Evening star., 1945-06-13
Hartford Admits Loss
OF $4,000 on Loan
10 Elliott Roosevelt
BY the Associated Press

John Hartford, president OF the
Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.,
yesterday In New York described as
substantially correct" published
report that Elliot Roosevelt, son of
the late President, borrowed 5000. 900
from him in 1899.
The debt was settled three years
later for $4,000 ''at the request of
the Roosevelt family" through Jesse
Jones, then Secretary of Commerce,
Caruthers Ewing, Arp general
counsel, said in Danville, III.
Asked for comment on the story
as it appeared yesterday in West
brook Pegler's column, syndicated
by King Features, Mr.. Hartford
said.
1T is not the whole story, but it Is
substantially correct. I would not
have made it public myself and I
regret very much that it has been
published"
Says Father Approved.
Elliott Roosevelt, now brigadier
general in the Army Air Forces,
could not be reached for comment.
Mr. Pegler said there was no
doubt that President Roosevelt
knew of the loan and approved it"
Elliott Roosevelt, then 20, sought
the loan to finance his Texas radio
interests, MIR. Ewing said, adding
that after the loan was made he
asked to see trial balances" on
the Texas operations.
They were losing money hand
over fist. Mr.. Ewing said. Il didn't
think they were worth a damn"
Mr.. Ewing said the next contact
he had with the matter was in
1912 when Mr.. Jones told him "the
Roosevelt family" wanted to COM
promise the indebtedness.
Mr.. Ewing said he took young
Roosevelt's note and stock collateral
to MI. Jones and that Jones gave
me check payable to John Hart
ford for $4,000. which was all Hart
ford ever received on the loan and
the whole thing was closed"
l.
Hartford in his 1912 income tax re-
port as a bad debt" Mr.. Ewing
added
The general counsel said that in
March, 1889, the late William l..
Sirovich, then Democratic Repre-
sentative from New York, who was
a close friend of mine and also of
the Roosevelt family" asked Mr..
Ewing to arrange for Elliott to meet
Mr.. Hartford. Mr. Ewing said Mr.
Sirovich told him Elliott wanted to
borrow 5000 900 ito buy into a
radio property on which he had an
option that was about to expire"
Securities Not Bankable."
Mr.. Ewing said he asked Mr.. Siro-
vich, why doesn't Elliott 60 to a
bank" and Mr.. Sirovich told him
the securities Elliott had were not
bankable." Mr.. Ewing said he asked
why Elliott didn't borrow from
radio people, and Mr.. Sirovich re-
piled Elliott could not because the
radio people are afraid to make
loan to the Presidents SON"
Mr.. Ewing said he told Mr.. Hart
ford the circumstances and Mr.
Hartford then met Elliott in Mr..
Hartford's New York apartment
Mr.. Ewing said he did not know
what occurred, but next day Mr.
Hartford told him he had met Els
liott and agreed to- make the loan.
Mr.. Ewing said Mr.. Hartford added.
II think Elliott has a good thing"
on his radio deal. Mr.. Ewing said
Mr.. Hartford told him they had
contacted President Roosevelt and
that he knew about the deal.
. Mr.. Pegler said Mr.. Hartford was
reluctant to make the loan at first
on the ground the transaction might
be misunderstood and embarrass
the President.
Elliott Immediately telephoned to
President Roosevelt at the Little
White House at Warm Springs, Ga. :,
Mr.. Pegler continued, land the
President spoke cordially to Mr..
Hartford and thanked him for
this favor to his son. He also in
vited Mr.. Hartford to call on him. u
Mr.. Ewing said Mr. Hartford told
him recently that Mr.. Pegler had
the story, and Mr.. Hartford asked
Mr.. Ewing to contact Mr.. Pegler be-
cause he didn't want the story
printed at this time. Mr.. Ewing
said he telegraphed Mr. Pegler Mon
day pointing out the "A. G P
antitrust trial is in progress, and
that in view also of President
Roosevelt's recent death, he thought
1t advisable to withhold publication
Mr.. Pegler replied his column al
ready had gone out and it was too
late to hold it up, Mr. Ewing said
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