Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-20

delegation. and L. W. Busbey. secretary
of Speaker Cannon. produced the, books
of his office, which showed that no one
but the Alabama delegation endorsed
Hobson for the place. John Sharp Will
lams, the minority leader. recommended
his appointment to the Speaker and that
Recommendation was accepted by Cannon.
Mr. I.illey presented to the committee
an affidavit, signed by Clement r. Adams,
and dated Bridgeport, Ct. March 16. EeS
in which Mr.. Adams swears that while
he was engaged in business in the city
of Washington during the summer of 1906,
j. i. c.. Archibald represented to him
that he was war correspondent Tor
Golfers Weekly and that he had been
apr ointed by the President of the United
States to visit certain cities and towns
on the Pacific coast and to report to the
President upon the condition of the coast
defenccs in that section. 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
In various cities and towns and states on
the Pacific coast. and had addressed them
upon tie advantages to be gained by the
purchase by the United States govern
ment of submarine torpedo boats. and
that certain petitions and addresses made
BY Congress and the members thereof by
these different organizations were caused
ty the efforts Of Archibald. At a later
period. according to the affidavit, Mr..
Adams showed to Archibald newspa
per article on the subject Of submarine
torpedo EOats, wherein the Lake Subnla-
rire boat was criticized. and Archibald
informed him thct he was the author of
the articles that he wrote the same and
that the criticism OF the Lake boat there
in contained was melted ard caused by
request to him. made by Lawrence y.
Spar. an officer of the Electric Boat Co.
and that the request was acceded to by
Archibald because he (Archibald) was I'M
der obligations to Spear and the Electric
Boat Co.
Accompanying the affidavit was the fol-
lowing letter from President Roosevelt
denying that Archibald was ever appoint
ed or employed by him or as far as ne
knew, was ever appointed or employed
by anyone else connected with the admin
iStratiCn:
1.-The White House. Washington, d. c..
March Is. 1905
MY Dear tIr. Lilley:-Referring to our
conversation of this morning, Mr.. Arc'li-
bald never was appointed OF employed by
me nor, so far as l know. was he ever
appointed or employed by anyone else
connected with the administration. Some
time about Il year ago he came in and
saw NE for about two minutes and said
that he Was going to make an inrestisa-
ton Of the question of submarin ne de
fence on the Pacific. especially. I believe.
il: reference to Puget Sound: and thai lie
wac immensely interested in the subject,
having been wal correspondent for va
send me j report of what he found. !
answered him that Of course l should be
very glad to receive sucl. Il report from
him or any other man who might inveS-
tig;,te the subject lie sent RE Il letter
on the subject some weeks later. which |
transmitted to the secretary OF the navy.
| have transmitted dozens of similar let
tiers from men who have told me of in
vestigations that they have made or Of
facts that had found or of suggestions
which they believed were important. 1t
is the usual course; ii was followed in
this instance exactly as in all similar
cases.
Sincerely yours. -
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"Hon. George l.. Lilley. House of Repre-
sentatives.'