Detroit evening times., 1945-08-08
WESTBROOK
PECLER
Fair
Enough
THE disclosure that Elliott

THE disclosure that Elliott
l. Roosevelt borrowed $500.
600 from John Hartford,
president of the A. e. p. grocery
chain. and that the debt was
settled three years later for
$4,000 of other peoples money
was published on June II.
Prior TO publication, and with
ample time in which TO prepare
an answer to run with the orig
inal story. Elliott was given a
summary OF its contents and in
vited to make a statement for
publication
TT TOOK Elliott seven weeks
to issue a statement. This
document, when il did come,
was political hsndout from
the Washington office of a left
wing lawyer and former gen.
eral counsel to the treasury de-
partment who is acknowledged
an expert on those tax lodges
and evasions which the late
President Roosevelt denounced
as Clever little schemes having
the color of legality"
The statement led off with a
completely irrelevant paragraph
exploiting Elliotts military rec
ord which had not been brought
into question at all and had
absolutely nothing to do with
the subject Of the loan and the
settlement.
Before the army ieek action
with respect to my status" the
handout said, ''it was inappro-
prlate for me to make any state
ment with respect to the perni-
cious charges and lies which
have been published concerning
me by n small segment Of the
press"
The answer TO this consists O.
three parts.
Flrst-It is never inappropri-
ate for an office Of the Amert-
can Army 10 defend his honor.
still less inappropriate. at any
time or place. for him TO defend
the personal honor and official
integrity Of his commander In
chief, the President OF the
United States.
Second The statement does
not state specifically what
charges were "perniciouS.
which, in these surroundings.
would mean intending evil"
and wicked or specify which
statement were hes. What Is
Elliott denying?
Third-The story Of Elliotts
loans and the settlements ar
ranged by Jesse Jones' then Sec
retary Of commerce. at the be-
hest of the Roosevelt family"
for trlfling amounts, was pub
lished In practically ell The
papers Of the United States, not
just a small segment ot the
press
One southern Democratic
paper censored this news the
first day but did publish a press
association dispatch from Wash
ington the next day.
NEXT. MIR. Paul wraps his
" client IN the Shroud OF ms
late father, strange habit for
general,
These faisehoods have not
been confined TO me. personally"
the document says. II know that
any efforts put forth In this hate
campaign will have no effect
whatsoever on the public judg-
ment Of Franklin ID. kooseveits
service TO his country 4
II this is hate campaign a \
all it is a campaign ~aged in
hatred Of corruptioa IN the
highest popular eleortve office
on earth.
|. In the case OF another such
loan OF $4,000 the jutifiable
query was raised whether or
not President Roosevelt used
I that loan as one of his reasons
for making an appointment 10
the office of governor OF the
Virgin Islands.
Millions of Americans hate
the memory of Adolf Hitler so
we may ask Mr.. Paul and FL
lott Roosevelt if that hatred
i of the accused will, in their
opinion. serve 10 viLdIcate Hit
Ter in the record OF eIstory.
Those millions Wne loved
and respected him nave the
right 10 know that Franklin ID.
Roosevelt never promoted or
assisted my personal business
affairs" the statement con-
tinues. ANY statement that he
ever did so Is a deliberate, in
! famous lie"
/ THOSE millions have right
Il 10 know that President
Roosevelt did not promote El-
liott's personal business affairs,
If he did not.
But il he did promote them.
! those millions have the right TO
know that.
I Meanwhile. Mr. Hartford has