Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-03-25
Chief DENIES STORY
IN SUBMARINE PROBE
PRESIDENT GIVES LIE TO TALE
THAT HE APPOINTED AN
INVESTIGATOR.

INVESTIGATOR.
PREJUDiCED ARTICLE
TOLD IN AFFIDAVIT
War Correspondent on Trip for lnfor.
nation Said to Have Had Roose.
veit's Sanction-However, Execu.
tive Enters Denial Of Selection.
Washington, Mar. 20.-Secretary of
the Navy Metcalf and Admiral Capps
were among those who appeared
Thursday before the submarine boat
Investigating committee, to testify in
relation to the charges made by Rep
resentative Lilley of Connecticut that
| wrongful methods had been used by
the Electric Boat Company to secure
legislation in congress. The commit
tee had planned in consonance with
the request of Representative HObson
to call Mr.. Hobson's secretary, Edgar
Clarkson, as the first witness, but the
appearance Of the secretary of the
navy and Admiral Capps in response
to invitations from the committee
changed this plan. Both Secretary
Metcalf and Admiral Capps brought
with them navy department docu-
ments and records as requested by the
committee.
Mr.. Lilley presented to the commit.
tee an affidavit signed by Clement E.
Adams and dated Bridgeport, Conn.,,
March ID, 1908, in which Mr.. Adams
swears that while he was engaged in
during the summer of 1906 J. F. G.
Archibald represented to him that he
was a war correspondent for Golfers
Weekly and that he had been ap-
pointed by the president of the United
States to visit certain cities and
towns on the Pacific coast and to re-
port to the president upon the condi.
ti0n of the coast defenses in that Sec
ton. According to the deponent, Mr..
Archibald said to him later that he
had visited certain cities and towns
on the Pacific coast and had reported
thereon to the president; that he had
appeared before certain chambers of
commerce, boards of trade and other
associations of business men and citi:
Zens in various cities and towns and
states on the Pacific coast, had ad-
dressed them upon the advantages to
be gained by the purchase by the
United States government of subma-
rine torpedo boats, and that certain
petitions and addresses made to con-
gress and the members thereof by
these different organizations were
caused by the efforts of Archibald.
President Makes Denial.
At later period, according to the
affidavit, Mr.. Adams showed to Archi-
bald newspaper article on the SUBJ
ject OF submarine torpedo boats where
In the Lake submarine boat was criti-
cised, and Archibald informed him
that he was the author of the article:
that he wrote the same, and that the
criticism of the Lake boat therein con-
tanned was melted and caused by a
request to him made by Lawrence Y.
Spear, an officer of the Electric Boat
Company, and that the request was
acceded to by Archibald because he
(Archibald) was under obligations to
Spear and the Electric Boat Com
pany.
Accompanying the affidavit was the
f0110wino 1offn,.
welt denying that Archibald was ever
appointed or employed by him, or, so
far as he knew, appointed or en-
ployed by any one connected with the
administration:
'The White House, WASHINGTON.
March 1S, 1908.-My Dear Mr.. Lilley:
Referring to our conversation of this
morning, Mr.. Archibald never was ap-
pointed or employed by me, nor, so
far as l know, was he ever appointed
or employed by any one else connected
with the administration.
Would Probe Submarines.
Some time about year ago he
came in and saw me for about two
minutes and said that he was going
to make an investigation of the ques-
ton of submarine defense on the Pa
cif1c, especially, l believe, in refer
ence to Puget sound, and that he was
Immensely interested in the subject,
having been war correspondent for
various papers, and that he would like
to send me report of what he found.
l answered him that of course should
be very glad to receive such a report
from him or any other man who might
investigate the subject.
HE sent me letter on the subject
some weeks later, which l transmitted
to the secretary of the navy. 1 have
transmitted dozens of similar letters
from men who have told me of inves-
legations that they have made or of
facts which they had found, or sugges-
lions which they believed were impor-
tant. 1t is the usual course; it was
followed in this instance exactly as
In all similar cases. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
George L. Lilley, House of Rep
resentatives."
Arrested on Black Hand Charge.
Wheeling w Vo Mo-, -IIorr,,