to write letters TO friends.
Few II any Of them, IL appears authorized /
the use Of their names as officers.
Starting with a few letters here the 4
league spread ,all over the country and It's /
mail has been very heavy. Since we began |
our investigation we have failed 70 find [
any one responsible, although Of course. |
we have not seen Senator Thurston yet. |
All the members whose names appeared |
on the letterhead have told us that they |
have sent In their designations. But all |
the harm has been done. II Senator /
Thurston still says that the league il a
legitimate enterprise, we should be glad !
to hear from him. Usually when the /
mail Of a legitimate enterprise Is held up |
q II only fnU hour hafOra anrnahDdV /
comes forward with proof that releases 1t. /
In this case nobody has even tried 10 get |
IL and nobody has received all the resigna-
tons we have heard about