The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1936-12-19

welsh case rs 700 petty 10 n
Cordell Hull almost as mi
headaches in Europe.
Welsh had a child by a
Venezuelan wife, and a reason
ably prosperous business Of drill
ing artesian wells in the VeneZue-
Ian cattle areas.
As q result Of charges which
Welsh claims were trumped up
by his enemies he was thrown
I'm Jail, during which his wife
deserted him and his drilling
business collapsed. He remained
in Jail several months, was
never brought to trial, finally
was released.
Upon that release he sought the
custody of his daughter, then
three years old. Also he sought
damages for having been held in
jail without trial.
This was during the State De-
partment regime Of Henry L.
Stimson, whose career diplomats
ignored the case.
PicketS White House
Finally Welsh came to WASH
ington and literally camped on
the doorstep of the State Depart
ment. He got no help. Then
he resorted to more drastic meas
ures. He inspired protests from
Louisiana congressman louisiana
was his home state). Still the
State Department was unmoved.
So one day Welsh appeared In
front of the White House, a huge
pair of iron shackles, such as he
wore in his Venezuelan prison,
around his ankles.
STILL THE STATE DEPART
MENT DID NOTHING.
But finally, Mr.. Roosevelt's
New Deal hit the State Depart
ment, at least to the extent that
Assistant Secretary Harry Payer
looked into hte Welsh case, and
sent a note to Venezuela demand
ing the return Of three-year-old
Irma Welsh, an American citizen.
This was accomplished. ~
Vendetta
But by this time Welsh had be-
come so bitter over his treatment
that, whereas originally he might
have been satisfied, he now con-
tinued his vendetta.
He pressed his claims for dam
ages for illegal Imprisonment. Re
garding this the State Depart
,,oo,.+ vaf,,caI fn 0rt
so WELSH ENLISTED THE
SERVICES OF HUEY LONG.
Many people wondered, during
the heyday of the late ebullient
senator from Louisiana, why he
took such an interest In Latin
America. James Welsh was the
answer. Whenever Welsh could
find anything poisonous against
the State Department he fed 1t to
Huey. Huey, delighted to heckie
the career diplomats, promptly
took the senate floor.
These speeches were cabled by
the press to Latin America, and
caused the State Department no
end of embarrassment. Its officials
began to wish they had settled
the Welsh case years before.
Newspaper Contacts
Welsh also built up some news
paper contacts in South America.
and had his attack smeared over
their front pages. Not long be-
fore Secretary Hull sailed for his
peace mission to Buenos Aires.
Welsh loosed the heaviest blast OF
all.
In various South American
papers he printed . story 10 the
effect that Mr.. Hull had re-
ceived q $4,000 campaign con-
tribution from the Wall Street
banking firm Of Kuhn, Loeb
during his campaign for sena-
tor from Tennessee, and that
he had failed to list this con-
tribution.
The gift was made, Welsh al
legged, because Mrs. Hull was re-
lated to members of the Kuhn,
Loeb firm. Wall Street banking
firms are not popular In South
America and Hull has made
speeches opposing them.
MIR. HULL, QUESTIONED RE-
GARDING THE STORY, SAID
HE DID NOT CARE TO DIG
Nifty 1T BY MAKING ANY
DENIAL.
Welsh Is now looking for more
ammunition In his never-ceasing
vendetta against the State De-
partment. Career diplomats for
years to come probably will be
hearing from him.
Merry O-ROund
A movement Is under way to
set up an organization of liberal
business men to be known as-'the
Good Neighbor Business Mems
League. Author Of the idea Is
Stanley High, director Of the Good
Neighbor league that played a
vigorous part in the recent CAM
paign In support Of the Presi-
dent. Business leaders interested
in the new organization are: T..
A. and Lincoln Filene, Bostons
T, merchant prince brothers. and
Henry Dennison, Wetmore Hodges,
Walter Chrysler and Averell Har-
riman There is much UNDER
cover muttering among govern
ment agencies over the failure OF
Brien Mcmahon, head OF the
criminal division Of the Depart
0EE THE RECORD