Modest Hoover

Sirs:

The modest utterances of the President are not uncommon in the pages of TIME. I am quite proud of a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence which I received from President Hoover on which he wrote, "No American of our generation could worthily add his signature among these men. Herbert Hoover." Herewith is photostat copy of the President's message. . . .

The reason that I am a Perpetual Subscriber to TIME, is not only that TIME is the only weekly newsmagazine, but that even though TIME may make many changes in the future, it will not surrender its leadership.

BARTON BAKER Rochester, N. Y.

Merritt's Chauffeur

I thank you for the friendly sketch of me in your issue of June 16. So far as one can judge of statements concerning himself, I think the sketch is entirely fair and certainly sufficiently be your flattering. If I were to characterization of my criticize at all, it legislative hobby as ''Committee drudgery." The questions which come before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce are so interesting that their study does not seem to be drudgery. One other small matter which I hope does not come to the attention of the member of my family involved, is that you speak of my chauffeur as a Negro. In fact, he is an Irishman of the Irish&* and, having been with me for some 25 years, is a faithful friend as well as a chauffeur. . . .

SCHUYLER MERRITT

Washington, D. C.

Blank-Blank Blank-of-a-Blank

Sirs:

Under "HEROES, Wanted: Ethan Allen." TIME, in its issue of June 23, makes the judicious grieve.

Surely TIME is aware of the late great Prof.

Sumner of Yale (folkways, etc.) and his dictum that what Ethan Allen probably said to Capt. Delaplace at Ticonderoga was "Surrender, you blank-blank blank-of-a-blank." Simmer's interest was debunking history, de flating legends of false heroics.

Now TIME, usually accurate, gullibly repeats the tosh about Jehovah and the Continental Congress. Shall we look forward to the cherry tree tale next Washington's birthday?

HOWARD STEPHENSON

Toledo, Ohio

Montana's Walsh

Sirs: The undersigned readers of TIME and residents of Montana, have enjoyed your fair and unbiased reviews of the records of various Congressmen, and will appreciate it if you will in due course of time give the record of our famous Senator T. J. Walsh.

L. R. DAEMS JAMES D. LAW C. H. DICKMAN R. MULLER THAYER STEVENS

Harlowton, Mont.

The record of Senator Thomas James Walsh of Montana is as follows:

Born: at Two Rivers, Wis., June 12, 1859.

Start in life: lamplighter.

Career: son of poor Irish (Ulster) immigrants, he early obtained a job lighting the oil street-lamps of Two Rivers, has earned his living ever since. Nevertheless, he went through public school, then taught, became principal of schools in several Wisconsin towns, won a teacher's life certificate. Encouraged, he entered the University of Wisconsin, graduated LL.B. in 1884, took up the practice of law. In 1889 he married Elinor C. McClements of Chicago, who before her death in 1917 gave him one daughter, Genevieve Arlisle (wife of Capt. Emmet C. Gudger, U. S. N.). When Walsh and wife migrated West, he sought clients among the freeland settlers, first in Redfield, S. Dak., then in the copper country around Helena, Mont., where he established a reputation handling suits against mining companies. In 1906 he was defeated for the House of Representatives, but his law fame grew. With Montana's onetime Attorney General, he formed the locally potent firm of Walsh. Nolan & Scallon.

His 1910 senatorial campaign was unsuccessful, but in 1912 he received the highest number of votes cast for any candidate: he was confirmed unanimously by both parties in the legislature the following year, has served since continuously.

In Congress: he is a consistent, fiery debater. This and his skill at floor strategy make him the spokesman of the four Democratic leaders, I particularly on matters of Constitutional law. His opinion carries great weight in the Senate Judiciary Committee. He is also a respected member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and of the Committees of Interoceanic Canals, Irrigation & Reclamation, Mines & Mining, Public Lands & Surveys.

