The Detroit times., 1908-10-26
TAFT IS ACCUSED
OF RAILWAY GRAB
IN PHILIPPINES
CIVIL ENGINEER REVEALS TO n
Y. WORLD REMARkAsLE DEAL
WHEREIN CONTRACT WAS
AWARDED WITHOUT BiopINo.

| NEW foHk, Oct. Z6.-Wm. II.
\ Green. a builder OF raiiroadx, civil en-
gineer and promoter Of big enterprises.
through the columns of the World has
thrown new light upon the fuIe OF
VIM. n. TAFT In the Philippines. Mr..
Green reveals the inside history Of
the. Philippine railroad contract. 30
long puzzle to the people OF this
country and challenges the Washing
ton administration TO disprove the
charges
j VIM. n. Taft, his brother Henry
Taft. Elihu Root and Wayne Mac
Veash, attorney general in Garfield's
cabinet. figure in the story which ne
tells OF secret deal whereby the full
control OF railroad interests on the
island OF Luzou-+present and future
passed into the hands OF a combination
they represent, the contract being
awarded without competitive bidding
After several conferences with Pres
ident Roosevelt In 1904, Mr.. Green
went to the Philippines as the repre-
sentative OF American capital to In
vestigate the railroad needs OF Luzon,
make surveys and ultimately bid for
the contract which the government
was preparing TO offer.
Mr.. Green AYERS that he found the
cards stacked" and that when the
Invitation to bid was extended, he did
not enter one. He had spent $4,000
In his Investigations and had returned
to this country with convincing proof
SO he says--that the job Was put
up one for the Taft.Root- Macveagh
combine.
Returning to Washington said
Mr.. Green, IL again saw President
Roosevelt and laid the facts before
him. | told just what had been done
10 make a mockery of the invitation
for bids.
Roosevelt Greatly Surprised"
President Roosevelt listened atten-
tively--I'll give him credit for that
continued Mr.. Green; but all that he
said was: Well, | am greatly sur
prised.' That Is all he has ever said
about 1t, so far as | have been able 10
learn.
But | did not stop with President
, Roosevelt. I appealed In person to
William II. Taft, as civil governor OF
the Philippines. to change the terms OF
the contract 80 that there could be
honest competitive bidding. His an
swer was fiat refusal.
1--WE have competent men In the
Philippines he said. and guess they
know their business
"But I'm these protests" continued
Mr.. Green, Il had revealed the fnn ex-
tent of my information. The Philip
pine ring realized that I knew too
much for their comfort or safety,
Their first move WAS one OF at
tempted intimidation. was notihed
that II made any attempt to cause
trouble over the railroad contract BY
reputation would be destroyed.
This warning was delivered to me
personally by men whom / will name
at the proper time and to the proper
authorities.
Ring Sets Spies on Him.
when intimidation failed to work.
he continued, the powerful interest |
had antagonized surrounded me with
spies to guard against any attempt or
mine TO make the facts public.
Finally, one OF the leading news
papers in Boston got an inkling OF the
situation and asked me TO expose GER
tain features of the Taft misrule IN
It's columns | consented, ana pre-
pared the article. In message from
the Boston editor ] was informed tnst
the exposure was OF the greatest I'M
DOrtaQCe anu lutt htthhBNh~htS w.
/ being made TO feature II week later
says Lodge Killed Article.
But the article never appeared.
Months later I learned the reason.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge had made
a personal appeal to the Boston editor
in behalf OF the administrator tnst
my charges be suppressed.
II would not make this assertion.
t.xnp a
there Was the faintest doubt OF Its
truth. Senator Lodge VIII not oen'
IT," -,
Taking up the history OF the Phil
innine railroad contract. Mr.. Green
said he wished to explain the case In
every essential so that the American
people might thoroughly understand H.
in the island of Luzon, he says
English company under a spanish
20 short railroad was built by an
grant which antedated the American
ioccupation of the Philippines by IL
! wears. This company was and Is
known AZ the Manila Railway COM
many LID aud its line OF Ice miles
between the cities of Manila and Dag
upan was in operation before the span
lish,American war.
In the time OF chaos following me
, war this road was conspiS"ouSy ~
tive. I'm the service OF the enemy. As
n result the American military author
tiles seized it's line. operated IL for
many months and then turned II over
IN the owners Later the company
brought claim for $l.500.oo0 against
the United States government.
Root Was Roads Attorney.
Now | come to the first point or
great importance.r continued Mr..
Green. with sudden emphasis.
u %The attorney of that company In
the demand IL made upon the govern
ment was Elihu Root. now secretary
of state. When he became secretary
OF war the attorneyship was passed
over to- Wayne Macveagh and Henry
w. Taft.
AS the negotiations progressed 10
a point where a certain degree OF pub
iHcity could not be avoided. John O.
Milburn figured as the companyt
counsel As you know. he Was the
Buffalo lawyer In whose house Presi-
dent Mckinley died and Mr.. Rooss-
Welt was sworn In ss president
Foxy Trick Turned.
Mr.. Green then says that the &C.,
tCe.si.ves 81 r~gs nAghs-D