The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-11
ROOSEVELT WILL
SUE PAPERS
FOR LIBEL
Criminal Actions May Be
Brought in Panama Affair
ASKS FOR INVESTIGATION
Canal companys Attorney Says No
Americans Were Interested in
100000 Purchase.

Washington, Dec. 11.-President
Roosevelt is contemplating actions for
criminal libel against some of the
newspapers that have been circula-
ting the insinuation regarding his
share in the purchase of the Panama
canal, the recent publication of which
has made him so angry and which led
to the writing of his letter to William
Dudley Foulke, in which he savagely
denounced Delevan Smith of the In
dianapolis News and William NJ. FAT
fan of the New York Sun.
In a speech to a committee from
the lakes to the Gulf Deep Waterway
association at the White House yes
terday afternoon the president made
distinct announcement of his inten-
ton to prosecute certain newspapers
If he found that criminal actions
against them could be maintained. In
reply to the address of Gov. Deneen,
the chairman of the committee. the
president said
Il have felt that no more important
service could be rendered to this
country than the building of the Pan
anna canal between the Atlantic and
the Pacific; and one thing am proud
Of in connection with the building Of
that canal is that there has not been
legitimate cause for the breath Of
scandal connected with any feature OF
the proceeding.
we have cause to be ashamed Of
only one set of Americans in counec
ton with the building of the canal,
and that is of those Americans who
have been guilty Of infamous false
hood concerning the acquisition Of
the property and the construction OF
the canal itself If they can be reach.
ed for criminal libel shall try to have
them reached If not, at any rate. all
the facts we know or ever have
known are at the disposal of each and
every one Of you here, and of any one
in Congress or Of all Congress If they
wish to see them"
The newspaper which has especi-
ally aroused the presidents anger in
this matter is the New York World.
in which the accusations of improprie-
~ on his part in the canal purchase
were first published II Is understood
here that he has given directions TO
United States District Attorney Slim
son in New York to make an inyesti.
CATION Of that case for the purpose OF
determining whether an action for
criminal libel against The World can
be brought successfully. and It is ex.
pected that II the report Of the district
attorney indicates a belief that a con.
yiction might be obtained he will be
directed to bring the proceedings at
once
II has been known In administration
circles for some time that the presL
dent regards The World as IN class
by itself among those newspapers
Del which he denounces. He has referred
to II frequently In terms even moro
vigorous than some OF those used In
denunciation OF the New York sun
and the indianapolis News In his let
ter to William Dudley Foulke, In the
last day or two he has spoken Of 4 TO
some OF his callers and has referred
with especial ylgor to Mr.. Pulitzer.
It's editor He has said that he did
, not see The World and would not read
IT, that he would rather dig In the gut.
ter.
To some OF his callers today ne said
that he had heard that the World was
wondering why he had not included
: 1t In his denunciatlon OF the Sun and
: The indianapolis News and was In
& clined to complain az It's lack OF dig
& tinctIon, There are some creatures
o OF the gutter SO low" he said In com
b. mont on this, that they envy the en-
r inence Of the dunghil."