The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-23
LETTER FROM MIR. LA TOILETTE.
COrrects Instantaneous in an Article
Copied from New York World.

ORfN N1" AoAA II
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
In your issue of March II you publish an
article headed Promoter La Follette,"
taken from the New York World, but cred
tied by you to the New York Herald. This
article abounds in misstatements, some of
which are most unjust TO myself and
others. 1t is not true that I have been a
professional promoter" / have given all
my time and attention to my own personal
business, and have never engaged in any
brokerage or commission business for any
one. / received the education and training
of a civil engineer, and in 1892 1 invested
in an extensive coal. iron and timber prop
erty in Tennessee, and have been steadily
engaged in it's development since that date.
In this enterprise there has been invested
a round million dollars in cash, and it is
now employing six hundred men. A more
legitimate enterprise or one of greater ben
eft to the country where situated does not
exist. None OF its creditors ever lost a
dollar by it. The statement in the article
referred to that a judgment for $129. 900 has
been given against it and myself in the
United States Court in this city is not true.
There Is no judgment against either the
company or myself in any court in the
state. Neither myself nor my company
ever had any business or litigation with
Ladenburg. Thalman & Co., nor do / know
or any remote foundation for the misstate-
me1t that they obtained such a judgment.
Neither was / ever indebted to the New
England Milling and Manufacturing Com
pany, nor was l sued by it. On the con-
tray, we were one of its cerditorS at the
time of its insolvency.
1t is true that one A. z. Davis was form
erly in our employ Qrom which he was dis
charged FOR miSappropriating ompany
funds), but for his illegal acts we are not
responsible. The debts he improperly Gre
ated in the name of our company we
nTOmnflV Maid when ua diCNharOoI him
OF his subsequent career or present where
abouts L know practically nothing.
The article in question states that l have
had lots of trouble with the law" evil
IDENTIFY intending to convey the impression
that / have been accused in the criminal
courts of crimes or misdemeanors. Such a
statement is an outrageous falsehood. I
have never wronged any man: nor has a
criminal accusation of any kind or charac-
ter ever been made against me. 1t is true
that in a civil suit against me in the State
of New York j was capiased as a nom
resident and gave bond for appearances; and
the malice prompting the suit is shown by
the fact hat ii was brought I'm a court
nearly three years behind on it's docket,
when 1t might have been brought in a court
where 1t would have been tried in thirty
days.
As to the Chicago lake-front case. it is
a question of fact and law that the United
States courts will eventually decide. and
j do not care to try it in the newspapers"
But some of the statements made are so
misleading as to merit correction. There
was never a case in litigation about which
more false facts" have been put afoat in
the press. Thus the statement that the
Newberry Library stands upon it; that the
homes of Potter Palmer, Robert II. Lincoln.
Mrs. Ogden, II. H. kohlsaat, A. V. Armour
ct al, are within its limits; that it is COW
cred with costly improvements. ETC.. are
all false. Less than . per cent. of the prop
erty is improved at all. Our chief oppo-
nents comprise a number of wealthy real
estate spectators. who have failed TO re-
veal any title whatever to the property TO
which we claim a title from the United
States. In due time the courts will deter
mine the facts in the case. In the mean
time there is no foundation for ''sympa-
thy with owners about 10 be ~''wronged."
There are none such.
HARVEY NJ. LA TOILETTE.
Indianapolis, March %.