From the start he showed himself a ready fighter, leading active support for such issues I as the confirmation of Louis Dembitz Brandeis' nomination to the Supreme Court, U. S. entrance into the League of Nations, the Women's Suffrage and Child Labor amendments. However, he enjoyed small prominence as a statesman until he stumbled upon traces of the Teapot Dome and Elk Hills oil-lease scandals. Then unheeded, he dug and plugged at the evidence from October 1923 until February 1924, burst forth with his accusations. Surprised at finding his old friend Edward L. Doheny implicated, he nevertheless faced him across the inquisitors' table, prosecuted the investigation relentlessly. Successful in exposing that Republican graft, in sending Oilman Harry Ford Sinclair to jail (TIME, May 13, 1929), he found himself a national figure, has since played the part well.

He voted for: Restrictive Immigration (1923), Tax Reduction (1924), Boulder Dam (1928), Farm Relief (1929), Jones ("Five & Ten") act (1929), Reapportionment (1929).

He voted against: the Tariff (1922), Soldier Bonus (1924), Farm Relief (1927, 1928), the Navy's 15-Cruiser bill (1929).

He votes and drinks Dry, although his State has repealed its Prohibition law by referendum.

His views on international affairs are Wilsonian, favoring entrance into the League of Nations, the World Court.

Legislative Hobby: refining the law. He is vigilant in advising the Senate when legislative precedents are apt to be established. His bills have been of legal nature, or else pertaining to the oil scandal. One of the latter allowed Oilman Henry M. Blackmer, of Denver, to be subpenaed abroad and fined $30,000.

In appearance he is slim, erect, austere. Under shaggy grey brows, his blue eyes can snap and glare; beneath a grey mustache are lips that can set more grimly than any in the Senate. Before the oil investigations he dressed without care; since then he is trimly tailored and tonsured.

He is a devout but unostentatious Roman Catholic.

Outside Congress: he lives at No. 1661 Crescent Place, N. W. (Washington), has a summer home in Glacier National Park. When in Washington he is a popular dinner-guest, golf part ner. His clubs: the Montana at Helena, the Silver Bow at Butte, the Chevy Chase at Washington.

Impartial Senate observers rate him thus: an able legislator, a sincere, "almost fanatically high-minded" Democrat who directs party policies, hence is usually "regular," a politician who did not flinch at making enemies of such influential tycoons as Oilmen Doheny and Sinclair.

Because of his greater interest in national affairs than in Montana affairs, observers expect he may have a hard fight for reelection. His term expires in 1931.--ED.

SAFEWAY'S Halliburton

Sirs:

. . . In the first place I am a resident ol No. 19 sided in Berkeley Los Square, Angeles Los practically Angeles, all and of my have re life. Your Circulation Department has my Los Angeles address. I am the President of the South west Air Fast Express and not J. C. Halliburton as published in your magazine (June 16). The Southwest Air Fast Express represents an investment of slightly over $1,300,000 and my personal investment only amounts to about average $750,000, yearly which is income during considerably the less last 12 than years. my My income has not been wholly from oil royalties but rather from royalties from inventions, and my inventions have not been restricted solely to the oil industry, but also include different mechanical and electrical devices that are manufactured by the General Electric and Westinghouse Corporations, and I also de rive an income from banking, real estate, department stores, automobile business, manufacturing and many other enterprises. I have not sunk a lot of money in the South west Air Fast Express or in anything else, and for your information I could dispose of my inter est in the Southwest Air Fast Express for a nice profit. . . .

ERLE P. HALLIBURTON

Duncan, Okla.

Chicago Sanitary Indictments Sirs:

Your issue of June 9, contains the following :

"In Chicago, President Edward Joseph Kelly and five members of his South Park Commission were indicted last week for conspiring to defraud the Sanitary District of $5,000,000 in public monies."

Please advise me immediately upon what in formation the item above quoted was published. . . You are advised the matter in question is not only erroneous but is libelous as well, so far as I am concerned. . . .

M. L. IGOE South Park Commissioner Chicago, Ill.

The politicians indicted with President Kelly were not members of the South Park Commission but five trustees of the Sanitary District. Also indicted were Timothy J. Crowe, past president of the District, and three onetime District employes.--ED.

* Jeremiah Maher.

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