The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-04-08

I'll SOTGS OF names Dy attorneys LOT
the man who lives in the famous
big Red House on r. Street..
In other words, I was being
sued for a million dollars by John
P. Monroe, the war contract lob
byist who sprang into fame just
a year ago with his dinner parties
for Secretary Of the Navy Knox,
Senators and Army and Navy Of
ficers at his red house on r street.
At the end Of two endless
weeks, the jury, after only thirty
minutes, brought IN verdict for
the defendants. So I was in one
million dollars.
The victory was won by the
fact that the articles complained
of were true and that Washing
tonians, of which the twelve good
men and true were representative,
are fed up with the various breeds
of lobbyists who. feed at the war
contract trough. Credit for the
able presentation Of the defense
goes to attorneys Spencer Gordon
and Edgar burlington.
John Monroe, the man who
thought I owed him q million
dollars, is likeable cuss and 1
bear him no malice. / had never
met him until the day / en-
tered the court room, but now I
can understand why people en-
joy going to his parties. But
regardless Of charm, when a
man is as busy as q bird dog
drumming up war contracts,
then the public has q right to
know about his activities.
am glad to say that the WASH
ington Post, co-defendant for an
additional $3.50, 900, felt likewise,
and agreed to take the ordeal Of
two weeks in court rather than
publish a retraction.
MISTAKES ADMITTED
AND CORRECTED
OF course, this columnist, be-
ing subject to the frailties of hui
man nature, has made mistakes.
Sometimes I have written things
about people which were wrong,
or which created ar erroneous i'm
preston, but I have tried to cor
rect this afterwards.
Recently, for instance, said
that the OPA INDUCED in Iowa
politics in appointing Rae Walters
as an OPA regional adlninistra-
tor. I now find that Walter Is
a real top-notcher and, though
he was plucked from the bottom
Of Civil Service list and put
on top, that Is justifiable when
man Is really worth 1t.
Sometime ago, also made q
mistake about Naval captain
who was raising hogs at Camp
Peary, Va, and although 1
talked to the captain first, 1 APP
parently misunderstood him and
gave the erroneous impression
that the hogs were being raised
for his own benefit. I have
since tried to correct this, be-
cause Captain James Ware Is a
patriotic, straightforward Of
ficer, doing real job for his
country. But / take this OPP
pOrtunity to repeat the cOrrec-
ton, and to say again that the
hog raising was for the benefit
Of the Navy.
However, in regard to the man
in the red house on r street,
am sure I made no mistake. His
charm, his energy, his mental
adroitness, especially his contacts
with officials, are legitimate mat
tiers for public comment.
DINNER PARTIES CONTINUE
He Is still carrying on and, in
recent months, has ensconced
himself In the home of Admiral
Ernest King, commander of the
U. s. Fleet and highest ranking
officer In the Navy. I am sure
that Admiral King does not
know 1t, because the Admiral
spends his nights aboard his yacht
on the otomac, but Mr.. Monroe
has been known to call up pros
pective clients and have them
meet him at Admiral Kings home
where they are received by Mrs.
Eleanor Hemstead. the Admiral's
daughter.
regard the story as unlikely. blu