Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-15

They are false in every particular from
bePinning to end.
The wickedness of the slanders is only
surpassed by their fatuity. So utterly
baseless are the stories that apparently
they represent In part merely material
part stories originally concocted with
view of possible blackmail.
The inventor of the story about Mr..
Charles P. Taft. for instance. evidentl:
supposed that at some period of the
Panama purchase Mr. w. H. Taft was
Secretary of War, whereas in reality Mr.
w. II. Taft never became Secretary of
War until long after the whole transac-
tion in nestion had been closed. The In
ventor OF the story about Mr.. Douglas
Robinson had not taken the trouble to
! find out the fact that Mr.. Robinson had
! not had the slightest connection. directly
or indirectly, of any kind or sort with any
phase of the Panama transaction from be-
! ginning to end.
The men who attacked Mr.. Root in the
matter had not taken the trouble to read
the public documents. which would have
informed them that MIR. Root had nothing
TO do with the purchase, which was en-
tirely arranged through the Department
of Justice under the then Attorney Gen.
| eral. NJ. Knox.
Pulitzer to Be Sued.
| Now. these stories as matter of fact
need no investigation whatever No
shadow Of proof has been, or can be, pro-
duced in behalf of any Of them. They
| consist simply of a string of Infamous
! libels.
In form. they are. In part, libels upon
! individuals, upon Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Rob-
| inson for instance. But they are in fact
| wholly, and In form partly, libel upon
| the United States government
| / do not believe we should concern our
selves with the particular individuals who
wrote the lying and libelous editorials
articles from correspondents articles
! in the news columns. The real offender is
| Mr. Joseph Pulitzer, editor and proprietor
| Of the World
| While the criminal offense of which Mr.
Pulitzer has been guilty is in form libel
| upon individuals. the great injury done is
! in blackening the good name of the
/ American people. 1t should not be left
| 10 a private citizen to sue Mr.. Pulitzer
for libel. He should be prosecuted for
| libel by the governmental authorities.
| In point of encouragement of iniquity.
in point Of infamy, of wrongdoing there
is nothing to choose between public serv-
ant who betrays his trust, "a public serv-
| ant who is guilty of blackmail, or theft.
or financial dishonesty of any kind, and
a man guilty as Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer has
been guilty in this instance. 1t is there
fore a high national d;Ity to bring to JUS
tice this vilifier of the American people.
this man who wantonly and wfckedly and
Witiout oiiC sldOoW VI ScchS
to blacken the character Of reputable pri-
vate citizens and to convict the govern
ment of his own country in the eyes of
the civilized world of wrongdoing of the
basest and foulest kind, when he has not
one shadow Of justification of any sort or
description for the charge he has made.
The Attorney General has under con-
sideration the form in which the proceed
ings against Mr.. Pulitzer shall be-
brought.
Meanwhile. submit to you all the ac-
companying papers, so that you may have
before you complete information on the
subject. | call your attention to my COM
munications in my messages to the Con-
gress of January -, 1892: March II, 1908:
Continued on Thirteenth Page)