The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-19
MESSAGE =
ON PANAMA
CANAL.
President Replies to
Charges.
IHIC Wns IUuiLLIt'
"SioIies a String Of Infamous
$50 tlbeIs."
I:sss; ssy1HING PUT ON RECORD.
stdn-on
The ne
Ia,;.auls Dslating TO Purchase
y bnt to Congress.
sSs;s;ssy1HINe PUT ON RECORD.
,s:uis Relating TO Purchase
bnt to Congress.

III e and House Of Repre-
<XX<. the constant -eiteratl0n
r. tion that there was some
~ n by or on behalf Of the
ySes government in connec-
q acquisition of the title
d n company TO the Pana-
"a Of the repetition Of the
A syndicate of American
led either one or both OF
accompanies, deem II wise
~ the congress all the in
A.. have on the subject.
:. were first brought to my
published In a paper in
called the News, edited
ivan Smith. The stories
,,us and libelous in char
lAlise in every essential par
Zr Smith shelters himself
g excuse that he merely &c
OF ;tatements which had APP
-. paper published in New
VIVID. owned by Mr.. Joseph
1t is idle to say that the
chardcter of Mr.. Pulitzer and
tpapeS are such that the state
! that paper viii be believed
XIV. Unfortunately thousands OF
are III Informed In this respect
|eeve the statements they see
int even though they appear in
Il Fspaper published by Mr.. Pulitzer
Al member Of the congress has actual
iYmtroduced resolution in reference
Il these charges. / therefore lay all
tie facts before you.
The story repeated at various times
BIZ the World and by its followers in
the newspaper press is substapti s.siiy
49, s.----rrA -
E~7s corruption by or on
the transaction by
ina canal property was
its French owners; that
Improper dealings Of some
IN agents of the govern
outside persons. represent
Citing for an American syndi-
10 had gotten possession OF the
company; that among these
4 who Il Is alleged made "huge
NJ were Mr. Charles L. Taft, a
hot Mr.. William II. Taft, then
Frnndate for the presidency, and Mr.
<Bbe hpglas Robinson, my brother-in-laW;
Dec. p Mr.. Cromwell, the counsel for
n. A Panama Canal company in the ne
RnMiations, was In some way impll-
Mted with the United States govern
mental authorities in these improper
C4transactions; that the government has
q concealed the true facts and has de
stroyed or procured or agreed to the
destruction of certain documents;
that Mr.. w. II. Taft was secretary of
war at the time that by an agree
& ment between the United States gov
n eminent and the benefciaries of the
deal all traces thereof were wiped
out" by transferring all the archives
and secrets" to the American gov
eminent, just before the holding of the
convention last June at which Mr..
Taft was nominated.
"Storiss Utterly 6aseIess"
These statements sometimes appear
ed In the editorials, sometimes in the
news columns, sometimes in the shape
Of contributions from individuals either
unknown or known to be Of bad char
acter They are false In every partic.
ular from beginning to end. The wick
edness Of the ISLANDERS is only sur
passed by their faulty. So utterly
base7ess dre4the stories that apparent
" they represent In part merely mate
rial collected for campaign purposes
ana IN mart stories originally concoct
ed with view or posslpie DiacKmal
The inventor of the story about Mr.