The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-06

Washington, May G. There Is a terious witnesses summoned before the House Military Affairs Commit tee have flatly refused to answer any questions about the dinners giv- en at the SWank house at 2102 R street in connection with war con- tracts.
 If these two witnesses did tell who came to their dinners and polk CT parties it would make their house on R street as famous as the Little Green House on K Street" which received such notoriety in Hard ing's day.
 Among the guests reported to have gathered at the big Gregorian House were such personages as sec- retary of the Navy Knox, Undersec- Ictary of War Patterson, Donald Nelson. Rubber Czar William Jef- fers, General Lewis B. Hershey, head of selective service; General Levin Campbell, Chief of Ordnance; Senator Happy Chandler of Ken lucky; Senator Bridges of New Hampshire; Senator Austin of Ver- mont. and a large number of Con- greSSmen.
 The Georgian House
 Probably all or most of these fa- nous guests did not realize that they were being used as window dressing for war contract lobbying. Yet the Georgian House on R street illustrates how high officials, ep3n in war time, will partake of food and champagne with hosts they don't know much about.
 Had they checked carefully on their hosts, these cabinet members would have found that John Mon- roe" actually John Kaplan, had been sued g times for debt, and that Mrs, Eula Smith, their hostess, a few years ago worked with John H. Swisher and Sons, Jacksonville, Fla, cigar makers, where she was discharged in connection with labor troubles.
 John Monroe, who refused even to tell the Military Affairs Committee what his name was, also is reported to have breakfastod on one occasion with Jesse Jones, and to have sent Senator Happy Chandler of Ken lucky to New York to confer with Dr. Beardsley Ruml of Ruml Tax fame.
 In addition to his other activities, Monroe is credited with operating an anti-Roosevelt bloc in Washing ton, and with having helped inspire the Louisiana bloc" in Congress which for a time threatened to bolt the President. Congressman Jimmy Morrison of Louisiana, a leader of the anti-Roosevelt bloc, has been a frequent visitor at the lobbyists parties. Monroe always seems to know when the Louisiana Congress- man is going to make speech and urges newspaper friends to cover it.
 Son of Millionaire Rag King"
 Monroe was born Kaplan, son of junk dealer sometimes called the Rag King" who died leaving around $1,000000 of which a reputed $350,000 went to his son. West Point in 1918. Mon- roe failed in his studies in the spring of 1919, but was reinstated at West Point in the fall. However, he finally left the Military Academy in 1920 because "he was needed at home by his family.
 Later he became reserve cap- tain in the Army specialists corps, resigned in 1887 and in 1940 Senator Carter Glass of Virginia applied for his reinstatement. The Army did not reinstate him.
 Around 1887 he went to Mansfield, La, organized an oil company and drilled a we'll six or seven miles from town which brought in 400 to 500 barrels per day. Then he went to New York, and largely on the strength of an earlier connection with the Petroleum Heat and Power Company of Pennsylvania, he bor- roW'cd $80,000 from the Continenal Supply Com .Jany which supplies pipe line equipment.
 Back in Louisiana, Monroe organ ized pipe line company, but never laid a mile; built warehouse; brought a fleet of Lincolns, Cadil- laos and PackardS.
 About this time he was sued for delinquency in meeting a bill for $1 ,00O. He threatened to hire Homer Cummings as attorney and bring all sorts of dire consequences on the head of his creditor. Meanwhile ather companies brought suit, un- til Kaplan was faced with p suits In all. Eventually he went into receiv- ership.
 Shortly before Pearl Harbor, Kap- Ian telephoned friends in Louisiana that a wealthy relative had died leaving him considerable money and