The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1908-12-19
Charges False In Every Pdfiic-
uIar, He Says.
STRING OF INFAMOUS lIBElS
President Gives Facts Regarding
Purchase Of Canal Title.

Washington, Dec. Is. = President
Roosevelt today replied 10 charges OF
the New York World and other papers
that there was corruption In connec-
ton with the purchase OF the Panama
canal from the French company His
message is as follows
Special Message TO the Senate and
House of Representatives
In view Of the constant federation
OF the assertion that there was some
corrupt action by or on behalf OF the
United States government in con-
nection with the acquisition OF the
title OF the French company to the
Panama canal, and OF the repetition OF
the story that a syndicate OF American
citizens owned either one or both OF the
Panama companies. ! deem IL wise TO
submit to the congress all the infor-
nation ] have on the subject
These stories were first brought 10
my attention as published in paper
| in Indianapolis, called THE News,
/ edited by Mr.. Delavan Smith. The
stories were scurrilous and libelous In
character and false in every essential
. particular Mr.. Smith shelters him
self behind the excuse that he merely
accepted the statements which had APP
&peared in paper published In New
York. THE World" owned by Mr..
Joseph Pulitzer.
IL is idle 10 say that the known
kcharaeter Of Mr. Pulitzer and his
y wspaper are such that the state
&Hents In that paper will be believed
by nobody; unfortunately. thousands
OF persons are ill-informed Ia this re-
spect and believe the statements they
sec In print. even though they appear
in newspaper published by Mr. Pulit-
ger. A member OF the congress has
actually introduced resolution In
reference 10 these charges ] there
fore lay all the facts before You
Charges Made by The World.
The story repeated NJ various times
by The World and by It's followers in
the newspaper press. is substantially
as follows.
That there was corruption by or on
behalf OF the government ~ the Unit
ed States In the transaction by which
the Panama canal property was &C
quired from IT'S French owners. That
there were improper dealings of some
kind between agents OF the govern
ment and outside persons. represent
Ing or acting for an American syndi-
cate. which had gotten possession ~
the French company. that among
these persons, who II was alleged
made huge profits" were MIR. Charles
y. Taft, n brother OF Mr.. William "A
Taft, then candidate for the presi-
dency, and Mr. Douglas Robinson, my
brother-in-law; that Mr.. Cromwell, the
cepnsel for the Panama Canal com
PAM In the negotiations. was in some
way DUPLICATED with the United States
soNelnp.nt authorities in these Inn
po'eant transactions; that the govern
49, concealed the true facts. and |
- aroyed. or procured or agreed |
.struction OF. certain docu- |
- Mr.. w. r. Taft was secre- /
Var az the time; that by an
tnt between the United States |
/hment and the benefciaries OF
deal, all traces thereof were
Twiped out by transferring all the
archives and secrets" 70 the Ameri-
can government. just before the hold
Ing OF the convention last June at
which Mr.. Taft was nominated.
False In Every Particular.
The statements sometimes appeared
in the editorials, sometimes in the
news columns, sometimes In the shape
OF contributions from individuals.
either unknown or known 90 be OF bad
character. They are false IN every
particular from beginning 10 end The
W kedness OF the ISLANDERS is only sur
sed by their faulty SO utterly
raseless are the stories that apparent.
ly they represent In part merely ma
terial collected for campaign purposes
and in part stories originally concoct.
ed with a view OF possible b,ackmail
The Inventor Of the story about Mr..
Charles T.. Taft. for instance. evident.
" supposed that al some period OF the
Panama purchase. Mr. w II Taft was
secretary NJ war. whereas Ia reality
Mr. w II Taft never became secre-
tary Of war until long after the whole
transaction In question had been
closed
The inventor Of the story about Mr.