New Britain herald., 1924-02-23
VANDERBILT AGAIN
 REVIEWS ATTACKS
ASsails Vets Bureau, Dept. Of
 Justice and Others

1 New York, Feb. 23.--Franl. A Vanderlip returned to the attack al Ossining last night in what he called his fight against hypocrisy. Unde- tered by what he insisted were mis- understandings of his exploded charges in connection with the sale of the Marion Star, he declared that in- yesttgation of the alien property cus- | todian's office would reveal a state of affairs more startling than any thing that has developed in the in- quiry into Teapot Dome or the vet erans bureau. He said the depart ment of justice must obviously be overhauled and that if the duty of detection and punishment of crime is to be imposed upon the president the entire machinery and government would be set awry.
 MT. NandccXp was speaking at the Washington Birthday dinner of the Masonic club in the Weskora hotel. He was among friends and neighbors. but was aware that he was speaking to far wider audience. Edward NJ. Henry was Postmaster. Mr. Wander lip plunged straight into what he had to say.
 There arc two things we need to- day that are worthy of consideration" !" he said. ''The first is that we must have a clear understanding of facts -of what is the truth, that our stream Of information be unobstructed and clear. I believe we have not at the present moment an entirely clear stream of information. We do not know the facts of what is going on in Washington and the ramification of those facts"
 He then critized the existing news paper situation on the ground gener- ally that the business offices of the great publishing establishments which now produce the newspapers must in- hucnce to some degree the manner of presentation of the standardized pro- duct which news has now become. He charged in the second place that tho Washington correspondents were no longer free.
 Tn the old days in Washington" he said, there was no fimsy and no hand outs. Reporters went out and dug up the news. The change began to come in the Roosevelt administration when for the first time newspaper men were disciplined if they printed what was unsatisfactory to the administration and its departmcnts.'
 Turning then to the political situ- alton he said: What we need is a dynamic public opinion that will not stand still when facts are brought for ward that demand action. I believe Ut last we are getting it, despite that large class of indiyiduals--I find them particularly among my own associates who believe in clapping the extin- guisher over any evidence Of corrup- ton, men who say don't shame us before the world
 What Is the situation that con- fronts us today? It is twenty-two months since the red flag of suspicion was run up on Teapot Dome. Twen- ty-two months ago a unanimous reso- luton was adopted in the senate that gave everyone concerned a warning as 10 the nature Of those leases. Ger tain information was demanded. Some of it was furnished grudgingly. and some of it has not been furnished yet, twenty-two months later.
 Mir. Vanderlip then touched on the Veteran Bureau, the office of the Alien Property custodian. and the De- partment of Justice itself. which, he said, obviously must be investigated.
 Two men have been appointed and assigned to the president" he con- tinued. Are VIC to put upon the president tho duty of detecting and punishing crimes and misdemeanors7 ?"
 What can we do when the ma ohinery of justice no longer functions? It is all very we'll to give the presi- dent two lawyers, but if he is to per- form these duties he will need thousand lawyers before he is through.
 But 10 expect the president to in. itiate prosecutions when the courts. or rather the machinery back of the courts, has failed to prosecute men of whose guilt there is the most im- portant prima facie evidence, is the people of this country will not stand for
 Courage in leadership is what we most need today. The people are honest and most public officials are honest. We must root out corruption wherever found, and the leader who