Milford chronicle., 1948-07-16

production program
by man who
could not deny that
with a professional barfly to COM
promise agents of the government
and seduce them from propriety.
Hughes finds himself slnguIarly
free Of the restraints which af-
feet the course Of men Of fastidi-
Gus morals and ethics. He is not
embarrassed by disclosures which
would intimidate a more sensitive
citizen.
In the early part Of 1s47, Hughes
saw an investigation coming. He had
spent money to hire women to act
as social companions Of procure
ment agents and for booze and lux
urious meals and had charged this
expense to the ultimate taxpayer
as part Of the cost of the planes
which he did not produce for the
40 million dollars.
He had spent about $4,000 on the
wedding expenses and on extrava-
CANT personal entertainment Of Ell
liott Roosevelt, then ranked as q
colonel, in expensive hotels and
night clubs of Hollywood and New
York. There was testimony among
the disclosures that Hughes social
traffic manager, Johnny Meyer. gave
a $40 bill and a batch Of nylon
stockings to Faye Emerson, who
was to become the third Mrs. Eli
lott Roosevelt.
Anticipating d / s.
Hires closure, Hughes hired
N Carl Byoir and AS
PubJicist sociates, the New
York and Washington
public relations and propaganda
firm, to see him through. They did
well by him. Hughes was enabled
to appear to turn the tables on
Senator Brewster and to make
Brewster seem to be guilty fell
low, although the record does not
justify this impression. Actually.
here was a defendant who admit
ted that he was what he was, stalk
ing his unsupported word in
charge that Brewster offered 10
abandon the investigation if Hughes
would abandon his own plans for an
oversees passenger airline. IS
Brewster and others believed
that the United States would best
serve American interests by rec.
Ognizing and supporting only one
American overseas line. Pam
American was our big overseas
pioneer and Brewster thought
Pan-American should carry on IS
a favored agent He may have
been imposed upon by officials Of
Pan-American with whom he had
become friendly. It appeared that
he did accept personal hospitality
from one of them, although at no
cost which could be dignlfied by
the taint of bribe.
There was shocking testimony
and documentary evidence against
Hughes, Meyer and Elliott Roose-
velt in the hearings in Washington
Nevertheless, By artful manipula-
ton Of the publicity and the tim
ing of dramatic incidents. Hughes
walked off triumphant, although
not with honors. Elliott Roosevelt
had been so heavily mired in the
wallow of the notorious John Hart
ford loan and other gyps, done with
the guilty knowledge Of his father
that nothing could embarrass him
Mai. Gen. Bennett
Meyers E. Meyers was sen
Gets fenced by the UniteC
Sentonco States court, not bI
the army, to serve
from 20 months to five years To-
perjury in concealing the fact tina
he owned company from which h
bought material for the army. THIS
WAS ENTIRELY ASIDE FROM
THE HUGHES DEALS INVOLVING
ELLIOTT.
, The army had abundant evidenc
that Elliotts father had verbal,
ordered that favors be shown Z
the man who was winning and din
; ing his son. Many headstrong o
wayward buck private meanwhil
has spent years in prison for rud
violations of unaccustoined re
! straints.
There was mutually accusing
testimony by Hughes and General
Meyers concerning discussions Of
favOrs TO be done Meyers by
Hughes. including q job at high
salary after the war.
The committee could not decid
? who was the liar but it did sa
formally to congress that these II
dividuals did have a number Of col
versations concerning loans. gratu
ties and job offers. Nevertheless
Hughes said nothing until It serve
his case at a public hearing thrs
years later to charge Meyers wit