The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1922-10-17
CARAVAN DEMANDS
HARDING CLEAR HIM
Writes to President That He
Has Been Grossly Mis-
led by Daugherty.

New York.-F1atly refusing to return
to the United States government a
single chemical patent right owned by
the Chemical Foundation, Inc, Of
which he Is president, Francis p. Gar
van, in a spirited and energetic letter
to President Harding, asserted that
the President, grossly misled By the
attorney-general," Is, for the first time
in American history, attempting to
abrogate a solemn Executive order of
a predecessor, and is acting, moreover,
on information Furnished by German
agents and interpreted by lawyers
whose sole knowledge Of the war and
its lessons is derived from association
with German clients"
Absolute legality in the sale of 400
and odd former German patents to the
Foundation, and complete publicity in
the organization and operation of this
quasi-public institution, together with
the highest Of ethical motives, are
earnestly maintained by Mr.. Garvan in
his communication, and he asserts with
emphasis that no person connected
with the Foundation has ever made a
dollar out Of it, or ever could do so
under its charter and bylaws himself
least Of all he fortifies that statement
with figures which show that the capt.
tai Of the institution consisted of $685.
900, all Of which has been spent in the
purchase of the patents and in educat-
ing the people through schools and
colleges and in the encouragemen of
chemical societies, and says that the
Foundation income from licenses bare
ly meets the modest running expenses.
All of these financial details have
long been available, Mr. Caravan re-
minds President Harding, and demands
that the President ascertain the truth
and tell the people whether the Foun.
dation and its head have deserved the
abuse they have received.
"Gave All and Got Abuse"
ut has given its ALL" Mr.. Caravan
writes. "You can take away nothing
but the opportunity Of service. 1t was
all we got from the government. It
is all we have.
"Mr. President, you have had the
temerity to impugn the honor of the
gentlemen who boast a part in the
great work of building up or preserv-
ing the possibility of progress in or
ganic chemistry for America. You have
again been misinformed as to the
nature of the trust we bore. That trust
was not for the German Kartel, the
owner Of practically all the important
patents, who had received them under
the unthinking graciousness of laws
they had induced. That trust was for
the American people, their industrial
independence and for the safety and
health of their children and their chill
dren's children"
At the outset OF his letter Mr. Garvand
states that he has forwarded to the
Alien Property Custodian the Chemical
Foundations formal answer to his
demand, an answer "as an American
ready at all times to de-.
fend its rights in the courts" but that
the public In whose interests the Foun-
dation was organized, is entitled to be
fully informed as to the circumstances
under which the demand was made and
the reason why it Is unqualifiedly re-
fused. The demand itself, Mr.. Garvan
asserts, together with the letter written
by the President and the statement
made by Attorney General Daugherty,
demonstrate that you, Mr.. President,
have been grossly misled by the attor-
ney-general, both as to the law and the
facts Of the case"
Eliminating "Enemy Interest"
Thereupon Mr.. Garvan contends Q)
that the Encouragement has listened
to German agents. which Is
no investigation; (2), that the United
States government has no interest In
the suit brought by the Foundation to
determine the ownership of funds held
by the treasury; (3), that when Presi-
dent Wilson authorized the sale of the
German patents, neither the President, |
secretary of state nor alien property
custodian was, under the law, in the |
remotest sense a trustee for the Ger
man enemies; az, that specific power |
to sell the patents was granted by Con- |
gress after full committee hearings on |
November 4, 1918, and on December 3, |
1918, President Wilson, vested with |
power to supervise all sales, authorized |
Acting Secretary of State Frank L. |
Polk to approve the sale of the German
chemical and other patents 90, that
On February %, 1919, Polk ordered the
sale in the public interest, noting that
a public sale was not in the best in
terests Of the public because 1t would |
offer opportunity for the patents to get
into the hands of spectators and
and that the Chemical
obligated to grant non.
exclusive licenses, was the best means
'or eliminating alien interests hostile
o American industries and Of the ad-
Tancement Of chemical and allied in
iustries in the United States - (6),
hat President Wilson, returning from
lbroad, confirmed Folks order on Feb
'uary 10, 1920, with this comment
My reasons for the foregoing determi.
lation and order are stated in the said
riders Of Frank l.. Polk . and in
edition thereto, the public interest
7ill be best served by the elimination
I any enemy interest adverse to
.merican citizens arising by reason of
aid chooses in action, or rights, inter
SITS and benefits under said agree
tents
"This sale" Mr.. Garyan continues