The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-08
PRESIDENT NAILS
CANAL YARNS
lilies" About Graft Denounced
By Mr.. Roosevelt.
CALLS THE CHARGES ABSURD

Resents Story About His 6rother-in
Law, and Declares Mr.. Robinson Die
Not Have the Slightest Connection
With Panama Matters-says There
Was No American Syndicate That
Received a "Rake.oH" Of Price Paid
For It-More FaIsehoods Concern
ing oil company's Charter.
Hot Springs. Va. Dec. Tn letter
to William ID. Foulke Of Richmond
Ind. made public here. President ROose
welt denounces the indianapolis News
and Its editor Delavan Smith. as cir
culators OF falsehoods concerning the
governments purchase Of the Panama
canal zone.
MIR. Foulko had called Mr. RoOse-
velt's attention to editorials printed In
the News. which alleged that the gov.
eminent bought from American citi-
zens property that cost these citizens
only $12,OO0.00O' The News said that
the presidents brother-lnlaw. Doug.
lass Robinson, and President elect
Taft's brother. Charles p. Taft, were
involved In the scandal"
In his reply to Mr.. Foulke the presi.
dent says that as Mr.. Smith certain
ly knew that all the statements he
made were false. and inasmuch as the
exposure Of the falsity will not aNect
his future statements. ] am not very
clear what will result from such ex-
posurc." The president says be an
swers the charges because some rep
utabie persons seem to believe them.
He shows that the government
bought the canal strip from the gov.
eminent OF France and that all the pa,
pegs In The deal are on record and open
TO the inspection OF any proper person
or by congress. although no demand
mas ever been made for them Then no
SAYS. regarding the News query
Who got the money!
The mere supposition that any
American received from the French
government a 'rake-off is too absurd
to be discussed. It Is an abomlnahle
falsehood and II is SANDER not
against the American government, but
against the French government.
The News continues saying that
The presidents brotherln.law is In
yolyed in the scandal. but he has moth.
ing 10 say The presidents brother-in.
law was involved In no scandal Della
van Smith and the other people who
repeated this falsehood He'd about the
presidents brotherin-law
Mr.. Robinson had not the slightest
connection OF any kind, sort or de-.
scilption al any time or under any
circumstances with the Panama canal
matter
Neither did Charles p. Taft The
News says that Mr. Taft was r mem
Der Of the syndicate There certainly
was no syndicate in the United States
that TO my knowledge had any deal
lUEN Win tue tNffi uiAiuis hiAfAAtf VI
indirectly. and inasmuch as there war
no syndicate. Mr. TAFT naturally could
not belong TO IT,"
Further. Mr. Roosevelt refers 10 his
statement Of last week regarding a
New York newspaper which published
criticisms on the president for grant
ing a charter to the Prairie oil com
pany IN Okllhoma. This papers state
menis are utterly false" asserts Mr
Roosevelt.
In CLOSING he deplores the methods
used by certain newspapers and pays
a high tribute to the press In general
as rendering a great service to the
public.
As to the attacks upon him, he SAYS
he will go ahead and DO his work In
the assured conviction that the yells
will die out and the falsehoods be for
cotton