Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-11-01

ipate. as a special counsel employed by
Frank A. Vanderlip. in the so-called Harry
Daugherty investigation. I saw all the evil
dence. It revealed character fond Of
wine. women and song" but not one scin-
tilla of evidence of official corruption. On
the contrary. I was shown list OF Ohio
men headed by an Ohio lawyer Of national
reputation and the full list of known mem
bers Of the so-called "Ohio Gang" supplied
by President Harding to the Alien Property
Custodian with directions that If one OF the
men named sought to use the PRESIDENTS
name in any way to notify the White House
and he, Harding, would see that they are
run out of Washington"
There was another case where a New
York claimant with meritorious claim
opened q saloon in the Washington Hotel.
He gave parties that brewed much
"whoopee." A White House attache attended
one. The President notified the host that
so long as he was President the claim would
not be allowed.
The "delinquencies" revealed in the
Daugherty investigation might be termed
moral but personal-the sort that George
Washington. BENJAMIN Franklin, Thomas
Jefferson and many other Founding
Fathers" INDUCED.
Out in Marion, Ohio, fine monument
raised to Mr.. Harding by friends throughout
the Nation still is standing.
JERRY A. MATHEWS.
Denies British Government Subsidy
Was Used in Developing Comet
To the Editor Of The Star:
The Stars editorial Of October 10, COM
menting on the record breaking London-to-
Libia flight of the British DeHavilland
Comet jet transport lamented the sad man
ner in which American plane manufacturers
have been caught by the British with their
jet transport designs down.
The Star editorial explained that the
development Of the Comet was possible
only because subsidized by the British gov
eminent; that until our manufacturers re-
ceived Federal aid. there was little likeli-
hood that we would have jet transport.
It is unfortunate that this alibi for our
sorry failure in this field, although given
wide currency, simply is not true. Accord
ing to Aviation Week Magazine for October
"a, the Comet was privately financed ven
ture developed by DeHavilland at q small
fraction Of the $4,000, 900 usually cited by
our manufacturers as the cost Of such a
project Furthermore, there is no govern
ment-guaranteed market for the plane even
II successful. 1t Is true that the British
government and BOAC have agreed to buy
is Comets. However, the price is based on
quantity production and the deal is off If
the plane fails to deliver guaranteed per-
Torrance Of 500 M.P.H. at 10000 feet with
range of $500 miles
The only government support for the
Comet, other than approval for use of scarce
materials, was In engine development. The
Comets engines, already in use in other
types. were developed under government
contract, but our manufacturers have the
same benefit. for all United States turbojets
have been similarly financed.
Apparently our manufacturers satisfied
TO rest on their oars while complacently ex-
tolling the benefits Of the American private
enterprise system. have been beaten at the
game In which they claim leadership. Per-
haps British competition will shock them
out OF their undeserved and unjustified self
satisfaction. LIB M.
editors Note: While there was no di.
rect subsidy in the case Of the Comet, the
British government has spent millions on let
engine development and has assured the
DeHavilland Company Of a market for its
Jet transports. Unannounced subsidies re-
ported to total up to $685. 900, have been
invested by the government in other new
air transport types)