The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1908-12-25
PANAMA CANAL SCANDAL.


Roosevelt and the newspaper fraternity,
as 10 v ho profited in the purchase of
the French interests at Panama, The
sudden change of selecting the Panama
route instead of the one previously So
lected through Nicsraugua, has never
been satisfactorily explained as it was
conceded that the Nicaragua route had
many points in its favor. On May 2,
1900, the Hepburn bill deciding upon
the Nicaragua route passed the house
by vote of 225 to 80, the Senate post
poning action until the next session,
deciding to take the matter up by maxi
ing the bill special order for the 10th
of December, following.
During the interim the promoters,
headed by W. N. Cromwell, got busy,
and, as usual, the noble senators had
changed their minds by the time con-,
gress again convened Mr.. Hanna, be-
ing the supreme dictator, at that time,
strongly advocated the purchase of the
French company's interest at Panama.
and thus it came about that our govern
ment paid $4,000, 900 for lot of old ain
cient worn out machinery and worthless
holdings in Panama. Now the ques-
ton is, what caused these senators, who
first advocated the Nicaragua route, to
change their minds SO suddenly? Was
it not brought about by Cromwell and
his associatesf
The thorough investigation of this
matter is demanded by the people, and
the more Teddy kicks abnut it the more
thoroughly will it be done, Roosevelt
says that everything was honest and
above suspicion in the deal. But was
it? de also said that there was no
deal made with Keefe during the last
campaign, yet after election Keefe
got the political plum, as charged in
the Indictment after he had delivered
the votes of the poor misguided labor
ers, as per agreement. Somehow or
other Roosevelt's assertions and denials
ID not Lauo &C r,nat, ,rai~h4 - fors,
erly. The belief is becoming prevail ent
that it is about as easy for Teddy to
prevaricate about such matters, and that
he enjoys it about as much, as to shoot
bear. That Roosevelt aud Taft had
uesd their influence as high officials Of
the United States government to help
near relatives in footing the treasury
at Washingnton," is one of the charges
made, and the shoe pinches the presi-
dent so hard, that, as our old German
friend said, dot is vot makes him so
tam mad"
This matter is being brought to the
attention of the people and they will
not be satisfied without thorough in
vestlgation. That there was syndi-
cate formed in this country to take over
the French company's interest in Pam
anna, is matter of record, and that
said syndicBte was aided and abetted
by President Roosevelt and had much
to do with the Panama revolution
which was brought about at Just the
! opportune moment, there can be no
doubt. The following clipping from
one of our exchanges throws some light
on this subject:
"Mr. Cromwell applied to the canal
situation the methods of American high
finance by which syndicate takes over
the property of bankrupt coucern,
then creates holding company and a
recapitalization, keeping the majority
control in a syndicate trusteeship."
Mr.. Roosevelt says, ''the government
paid this $4O,OOO,OOO direct to the
French government"
Mr. Cromwell testified that the United
States paid the money to j. P. Morgan
& Co.
Mr.. Roosevelt says, "the French gov
eminent distributed the sum-"