Mr. Vanderlip's Crusade

Two young men of Ohio, Louis H. Brush and Roy D. Moore, filed suit to collect a sum of money which they asserted was due them from Frank A. Vanderlip, retired banker of Manhattan. In substance, they presented the following bill:

To damages because Mr. Vanderlip "wickedly and maliciously charged [TIME, Feb. 25] Brush and Moore with bribing Warren G. Harding . . to fail to perform certain of his official duties as President, and that the bribe consisted of the payment to President Harding of $550,000 in the purchase of The Marion Star, which was more than twice its fair value" $200,000

To damages because Mr. Vanderlip "directly or indirectly" caused his remarks to be printed in the New York Tribune 200,000

To damages because Mr. Vanderlip, as a witness before the Senate investigating committee, admitted that he had approved the version of his remarks which was disseminated by the Associated Press $200,000

Total, for slander and libel $600,000

Messrs. Brush and Moore declared in a statement: "By initiating these proceedings, it is our desire not only to clear our own records by legal process, but to wipe out the defamation of the name and memory of President Harding. . . . The only sure and satisfactory vindication we can obtain is in the courts through the action we have brought."

Said Mr. Vanderlip: "The courts are an effective means to bring out facts. I therefore welcome this court proceeding. ... If this country were invaded by an alien foe and I were a young man, I believe I would offer myself for its defense. . . . Corruption has attacked the Government at its heart. I believe I am a patriotic citizen and I propose to offer the same service In fighting this danger that a young man should offer in fighting a military invasion. ... I am prepared to spend quite as much as has been asked for in these court proceedings in an effort to make public some of the news that the great newspapers do not see fit to print."