The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-10-05
Fair Enough
Rv WEsTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1915, by King Features Syndica1


| Copyright, 1915, by King Features Syndicate.
| WASHINGTON, Oct. Al call attention to
the important fact that the investigation Of
spectacular ventures for pro1lt by members
of the Roosevelt family has been almost ex-
/ clusively an independent newspaper enterprise.
The National government has given no help
bevond a reluctant and superficial inquiry by
the treasury, by grudging direction of the
House WAYS and Means Committee, into a
few of Elliott's highly lucrative loans
One of these loans was dragged from John
Hartford who told the Treasury's examiners
that he felt that the late President Roosevelt
had "earmarked' him for 100000 touch and
that he put up the money only in fear Of the
Presidents "enmty'' should he refuse
That and Elliott's own admissions and his
cynical boasts of his smartness appalled, the
Democrats on the committee. So by straight
party vote, they tried to slam the door. Some
of these Democrats have the surviving decen-
cy to realize that they are engaged in dirty
work but they seem to feel that the end justi-
fieS the means. The end here is the preserva-
ton OF the Roosevelt myth.
For contrast we may recall the Teapot
Dome investigation and Ferd Pecora's investi-
cation of financial racketeering and tax-dodg-
ing. In neither case were the trust and in
tegrity of the presidential office even vaguely
impugned much less challenged by direct proof
of greedy connivance at easy touches and that
type Of personal profit which, in the cynical
language Of politics. is known as white graft.
White graft is non-criminal profit which, but
for the exercise of influence, could not be
had. Mr.. Roosevelt, himself explicitly con-
denned it on ethical grounds and then fla
GRAVITY encouraged that which he affected to
abhor.
In the Pecora investigation, Republican sena-
tors were no less diligent than Democrats to
run down the facts, although many of the
more or less defendant citizens were Republi-
cans of high position in banking.
Pecora was the star of the news for weeks
Every department of the government that
could help him did so. The hearings were pub
lie, unlike the recent stealthy examinations in
Elliott's case.
The present expose has been in progress
publicly since June. More disclosures will
come, but still no thanks to the White House,
the Department of Justice or the Treasury but
rather in spite of their reticence. The handi-
caps of a newspaper reporter in such inquiries
obviously make it impossible for him to pro.
duce such results as might be obtained by an
official inquiry. He can't subpoena witnesses
or records he must carefully reject hearsay
and he has no privilege" to protect him from
responsibility for speculative suggestions in
print.
President Truman, Of course, on the basis Of
his experience in the investigation of war con-
tracts for the Senate, has knowledge of many
matters which his party is trying to bury, The
Department of Justice, itself. reeks of guilt
in uncommonly brazen manipulations in Texas
The Treasury's conduct has been at best shady
It is not speculation to say that if this year
were 1888 and a son of Herbert Hoover had
been involved in dealings like Elliott's and
Jimmy Roosevelt's and Mrs Hoover in prof.
teering like that of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt
the Treasury under Roosevelt would have
spread their personal tax returns in detail be-
fore the public by sensational examination in
the biggest committee room on Capitol Hill.
Pervading the whole sordid situation is the
fact that many powerful individuals, some of
them still in the governm ent, others now gone
forth to private careers in racketeering and
blacknail, are keeping to themselves informa-
ton which honest men of good patriotic con-
science would gladly volunteer.
The Democrats however, are unnecessarily
concerned over the peoples reaction to the
facts which they are trying to suppress. AS
politicians, they should know better.
They should recall from experience that
Americans, for the most part, are naive and
cynical in politics. We do not remember that
in many cases past, we answered convincing
proof of corruption by re-electing notorious
betrayers of trust with increased pluralties
No civilian is more popular in New York
today than Jimmy Walker whose regime in
the City Hall was historic disgrace Far
from Furnishing him. the people today feel some
guilt in having hurt his feelings.
President Truman's old patron Tom Fender
CAST, the foulest of the giant scoundrels of
his time, likewise enjoyed the affection of that
capricious and faceless creature described
with towering contempt by Henry Wallace as
the common man. It was not the common
man who sent Pendergast to prison, but Maur-
ice Milligan the federal district attorney,
himself now forgotten, while Mr.. Truman, who
fought to protect monumental rascal, enjoys
the confidence of the American people,
Three times the people of Chicago elected |
Big Bill Thompson who hardly bothered to
pretend knowing the voters better than they
knew themselves and, dying, left an enormous
pile of boarded currency
The common man sometimes goes by the
name of George Spelvin and nobody can for
bid him to support royal roster Of knocking
parasites if he's mind to-, as, usually, he is