Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-10-14
WHO GOT THE FORTY MILL
IONS?

ne united states paid forty mill
on dollars for the right to dig the
Panama canal. To whom was the
money paid? The question. long
an unsettled one, partakes of pc
culiar interest just now because rs
correct answer is likely to involve
some the prominent figures in the
pending political campaign
The canal undertaking it will be
recalled, was originally inaugurate 1
and subsequently, abandoned BY
hnanciers OF France. When the
United States contemplated the con
summation of the scheme. it was
considered necessary to satisfy
whatever claim French interests
might assert in the premises. There
ore the payment of the $4O,O00,OOO
senator Morgan in the closing years
If his life earnestly contended that
his money did not go into the
hands of the French promoters
that an American syndicate antic-
ipating the governments willing
ness 20 purchase French concessions
sent an agent to Paris. who secured
hem at a nominal price and that
nto the pockets of this syndicate
and its agent went practically the
an3re proceeds of the $4,000. 900
purchase. In other words. the gov
eminent was handed a gold brick
bargain insofar as a valuable con
5ideration was concerned Senator
Morgan went further and showed
that the agent-the man who steer
ID the deal-was William Nelson
Cromwell now a leading member of
ne Republican national committee.
lie actually produced papers evil
Iencing the transaction in prima
acie sense, before a senate com
mittee, and sought to obtain addi-
donal information concerning it at
the hands of Mr. Cromwell. Mr..
cromwell refused to disclose, how
ever. and did so on the ground of a
lawyers professional obligation and
privilege Report now has it that
investigation is being searchingIy
prosecuted in Paris with view of
uncoyer.ng all the details Of the
anair; OF showing why the United
states was compelled to pay sfO.-
100000 for shares ID defunct ca
nal scheme which according to their
then market rating were " = ol'y
$4,OO0,O00. And a i,laIt ai.o Us
.nsistently repeated hat among the
chief benefic.aries OF the scheme
we're Charles p. Taft. and Douglas
Robinson, brother-in-law of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. The unhappy and
unfortunate feature Of the case so
far as Mr.. Roosevelt is concerned,
IS reflected I'm the fac- that con-
sress refused to sanction the trans
actions outright, but left 30 to him
to consummate .he deal as TO his
judgment might seem best Should
q turn out as is widely believed
that the government was buncoed
ia this matter. and buncocd through
It's president, and that the presi-
dents brother shared the loot. why
a scandal Of overwhelming proper
lions will be uncovered. We have
not seen as yet any denial from Mr..
Robinson or from Mr.. Charles =.
Tar upon this subject Surely if
Improperly represented I'm so grave
q matter It's high time that they
should De hoard from AS we re-
marked the other day. st IS often
the case that silence carries all he
effect OF actual and damaging
speech
ln the meantime. it, is 10 Doe hoped
that before she campaign ends. the
Democratic committee VIII succeed
u ascertaininz all the facts con-
nDctcd with tbs mysterious deal
The American people would doubt
i,as regard the vorincation Of the