| Show f T Washington Round Merry Round r Scribe b Makes i s Million Million- Pays No Tax By Dy Drew v Pearson WASHINGTON WASHINGTON Last Last week this columnist made a a- million dollars Furthermore I didn't have to pay an income tax on It But it was not easy money for I had to sit for foI two o weeks on the the hard hard benches of a courtroom courtroom courtroom court court- room he hearing ing myself called all aU sorts of ot names by attorneys for forthe forthe forthe the man who lives in the famous Big Red House on R Street In other words I was being eing sued for a million dollars dollars' by John P P. P Monroe war the tract lobbyist who sprang into fame just a year ago with his dinner parties for Secretary of ot the Navy Knox senators and army and navy officers at his red house on R street At the end of ot two endless weeks the jury after only 30 minutes brought in a verdict for the defendants So I was in one million dollars The vict victory ry was won by the fact that the articles complained complain d dof of were true truer and that Washingtonians Washingtonians Washing- Washing of which the 12 good goodmen goodmen goodmen men and true were representative tive are fed up with the various various various vari vari- ous breeds of lobbyists who feed at the war contract trough Credit for the able presentation presentation presenta presenta- tion of the defense goes to Attorneys Attorneys Attorneys At At- Spencer Gordon and Edgar Edgar Edgar Ed Ed- gar Turlington John Monroe lonroe the man who thought I lowed owed him a million dollars is a likable cuss and I I bear him no malice I had never met him until the day I entered the courtroom but snow now I 1 can understand why people enjoy goIng going going go- go Ing to his parties But regardless regardless regardless regard regard- less of charm when a man is as busy as a bird dog drumming up war contracts then the public has a right to know about his activities s. s I am glad to say that the Washington Post codefendant for an additional felt likewise and agreed to take the ordeal of two weeks in court rather than publish a tion Of Ot course this columnist being being being be be- ing subject to the frailties of human human human hu hu- hu- hu man nature has made mistakes Sometimes I have written things about people which were wrong or which created an eroneous Impression but I 1 have tried to correct this afterwards Recently for instance I said that the 0 O P A had indulged in Iowa politics in appointing Rae Walters as an 0 O P A regional administrator I now find that Walters is a real and though he was plucked from the bottom of a civil service list and put on top that is is' justifiable when a man Is really worth it Some time ago also I 1 made a mistake about a naval captain who was raising hogs at Camp Peary Virginia and although I 1 talked to the captain first I apparently apparently apparently ap ap- ap- ap misunderstood him and gave ga gathe the erroneous impression that the hogs were b being ing raised for his own benefit I have since tried to correct this because because be M- cause Captain James Ware is a patriotic straightforward officer officer oW- oW doing a real job for his country But I take this opportunity opportunity opportunity to repeat the correction and to say again that the hog- hog raising was fob the benefit of the navy However in regard to the man manin manin manin in the red house on R street I Iam Iam Iam am sure I made no mistake His His His' charm his en energy his mental adroitness especially his contracts contracts contracts con con- tracts with officials are legitimate legitimate legitimate mate matters for public com com- ment He is still carry carrying ng on and in recent months has ensconced himself In the home of Admiral Ernest King comander of the United States fleet and highest ranking officer in the navy I II Iam am sure that Admiral King does not know MOW it because the admiral spends his nights aboard his yacht on the Potomac but Mr Mr Monroe has been known to call callup callup callup up prospective clients and have them meet him at Admiral Kings King's home where they are received re received received re- re by Mrs Eleanor Hempstead Hempstead Hempstead Hemp- Hemp stead the admirals admiral's daughter Also Monroes Monroe's dinner parties partie's appear to be as successful as ever A recent guest list in included included included in- in Miss Flor Trujillo daughter daughter daughter daugh daugh- ter of the dictator of the Dominican Dominican Dominican Do Do- Republic Senator and Mrs D Dennis Chavez of New Mexico Congressman and Mrs John Coff Coffee e of Washington who came because they were curious Congressman Compton White of Idaho a member of the Brazilian embassy the society society society so so- editor of the Washington Times-Herald Times a meat packer from New York a member of the war petroleum administration tion and several others Monroe opened up a conversation conversation conversation conversa conversa- tion by calling attention to the speech delivered that day by Senator George calling this columnist columnist columnist col col- col- col a liar Good speech commented the man on R street I wrote it it Well if you did write it it shot back Senator Chevez I wouldn't broadcast It Furthermore Furthermore Furthermore Further Further- more I 1 know Senator George and he is a man who writes his own speeches Monroe said that he had also written a speech in which Senator Senator Senator Sena Sena- tor Guy Gillette of Iowa attacked attacked attacked at at- tacked this columnist Chavez replied that he didn't remember remember remember ber Gillette's speech But he added I hope you win your suit against Pearson It is time someone put him in his place Copyright 1944 Syndicate i |
