Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-12-23
Real Offender in the
Canal Stories,
ROOSEvELT'S HOT talk
Charges False in Every PaTtlC-
ular, He Says.
STRING OF INFAMOUS LIBELS
President Gives Facts Regarding
Purchase of Canal Title.

Washington, Dec. 10. = President
Roosevelt today replied to charges of
he New York World and other papers
hat there was corruption, in connec-
ion with the purchase of the Panama
ANAL from the French company. His
Message is as follow;
Special Message to the Senate and
House of Representatives:
In view of the constant reiteration
orrupt action by or on behalf of the
'nited States government il con-
ection with the acquisition of the
tie of the French company to the
anama canal, and of the repetition of
le story that syndicate of American
tizens owned either one or both of the
anama companies, l deem it wise to
limit to the congress all the infor-
alton l have on the subject.
These stories were first brought to
Y attention as published in paper
indianapolis, called 1.-THE News
lited by Mr.. Delavan Smith. The
Dries were scurrilous and libelous in
aracter and false in every essential
.rticuIar Mr.. Smith shelters him
If behind the excuse that he merely
,cepted the statements which had ap-
cared in a paper published in New
ork, 1.-THE World" owned by Mr..
lseph Pulitzer.
1t is idle to say that the known
,aracter of Mr.. Pulitzer and his
swspaper are such that the state
ents in that paper will be believed
nobody; unfortunately, thousands
persons are ilI-informed in this re-
ect and believe the statements they
in print, even though they appear
a newspaper published by Mr.. Pulit-
T. A member of the congress has
.tually introduced a resolution in
ference to these charges. 1 there
re lay all the facts before you.
Charges Made by The World.
The story repeated at various times
The World and by its followers in
e newspaper press, is substantially
follows:
That there was corruption by or on
half of the government of the Unit
States in the transaction by which
Panama canal property was ac-
ired from its French owners: that
ere were improper dealings Of some
nd between agents of the govern
ent and outside persons, represent
or acting for an American syndi-
te, which had gotten possession of
French company; that among
csc persons, who it was alleged
lde "huge profits" were Mr.. Charles
Taft, a brother of Mr.. William H.
1T, then candidate for the presi-
ucy, and Mr.. Douglas Robinson, my
lther-in-law; that Mr.. Cromwell. the
lnsel for the Panama Canal COM
ny in the negotiations, was in some
implicated with the United States
yernment authorities in these i'm
.tant transactions; that the govern
mt has concealed the true facts, and
destroyed, or procured or agreed
the destruction of, certain docu-
nts: that Mr.. w. H. Taft was secre-
of war at the time; that by an
cement between the United States
eminent and the beneiciaries of
deal, all traces thereof were
ped out" 6y transferring ell the
hives and secrets" to the Ameri-
government, just before the hold
of the convention last June at
eli Mr.. Taft was nominated.
False in Every Particular.
he statements sometimes appeared
the editorials, sometimes in the
columns, sometimes in the shape
contributions from individuals,
er unknown or known to be of bad
.acter. They are false in every
ocular from beginning to end. The
xedness of the ISLANDERS is only sur
ed by their faulty. So utterly
less are the stories that apparent
hey represent in part merely ma
II collected for campaign purposes,
in part stories originally cOncoct-
With a view of possible blackmail.
inventor of the story about Mr..
les p. Taft, for instance, evident
opposed that at some period of the
ma purchase, Mr.. w. II. Taft was
tary of war, whereas in reality
W. H. Taft never became secre-
p war until long after the whole
action In question had been
inventor of the story about Mr..