The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-20
Preaenfn an Amdavtt.

Mfr I,iiley presented to the committee an afidavit signed by Clement E.. Adams and dated Bridgeport, Conn, March 13, 1908, in which MT. Adams swears that while he was engaged in business in the city of Washington. during the summer of 1908. J. F. O. Archibald represented to him that he was war correspondent TOT Coiller g Weekly and that he had been appoint ed by the President of the United States to visit certain cities and towns on the Pacific coast and to report to the Pres .Aent upon the condition of the coast defense in that section.
 According to the deponent. Mir .Archt- bald said to him later that he had vts- tied 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 associations of business men and citizens in vari- ous cities and towns and States on the Pacific coast, had addressed them upon the advantages to be gained by the nurchase by the United States Govern ment of submarine torpedo boats and that certain petitions and addresses made to Congress and the members thereof by these different organizations were caused by the efforts of Archi- bald.
 At A later period, according to the affidavit. Mir Adams showed to Archi- bald a newspaper article on the subject of submarine torpedo boats, wherein the Lake Submarine Boat was criticised. and Archiba informed him that he was the author of tho article, that he wrote the same and that the criticism of the Lake boat therein contained was melted and caused by a request to him made by Lawrence Y. Spear, an officer of the Electric Boat Company, and that the request was acceded to by Areht- bald because he (Arehibald) was under obligations to Spear and the Electric Boat Company.
 ~AnanIas' for Archibald.
 Accompanying the affidavit was the following letter from President Roose- welt denying that Archibald was ever appointed or employed by him, or so far as he knows. appointed or employed by any one connected with the admin istTation:
 "The White House,
 washington, March IS. 1880. My Dear M-. Lilley
 "Referring to our conversation of this morning, MT Archibald never was ap- pointed or employed by me. nor. so far as I know, was he ever appointed or employed by any one else connected with the administration.
 Some time about a year ago, he came in and saw me for about two minutes. and said that he was going to make an investigation of the question of sub marine defense on the Pacific, espe- oially. I believe, in reference to Puget Sound and that he was immensely in- terested in the subject. having been war correspondent for various papers, and that he would like to send me report of what he found. I answered hirn that. of course. I should be very glad to receive such report from him, or any other man who might tnvesti- gate the subject.
 ''TIe sent me letter on the subject. some weeks later. which I transmitted to the Secretary of the Navy. I have transmitted dozens of similar letters from men who have told me of investi- cations that they have made or of facts which they had found. or suggestions which they believed were important It is the usual course: it was followed in this instance exactly as in all simi- lar cases. Sincerely yours,
 Theodore Roosevelt" George L. Lilley. House of Repressn-
 tatives.