Letters, Oct. 26, 1931

Hoover & Garneld

Sirs:

I quote you from the irrepressible Walter Winchell's column of Sept. 30:

''There's Hoover, frinstance. . . . He's a columnist at heart. . . . During his talk to the Legion in Detroit he never credited Garfield with a nod or bow . . . and Mr. H. practically used word for word of Garfield's plea to the G. A. R. Vets of 50 years ago—when he discussed pensions. . . ."

It would be extremely interesting to American Legion and other veterans if the above statement were confirmed by TIME with attendant circumstances as to place, etc.

HUGH T. A. JOHNSTON Brown & Lynch Post No. 9 American Legion Easton, Pa.

President Garfield, in office from March 4, 1881, to July 2, 1881 when he was shot, never made a speech of any sort to the G. A. R. While campaigning in 1880, he made a "Boys in Blue Speech." an "Army of Cumberland Speech," "Reunion with His Old Regiment" and "Inauguration of Soldiers and Sailors Monument" (Painesville, Ohio). In none of these speeches is there any resemblance however remote to President Hoover's Detroit speech to the American Legion.—ED.

Preserved Fish

Sirs:

In Oct. 12 TIME I see tale of two banks and one Preserved Fish who was President of Bank of America in 1812. My great-great-grandfather was Preserved Fish originally from Vermont. My great-grandfather was Leonard Fish, his son.

I am wondering if you could give me any information in regard to the above. I have been a subscriber to TIME for some years and consider I have read all that is necessary after reading each copy.

FRED E. KERRY Bangor, N. Y.

President Preserved Fish (1766-1846) of Bank of America was born in Portsmouth, R. I., son of Blacksmith Preserved Fish, whose father was another Preserved Fish, whose father's name was Thomas.

After a few years at his father's forge. Preserved Fish III shipped to the Pacific on a whaler, at 21 became its captain. Shrewd, he recognized a fortune lay in selling whale oil, not in getting it. He prospered as a merchant in New Bedford, had a political squabble, sold his property cheap, settled in New York. At the height of his business career he was one of the 28 brokers of the New York Exchange Board which later became the New York Stock Exchange. He controlled a potent shipping firm of Fish & Grinnell which had its beginnings in the attempt of Preserved Fish III to advance his whale oil market. After his resignation from Fish

& Grinnell and a brief retirement from business, he served until his death as President of the Tradesman's Bank. Of other Preserved Fishes TIME has no record, but of a son Leonard, by one of his three marriages, there is no mention in the archives.—ED.

Abandoning Army Posts

Sirs:

We are interested in knowing whether it is a fact that Congress has the final decision on the abandonment of various posts in the United States or is the War Staff the final authority as we have been led to suppose?

This is due to reading your article of Sept. 14. P15 in which it states ''Next winter he will have a chance to show-his real strength when he tries to get Congress to eliminate twoscore obsolete Army posts."

W. C. PEAT Missoula Chamber of Commerce Missoula, Mont.