Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-16
PULITZER IS READY
FOR PRISON CELL
World Cannot Be Muzz|ed, Re-
ply to Presidents Message.
AsToUNDED AND GRATIFIED
Hopes to Be Punished if Paper Has
Libeled Anybody.
STILL URGES INVESTIGATION
Says Presidents Judgments and Con-
illusions Are Not Acceptable.
Points to Roosevelts Crit
icism of Congress as
Another Libel.
ASTOUNDED AND GRATIFIED
Hopes to Be Punished if Paper Has
Libeled Anybody.
STILL URGES INVESTIGATION

Another Libel.
NEW YORK December 16.-The World
| replying to President Roosevelt's message
on Panama affairs. this morning under the
| ca ption 'Lese Majestic" says:
Mr.. Roosevelt is mistaken. He cannot
| muzze the World.
| while no amount Of bilinsseate on his
| part can alter our determination to treat
him with judicial impartiality and scrupu-
lous fairness. VIC repeat what we have
| already said-that the Congress Of the
| United States should make a thorough
| investigation of the whole Panama
transaction that the full truth may be
| known to the American people
| 1T is most extraordinary circum-
| stance that Mr.. Roosevelt himself did not
demand such an inquiry. All his prot
estations of outraged virtue, all his tor
rents of imprecation and denunciation
| end with the amazing assertion that
| there is nothing whatever in which this
| government is interested to investigate
about this transaction.
Compliment Is Accepted.
The World fully appreciates the COM
| pliment paid to it by Mr.. Roosevelt in
making it the subject Of special message
| to the Congress of the United States. In
| the whole history of American govern
ment no other President has ever paid
such tribute TO the power and influence
! of a fearless, independent newspaper.
The World likewise appreciates the i'm
| portance and significance of Mr.. Roose-
velts statement when he declares to Con-
Vic <,F -, III
should be prosecuted for libel by the
governmental authorities. and that the
Attorney General has under consideration
the form under which the proceedings
| against Mr.. Pulitzer shall be brought.
| This is the first time President ever
| asserted the doctrine of lese majesty, or
proposed in the absence of specific legis-
lation, the criminal prosecution by the
| government of citizens who criticised the
| conduct of the government or the con-
duct of individuals who may have had
| business dealings with the government.
Neither the King of Great Britain nor the
| German emperor would venture to arrO-
| gate such power to himself
| "JoEn Adams attempt to enforce the
sedition law destroyed the federalist
party in America. Yet Mr.. Roosevelt. in
the absence of law. officially proposes to
use al, the power of the greatest govern
ment on earth to cripple the freedom of
the press on the pretext that the govern
ment itself has been libeled-and he Is
the government.
Quarrel Of Long Standing.
I'VE are aware that for many years Mr.
Roosevelt has been savagely displea sed
with the editorial conduct of the World
1t is true that we have criticised hin,
sharply and frankly whenever we believed
the public interest required, just we
have heartily commended and supported
| LII, ,-ho holt liz
interest would thereby be advanced.
Mr.. Roosevelts attack on the World
can be explained only on the theory that
he believes he can muzzle the paper. and
our recent Impeachment of his veracity
seems to have been the last straw that
broke his autOcratic back.
1T is true that the World printed the
public reports concerning the Panama ca
nal affair. which resulted from William
Nelson CromwellS appeal to the district
attorneys office during the recent cam
paign to prevent the publication of a
story which was said to be In the hands
of the democratic national committee. II
was Mr.. Cromwell's own action which
raised the issue in the campaign.
1T is true also that when Mr.. Roosevelt
made his attack upon Delavan Smith the
World called attention to certain state
ments which Mr.. Roosevelt must have
known to be false misleading and ap-
pealed to Congress to end all scandal by
a full and impartial investigation. II
this be treason let Mr.. Roosevelt make
the most of it.
Accuracy Is Questioned.
Mr.. Roosevelt's lamentable habit of in
accurate statement makes it impossible
to accept either his judgment or his con
illusions In his message he does no
state correctly even so simple a matter
: as the pretended cause of his grievance.
a | To hot he
= asserted that there was corruption by Of
r on behalf of the government of tn,
3 United States No such charge Wa
7 made by this newspaper
e He says it was asserted that Their,
: were improper dealings of some kind be
tween agents of the government and out
d side persons No such charge was made
= He says that among those persons
: who, it was alleged. made huge profits
e were Mr.. Charles p. Taft. a brother o
:. Mr. William II. Taft. then candidate fo
:. the presidency, and Mr.. Douglas Robin
e son. my brother-in-law.' No such charg
e was made.
: p Taft or Douglas Robinson made an,
profits whatever. Mr.. Taft denied that h,
was concerned in the transaction in any
I way, which denial the World published
S and accepted
!, 1T would have been equally glad t,
t print Mr.. Robnson's denial could il hav.
!; succeeded in obtaining one from him. al
il frequently attempted. The World ha
no evidence that he was associated will
Mr. Cromwell, and would accept his wore
10 that effect: for Mr.. Robinson is an es
timabIe gentleman of high character
! whose reputation for veracity is infinitel,
better than that of his DISTINGUISHED
| brot her in-laW.
Ready to Be Punished if Guilty.
IF the World has libeled anybody we
hope it will be punished. but we do mo-
intend to be intimidsted by Mr.. Roose
velt's threats. or by Mr.. Rooseveits de
nunciation, or by Mr.. Roosevelt's power
MIR. Roosevelts seething indignation
about the Worlds libel upon the United
States government is an exquisite indict
ment. indeed. coming ii uoes from d
| President who less than week ago Off
ciaIly insinuated in his message that the
Congress of the United States was com
posed of scoundTels who amended an ap
preparation bill because congressman die
| not themselves Wish to be investigated b,
secret service men.
mo other living man ever so grossly
libeled the United States as does this
President, who besmirches Congress- bull
dozes judges. assails the integrity OF
courts. ISLANDERS private citizens, and vii.