The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-25
VANDERBILT IN BAD.

,s..T r-orr.sns5-Ient Of The Federated PFess)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-Frank A.
Vanderlip simply couldn't understand
the short-range vision Of the senate
oil scandal Investigating committee,
when they called him down here from
New York to ask hirn---a giant OF
finance and big business and war
patriotism-wnat he had meant by
making a "cormon rumor" speech OF
scandal and alarm to the Rotary Club
Of Briarcliff, near Sing Sing.
He Ought to Know.
Hadn't he, the great Vanderbilt,
been president of Standard Oils Ma
tional City bank, head IF the Amer
lean International Corporation, grand
poo-bah of the crusade to make the
world safe for democracy and for
eign concessions, and general shining
light of the bAgh temple Of the cult
of gain?
These machins politicians, with a
sprinkling Of mild progressives, were
calling him to account for having re-
peated, in a loud and fiery manner Of
complete righteousness, a grist OF
runnors involving the shipping board,
the Veterans bureau, the Alien Prop
ertv Custodian, and the price paid
for Present Harding's newspaper, out
In Marion, o. And while most Of
rnem were ready to admit they had
heard the rumors, many many more,
thew were shocked that Vanderlip had
come forward in a public meeting and
"broadcasted" the suggestion that
Harding received for his newspaper
twice what it was worth, from
mysterious source and for an I'M
known consideration. They demanded
fats from Vanderbilt, and he assured
them that he had no facts. On the
contrary, he said he had done a
patriotic thing, in bringing "these
scandalous rumors to light, so that
the memory Of my friend Mr.. Hard
ing may be cleared"
Yanderlip Juggled.
When he was questioned by Pitt
man as to what caused him to speak
of the Harding newspaper deal and
TO ask "Where did the money come
FROM" and then to charge that the
senate committee had let Fall go be-
cause it was afraid Fall would con-
fess on higher-ups, the banker denied
that he had had aay thought of in
volving Harding in the oil scandal.
He also admitted, when informed that
the committee had let Fall go because
his forced testimony would give him
immunity from criminal prosecution,
that he had been wrong in charging
the committee with cowardice.
But it was clear, nevertheless, that
Vanderlip could not understand why
he had been blamed for warning the
country that the g9od old system Of
commercialism was in need of an in
spection and repairs. What if he had
been sensational? In his memory
must have stirred a hundred after
dinner speeches by just such bankers
as himself, and just such politicians
as these who now glowered and
shouted and hammered the table at
him-speeehes denouncing German
atrocities in Belgium that never hap
pened, and naturalization of women
in Russia that never occurred, and
overthrow Of Porfrio Diaz "civiliza-
ton" in Mexico that proved bless
ing to mankind. Why had he never
been called 10 book for lying about
these more serious things?
Traitor to His Class.
He had no evidence; he had merely
said that rumors were going around;
those rumors would keep on going,
unless somebody had "the courage to
speak out"
And the senator's, each in his own
degree, showed disapproval Of Van
derlip. He had turned on his class.
He had spoken i'll Of Harding, in eff
feet, and he had created panic
among the standpatters.
A carbon copy of telegram from
one Mosely in Philadelphia to SEN
ator Willis Of Ohio was sent along
the press tables. II charged that
Vanderlip had made addresses in
support Of the soviets"--a discovery
that will much surprise the friends
Of Russia.