Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-12-24
PURCHASE OF PANAMA CANAL
Executive Brands the Newspaper
Charges as False.

Washington, Dec. 15.-President
Roosevelt today transmitted to con
,gress special message regarding the
charges published By certain newspa
pers that several Americans profited
by the purchase OF the property of the
Panama Canal company of France.
The message, In part, follows:
In view of the constant reiteration
O; the assertion that there was some
corrupt action by or on behalf OF the
United States government In connec.
ton with the acquisition of the title
of the French company to the Pan
anna canal, and of the repetition of the
story that syndicate OF American
citizens owned either one or both oil
the Panama companies, | deem 1t wise
to submit to the congress all the in
formation have on the subject. These
stories were first brought to my at
tention as published In a paper in In
dianapolis, called the News, edited by
Mr.. Delavan Smith. The stories were
scurrilous and libelous IN character
and false in every essential particu'
lar. Mr.. Smith shelters himself be.
hind the excuse that he merely &C.
cepted the statements which had ap
peared in a paper published in New
York. the World, owned by Mr.. JOS.
eph Pulitzer.
1t Is idle to say that the known
character of Mr.. Pulitzer and his
newspaper are such that the state.
ments In that paper will be believed
by nobody; unfortunately, thousands
OF persona are Ill informed In this
respect and believe the statements
they see In print. even though they
appear In . newspaper published by
Mr.. Pulitzer. A member OF the con
gress has actually introduced reso-
luton in reference to these charges
and therefore lay all the facts be-
fore you.
Sums Up Newspaper Charges.
The story repeated at various
times by the World and by its fol-
lowers In the newspaper press is sub
stantially az follows: That there
was corruption by or on behalf of the
government of the United States In
the transaction by which the Panama
canal property was acquired from It's
French owners; that there we're i'm
proper dealings OF some kind be-
tween agents OF the government and
outside persons, representing or act
ing tor an American syndicate which
had gotten possession OF the French
company; that among these persons,
who. II was alleged, made huge
profits" were Mr.. Charles p. Taft, a
brother OF Mr.. William H. Taft. theu
candidate for the presidency. and MIR.
Douglas Robinson, my brother-in-law; ;
that Mr.. Cromwell, the counsel for
the Panama Canal company in the
negotiations, was In some way impli.
Gated with the United States govern.
rnent authorities In these important
transactions; that the government
has concealed the true facts and has
destroyed, or procured or agreed to
the destruction OF, certain documents
that Mr.. w. III. Taft was secretary Of
war at the time; that by an agree
ment between the United States gov
eminent and the beneficiaries OF the
deal all traces thereof were wiped
out" by transferring all the archives
and secrets to the American govern
ment Just before the holding of the
convention last June and at which
Mr.. Taft was nominated. The state
ments are false In every partic
ular from beginning to end. Tbs
wickedness of the ISLANDERS Is onlJ
surpassed by their faulty.
string Of Infamous LlbeIs.
Now, these stories, as q matter ol
fact, need no investigation whatever
No shadow of proof has been. or car
be. produced on behalf Of any Of them
They consist simply OF string OF In
famous libels. In form they are In
part libels upon individuals. upon Mr.
Taft and Mr.. Robinson for instance
But they are In fat wholly and In
form partly . libel upon the United
States government. I do not believs
We should concern ourselves with tbs
particular individuals who wrote thu
lying and llbelous editorials. articles
from correspondents, or articles II
tho news columns. The real OFFENDED
q Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer. editor and
proprietor 81 the World. While thu
criminal ofrense OF which Mr.. Pulitzer
has been gullty u IN form libel upor
lndividual1 the great injury done II II
blsckening the good name Of tn
American people: Il should not be lef
1o.the private citfrea TO sue Mr.. Pulit