The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-03
Fair Enough
BY WEsTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1945, by King Features Syn

BY WESTbROOh FECLCh
| Copyright, 1s45, by King Features Syndicate)
| WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. "A Senate doc.
unent, hitherto apparently overlooked, re-
veals Elliott Roosevelt in the role OF lobbyist
for private electric power corporation in
Texas whose interests were threatened by the
Rural Electrification Administration.
Elliott addressed an appeal in behalf of the
Texas Power and Light Company, to some one
in the White House whom he addressed as
''Steve," apparently Steve EARLY, then his
fathers principal secretary and man OF
great power of influence and decision
The letter, written on the stationary Of FL
| liott's Texas state network, his radio chain,
was dated Fort Worth, March /, 1941.
It was placed on record on Feb. IA, 1914,
by Carroll L. Beedy, counsel to sub-con-
mittee of the Senate Committee on Agricul-
| ture which was investigating the adninistra-
ton of the r. E. A. with particular interest
| in misfeasance, malfeasance and maladminis-
! tration.
| The witness was Claude Wickard Secretary
of Agriculture and director and supervisor of
the R. E. A. by Roosevelt's Appointment.
Beedy asked Wickard if he had told the
late Senator Norris, of Nebraska, ''the story
of alleged maladministration that had occurred
under Secretary Wallace, before you came in,
that had been reported to you.'
Wickard couldn't remember, and his men,
| ory failed him as to several more questions
Then Beedy asked him, "did you have any
ideas at the time about what you were going
to do about it?''
eyes" Wickard said, 'but don't think it
would be in the public interest to discuss these
at the present time
1--WE Ctne committee) are trying to find out
what has been done by you to remedy al
legged maladministration, to investigate charges
of nc.do
AS public servant, Wickard insisted, new
ertheless, that the public had no right to an
answer.
Now Beedy came to the Brazos transmits
sion line in Texas. The Texas Power and Light
Company, private concern, didn't want this
r. E. A. project to be built" he said. Mr..
Wickard did condescend to say that he had
discussed this case "with some people down
in Texas" but to direct question he refused
to name these people,
@. did you discuss it with Elliott Roose.
velt?''
A. NO. sir''
Beedy then presented Eriott's letter to
''Steve." 1t was three pages long and a plea
to Steve" on behalf of Texas Power and Light
The letter granted that it was good idea
to extend electric service in west and central
Texas but said there was mo excuse what
ever'' to establish "experimental plants or
"yardsticks" in the eastern area
am genuinely and personally interested
In this thing" Elliott wrote "Steve." II know
that 1t involves a major policy but policy
which has not so far received the sanction of
the President. 1t is new and untried 1t might
If unsuccessful from the standpoint of pro.
viding adequate and continuous service, do
more harm to the rural electrification program
than good. know these people down here and
l know they will do anything necessary to a
1ull coopera alton with any federal agency and
still stay in business
Some OF the people down there previously
had softened hot ol'' criminal case by the
social approach to the White House, as
measure OF their full cooperation with the
government. Of this, more particulars in
later instalment of the exploitation of the pres
idency.
If you need any facts' Elliott wrote, "call
me and I will get them or tell you who to
get IN touch with Please do everything you
can to see to it that nothing is decided until
can Sc you in Washington-probably next
Wednesday evening if you're available"
Mr.. Beedy seemed to think this intervention
by the Presidents son through the White House
IN matter affecting big private capital in
terests was pertinent to his own interest in
irregularities in the R. E. A.
Il refer to it, he said, because I have
been questioning the Secretary Wickard,
about what he did to investigate any charges
nl1S1edSanCe
in the administration of the R. E. A., either
within without it,
These matters be it remembered, Wickard
believed to be none of the publics business
Beedy said he was informed that the power
line eventually was built with R. E. A. money
and colloquy developed the clear fact that
there was rivalry in which Elliotts friends,
the private interests, wanted the power for
sale for profit.
The nature Of Elliott's own "genuine'' and
"personaP' interest, as to whether he might
gain money, was not brought out. There was
no statement as to whether his friends paid
him fee for by-passing the appropriate au-
thorities to appeal straight to his fathers chief
secretary and occasional vicar
1t is not amiss to say that professional lob
bylsts get fees in proportion to their connec-
tlons and the values at stake and that, like
doctors who are paid though the patient dies.
the political fixer or lobbyist may collect
though his efforts fail.