Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-06
GERMANS ARE TOLD
or ALLEGED PLOT

Continued from Page One
course, stand for the cause Of the
Allies, but. Just as yourself, discretion
should always be used. We can hurt
Germany much harder II we pretend
TO be strictly neutral than by taking
the stand OF Heustis
Deai friend. do what you can in this
matter and myself and all my friends
will be thankful to you
With kindest regard and west wishes,
l am, Yours,
LUDINGTON.
LUDINGTON DIsAVOWs LETTER,
The communication was written on sta
tionary of cheap grade and tho envelope
containing It bore postmark, Feb, 18th,
$3.50 p. M" The mark OF the postal station
where 1t had been mailed was erased
The letter was shown Mr.. LudIngton.
lie at once said that he had not written
the communication and that the sigma
ture attached was not his. He said that he
did not know Mr., Van Nalkenburg or
MIR. Heustis, nor was he an Englshman.
Mr.. Van Nalkenburg has been III for
several weeks az the University Hospital.
VAN NALKENBURG LAUGHS.
Mr.. Van Valkenburg was seen in his
room at the hospital. lie was shown n
copy OF the letter addressed to him. lie
said that he had never received such
letter, that he did not know Charles II.
Ludington nor did he know any man
named Ludlngton.
He was asked whether he knew Charles
II. HoustIs, of the Inquirer lie replied
that he knew him slightly. He was asked
whether he thought he exercised sufficient
influence over Mr. Heusts to cause him
TO change the tenor of his war writings.
Mr.. Van Valkenburg laughed heartily at
this question. He added that ne knew
no person named Dwight, as mentioned in
the letter.
DENIAL FROM HECSTIS.
Mr.. Heustis was told about the manner
in which his name had been used during
the course of an interview in his office
at the Philadelphia Inquirer building.
He entered general denial OF the truth
of the charges made in the letter.
THE whole thing is so manifestly ride
ulous," he said, that it is hardly worthy
of a reply. / have a nodding acquaint-
ance with Mr.. Van Nalkenburg, ! do not
know Charles II. Ludington | go to
Europe every year. During my last visit
to Europe | decided TO write general inn
pressons OF conditions due to the war,
but there was nothing secret In this, as
the Inquirer made several announcements
concerning the special article which j
was to write"
Mr. HeustIs said that the charge that
he had received a sum of money from
the British Government was too ridicu-
lous 10 merit an answer. He said the In
qurer had been in receipt OF numerous
letters from Germans who complained
about the headlines, that letters had been
received from partisans of both sides,
and that as a result of this il was de-
cided to publish no letters whatever con-
the war.
Charles II. Heustis is editor-in-chef OF
tho Inquirer.
f. w. LIodtke, the recipient of the let
ter is an ardent Gorman-A American and
Is at loss TO understand how the news
that he received such a communication
leaked out He declined at first 10 give
the letter for publication, but finally, IN
a spirit OF fair play, thought It only just
since the Impression had become general
that the signature of "Ludi. gton" meant
Charles H. Ludington, that the public be
made acquainted with the contents OF the
letter.
NOW LIN EN w 40 iOl Il EN.
The unknown writer who inclosed the
Van Valkenburg communication wrote the
10 MIR. LIedtke;
Mr., i, Liedtke;
Enclosed letter was not stolen or
found. but II was thrown in the waste
10 be burned up, and as waste Is nobodys
property this letter became my property.
and / make you a present with It. / have
been i'm your place several times, You are
a good, fearless man and stand for the
right. | cannot sign my name, as 1 don't
want to lose my job, but like the right
more than l like rascality.
Respectfully.
"A MAN THAT WANTS THE RIGHT
TO PREVAIL"
Mr. Liedtke declined TO enter into any
discussion Of the inferenees in the Van
letter regarding newspaper
avoritism concerning the war
Let the newspapers thresh the matter
)ut." he said,