The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-08-04

with them as much as many of his read
ers His articles the good purpose
of making people Think
BY WEsTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1945, BY King Features Syndicate)
NEW YORK,-On another day I will take
up for discussion in some detail public state
ment prepared for Elliott Roosevelt by Ran
dolph Paul, the new deal ideologist, until
lately employed in the Treasury department
as general counsel.
NV immediate interest today is confined 10
Elliott's statement that chose millions who
loved and respected him have the right to
know that Franklin D. Roosevelt never pro-
NOTED or assisted my personal business az
fairs any statement that he ever did so is
a deliberate infamous lie"
This raises a head-on issue of veracity and
credability between Elliott and John Hartford,
the President of the Atlantic & Pacific chain
of grocery stores, who loaned Elliott 5000, 0G0
and on his word and that of Jesse Jones, Pres
ident Roosevelt's Secretary of Commerce, set
tied the debt for $4,000 Hartford says they
telephoned President Roosevelt at the Little
White House at Warm Springs, Georgia, that
the President hailed him by his first name,
although they had never met, and invited him
to come and visit him and approved the loan.
Elliott's statement does not deny that there
was telephone conversation between his faith
er and Hartford so we may speculate as to
what else they discussed and what prompted
a citizen who had never met the President to
call him up at exactly that moment out Of the
infinity of time. To agree with Elliott that
that loan was not discussed if that is his
contention we must conclude that the call
was a miraculous coincidence at the very
moment when Elliott was borrowing 5000 600
on ''unbankable'' security from a man whom
he had met only once and then for a mere in
PRODUCTION.
In regard to Elliott's declaration that his
father never promoted or assisted my per-
sonal business affairs I shall relate con-
versation that held few minutes ago with
Hill Blackett, of Chicago, of the foremost
radio advertising agents. Alt Landon, the
former governor of Kansas, who was republi-
can nominee for President in 1896, remembers
Mr. Blackett's role in that campaign as that
OF republican publicity director, but Mr.. Black
EFT says he was publicity director for loot
| ball.
| 'They gave me- he says, "a kind of title
Of director of public relations
| He republican national committeeman
| for Illinois in 1899.
| Mr.. Blackett says that in 1885, and he does
not remember the date or even the season of
year, Elliott asked him to go to Washington and
dine at the White House some time ard that he
said sure His business was placing radio
networks. Elliott then was running his Texas
State network. This was the year of Elliott's
big loan. He did place business with the net
work at Elliott's solicitation because any
thing that looks good we will try
A man with whom Blackett later discussed
his visit has said that Blackett told him that
during the dinner with President and Mrs
Roosevelt they talked mainly about advertising
business for Elliott. Governor Landon's recol-
Nf ~. %.
Blackett gave him, also, the understanding
that the dinner had this business purpose
When I reached Mr.. Blackett by telephone
he said that following EIiotts suggestion that
he dine with his parents at the White House,
ne received his invitation from Mrs. Roosevelt
and that when he arrived at Washington res.
ervation had been made for him at the May
flower hotel by the White House. He is not GER
tain whether he went to Washington solely for
the purpose OF the meeting or had gone on
| routine trip. Later in the day, he says, They
called and said to come on over to the White
House early. He had never met either
the President or Mrs Roosevelt.
To degree, Mr.. Blacketts present version
OF the occasion differs from those Of my first
informant and Governor Landon based on
talks with Blackett. He says that if the purpose
OF the invitation was to promote advertising
revenue for Elliott, the Roosevelts did it del
ICdlely. NelLner OF mem suggested that he
place any business with Elliott but Mrs Roose-
welt said they were interested in the welfare
of their children
Il don't remember that radio advertising
was ever mentioned he said at one point
Then he said. however, in the realistic man.
ner Of practical advertising man. like any
one else who wants business, they will enter
tain you That's all could see
Finally Mr. Blackett was asked what he
thought was the common interest that elected
the invitation.
after ALL suggested, they know you
weren't tailor
Il assume like anyone else, you know what
l mean,' he said. II don't have to spell it out
for you. I have been entertained by lots OF
people who wanted business