The Wilmington morning star., 1946-03-11
Fair Enough
Bv WEsTBRoOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1916, BY King Features synd

dehts and alimony obligations of his son,
Elliott was a huge bundle OF photostats as
released Nv the democratic majority OF the
House WAYS and Means Committee. Few
copies were given to the press, the intent OF
| the Democrats being to make the material
| scarce and hard to get They We're pao1y EN-
barrassed by the disclosure OF their late lead
er's trickery and cunning and it was natural,
in politicians. that they should release the
news in one great, confused blurt, 50 large
and complicated that the papers couio not
cover more than the high spots at tne liine'
Thereafter, in the rush Of the Worla' otneI
news would crowd this sorry seaman oul OF
print and only few individuals possessing
COPIES of the report would take the pans
to analyZe it.
AS stickler for truth in history's opinion
of political giants. I have recently been ex-
| aiming the statements of Mrs. hutn u
Edison, the former wife Of Elliott given to the
Treasury on two dates, September ~ ana
September IA, 1945. This is the flrst crlucai
study Of her testimony. The first statement
was made in Denver, the other in Fort Wortn
that at the time she made her first statement
in Denver, Mrs. Edison did not have her
records with her and that in consultation
with her lawyer, after her return to Fort
Worth, she decided to amplify some OF her
answers.
The discrepancies and lapses of memory
here revealed will have to explain them
| selves.
| It NAV be recalled that President Roose-
Welt. himself, sent Mrs. Edison, then still Mrs:
Elliott Roosevelt, certain notes and shares OF
radio stock that had been recovered from
| John Hartford and David G. Baird, both OF
New York, on representations that Elliott was
broke, which was untrue, and that the collater
al was worthless. If the collateral really was
worthless there was no reason why the Presl-
dent should have wanted to recapture it. In
the end, he concluded his coup by transmitting
the stock to Ruth Roosevelt. for the purpose OF
defraying Elliotts alirnony and his continuing
obligation to support their children.
Jesse Jones. acting for the president had
recovered 1000 shares from Hartford Tor $A,'
900 and 500 shares from Baird Tor $ooo'
E1liott's debt to Hartford was 100000. HIS
debt to Baird was $4,000
The Treasury asked Ruth Rooss~eit IN
Denver:
"who did you get the stock from; Jesse
| Jones?" -.
| ~ think it must have been given to Elliott"
she replied. II really don't know
'But you did get the stock eventualy?'
| az am sure think SO"
| Again, Mrs. Roosevelt said she didn't Know;
or recall where the stock was sent.
| 'It may have been sent 70 me or MIR. Hanger
| (Elliott's lawyer) or it may have been sent to
Elliott" she said This was fortune that
she was discussing So vaguely. The stock was
now worth $3.50, 900.
The Treasury asked Mrs. Roosevelt whether
she knew that Jones turned the stock over to
Miss Grace Tully one Of President Roosevelt S
secretaries. She didn't know. She didn't know
Miss Tully had the stock. She did not COM
municate with Miss Tully at the White House
| asking her to send the stock to her.
! "You are quite certain of this?" the exarnin-
er said, "that the stock was not forwarded to
you by Miss Tully, is that right"
II didn't even know that Miss Tully had the
stock" Mrs. Roosevelt said.
| Four days later, she had refreshed her men,
ory and recalled livery dinoly'' having written
Miss Tully at Ellott's request. asking that the
stock be forwarded to Fort Worth.
| At this point we turn for a moment to
Elliotts own testimony in which he said: ''in
January, 1914. Ruth G. Roosevelt decided
that she would carry out divorce proceedings
and wrote the President asking if the stock
certificates were available and she wanted
them in Texas
He also said he had inquired about the
stock at the White House but Through some
mistake or mixup'' it was impossible to find
| it,
Elliotrs statement that his wife asked for
| the collateral recaptured from his creditors
and his own inquiries at the White House sup
|
the Presidents intention not only to square
his sons loans for trivial amounts but to con-
trive, moreover, that the lenders should ply
Elliott's future obligations in Alimony and
child maintenance, from their food to their
/ education.
Proceeding in the Fort Worth inquiry the
Treasury presented large manila envelope
addressed to Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt. post
marked: registered; return receipt request
ed' and bearing in the upper left corner in
typewriting the name &c. G. Tully.'' 1t was
White House envelope.
| Mrs. Roosevelt now recalled that she received
this envelope about November IL. 1913. and
she further remembered that it contained
another, marked ''the President which in
turn contained a third white envelope, also
marked "the President
In the white envelope there was letter
from the President to Dear Ruth dated
November 9. 1943 forwarding $500 shares OF
Texas State Network and the notes Elliott
had given David Baird Hartford's notes Tor
100000 had been destroyed in the presence OF
Jesse Jones. The letter explained the trans
action and conveyed suggestion that she
} and Elliott should make every effort to re-
inburse Mr., Jones'" At the time OF his own
testimony, Mr.. Jones had not been reina-
bursed.