Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-27
HARDING DENIES He
HAD RUSSIAN AGENT
Republican Nominee Also AS
serts He Knew Nothing of
Siberian Lease
NEVER HEARD OF VANDERBILT

Marion, u, OCT. Sl,-DlrecJ uenlal
was made by Senator Harding yesterday
of reports reaching the State Depart
ment that washington d. Vanderlip was
acting as. his agent in Russia.
"I have never heard of Mr.. Van
derlip," said the senator. ''he Is not
my agent, and have no agent. l
know absolutely nothing about any
such matter as is discussed in these
dispatches. and have no interest in it
whatever
The Republican nominee declined to
make any statement regarding the Van
derlip story or to comment speclncally
on the reported negotiations relating to
possible American recognition Of the
Soviet government of Russia. He said
he considered his denial broad enough to
make his position entirely clear and TO
serve notice to every one concerned that
he was not party to any of Nanderlip's
reported activities.
Los Angeles, Oct. 2T.-(By A. P.)-
j. T. Sartori, Los Angeles banker, said
last night there was nothing political
about the lease by a group of Pacific
Coast capitalists OF large tract In
Northeastern Siberia.
II know very little about it," he
stated. II was asked if l would take
an interest in the project. and I said
would. have no details at ALL"
There is absolutely no political sig
nificance to be attached to the matter
said 8. e. Gibbon, attorney and rail
way man associated with Mr.. Sartori
and others in the Siberian project.
No Politics Involved
MY understanding is Mr.. Vanderlip
who is a mining engineer, went to see
what concession he could obtain in ST.
IBERIA. 1t is very probable he had some
conversation with the governing powers
1t is very natural that he should. Blu,
as he went as a private citizen ! can
not conceive that he should have made
any such representations as are attrib.
uted to him. / cannot believe thes,
representations have any basis in fact. >
The situation is this" said Lee A
Phillips, insurance man and a mem
) Der Of the syndicate. 'Mr. Vanderlil
came to me and others and reporte,
that by his long sojourn in Siberia
knew Of the existence of rich fields o
minerals, oils, etc. He said he believe
, he could secure a concession II properl
financed. We financed the trip.
THE first information we receive
from him came through the press.
have my very serious doubts that Mr.
Nanderlip made any false representa-
tions. He had no authority from US I
do so. The project has no political sig
niticance. 1t is purely a business az
fair"
} Purely Business Interests
Harry Chandler, publisher Of the Lo
Angeles Times, said Mr.. Nanderlip rep
resented purely personal business inter
ests here and elsewhere in the West.
''Mr. Vanderlip and those he repre-
sents have no connection either per
sonal or political with Senator Hard
ing" he said.
II saw Mr.. vanderlip only once,
said NJ. II. Whittier, oil operator. "H
paper. He told me he had been /
, Siberia and thought there was oil there
He wanted men to finance him for
trip there. There were on his pape
the names of some prominent men. II
e got my check and left. That is the frs
and last time I have seen or heard q
him.
If there is any political significanc
about it, don't know it. I'm an o
. man, not a politician.
"I know nothing about it whatever,
said f. W. Braun, wholesale druggist
IT have no information about what MI
Vanuerlip has been doing All ] hay
learned about it has reached me throug
the press
Other Los Angeles men mentioned Q
members of the combination could NJ
: be reached last night.
: Marion, o., Oct. 27.-CBy A. P.)-
The League of Nations, tariff protec
ton, Americanism and constitutions
government are expected to be head
liners among the issues discussed
4 Senator Harding on his final campaig
swing through Ohio, beginning toda
o and ending Saturday night with
: speech in Columbus.
) In addition the Republican candidat
{ will sum up for the voters of his ow
state the detailed platform which
> has laid down during the campaign al
e on which he is asking for a nation
. Republican victory at next weeks eleC
O ton.