Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-12-17
'PANA|MA canal ChARGtS
Special Message Transmitted to
National Lawmakers.
PULITZER IS EXCORIATED.
President Says New York World Pub
Usher Should Be Sued For Criminal
Libel by covernment--Taft Not Sec.
Rotary. Of War al Time OF Deal.

lowing message on the flnhlhi 'hni
charges by certain newspaper
In View ~ the. constant rriteratlor
NJ the assertion that there was som'
corrupt action by or on behalf NJ thu
Tnitsd states government In connec
tlun With the acquisition uf title of Ia,
French companies to the Panama ca
nal and OF The repetition ~ the story
that "A syndicnte of American Citizen
owned either one or both OF the punp
ma companies. ! deem N wise 10 sub
nit go the congress AN the Information
I have on the subject These stories
were first brought To my attention Hs
published On paper III lndnunnnH
called The Newa" edited by Nj Deli
van smith The stories were scur How
and liholou1 In cithor nnd false ~
every essential particular Mr. Htn'th
shelters himself ho'iul The eVtiise
that he merely uccrptnd lh" statements
which had ppared IN % paper publish
cd In the Now YurW World, owned Nv
Mr. lnsenh Pulitzer n ~ Idle 90 WY
ii'ni the known character nf Mr. lulil
] fFt ana his newspaper are such mat
Mo statements in that paper VIII hc
! rollrved by nobody Unfortunately
! ihnusnndp ~ uorsnns nrr III Informed
! y, THIS r"r"H,t and hrlirvr the state
| mcnia ihe, aoo In pfini even though
thor upurar IN newspaper published
| r Mr. Pulitzer \ urmber ~ the con
cross has actunlly introduced rcsolp
Tom m reference tp those rhnrgns I
therefore lny All the facts before you.
Tito story repeated at various times
h HE World and by lts followers IN
| tlu 0cwSpapnrs II substantially as fol
4 ~,
That there was corruption hy mr. on
t"luilf of the government ~ the United
states In the transaction by which the
Panama canal property was acquired
FROM It's French owners; that there
wrr" inrroner dealings NJ Some kind
Pc tween agents of the government ana
uui side persons representing or acting
fr' an American syndicate who had
gotten possession of the French conn
nv that among these prrsons who II
was alleged made "hu' profits" were
Mr. Charles T. Tnfi u brother " Mr.
William II TAFT then candidate frr
tho presidency. aud Mr. Douglas Rob
liHhn. my hrnthrr la law: that Mr.
Cromwell. the counsel Tor the Panama
Canal company IN the negotiations. was
IN some way Implicated with tho
nitcd States governmental nulhnri.
Ties IN these Improper transactions.
wat the government has concealed the
true facts and has destroyed ar pro
cured or agreed to the destruction ~
certain documents. q u Mr. w H.
VAT was secretary ~ war AZ the time,
l'nt nv I'm agreement between tho
United States government and tue
fheueficiaries ot the deal all tracoq
thereof we're "wlpcd ont by transfer.
ring all the archives aud Secrets" To-
the American government lust hefnrs
ne holding ~ tho convention lnst luna
- which Mr. Tart was nominated
Thesc statements sometimes appenrc
w tho editorials. sometimes IN the
news columns sometimes IN tho shape
or contributions from individuals either
unknown or known to be NJ bad char.
acter. They are false IN every pnrtic.
nlar from beginning 10 end, Tho wick
edness Of the ISLANDERS Is only sur.
passed by their ruiulty So utterly
baseloss arc tho stories that annarent.
~ they represent Nv pnrt mere,v mn
terlal collected for camunign purposas
ana IN mart stories originally roncoctc1
With Wow 81 noselhlr hlnctmnil
The inventor ~ Tho story about Mr.
Chor'oe y Tort for lat7nco. ovilonilv
euunoso1 Tint ~ eomo nc~iod " IA,
Panama purchase Mr. w n Tan was
Socrctnrv ~ war. whornns I'M rrnlitv
Mr. wv " T0f' r"vor horo'uo eorrotorv
I'd Il
lotion IN question hal boon ci,snd
"hc luvcr'." Of mo story nhan Ntr
nnug'1r J. Nineon hnt nnt tabtp ia,
rruhlo to find OF he caci TIM NJ
Foh'neor had not had mo slirhtoot
connection dhcctlv ar indlr c'lv ~ anv
ma or sort with ANY phpsc w the
Fanomn transaction from r,clnrlnr ~
tnu THO 0rn who attack = Mr. Root
~ IN" mni'"r had not taltcn tho tronbl,
IT, road the hubble dnrrr,crts ,vhlcn
would have Informed thou that Mr.
root had nothing 80 do with the nur
chase. which w7o ontiron arrnnpnd
through the Department W Justice nm.
dcr lp thon attorney yc,,a,L ~
Knox wv
Now those etorlcs M matter of fact
'leen no Investigation whatever no
'hadnw or proof hnS been or can be pro.
ouced In behalf nf any of them They
consist simply ~ u string Of Infamous
llbcls IN form they arc In part lihels
upon individuals, unon Mr. Taft aud Mr.
robinson. Tor instance Hut they are I'm
fact wholly and In form partly a libel
lipon tho United States government
; do not believe we should concern !
ourselves with tho particular lndivld
ais who wrote tho lying and liholous
editorial articles from correspondence
or articles In the news columns The I
cal offender " Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer |
cdltor and proprietor Of the World !
While tho criminal orfense ~ which NJ, /
Pulitzer has been guilty Is In form a 1
libel upon individuals tho great Injury ,
done Is IN hlackening the good name |
~ the American people II should no,
lie LETT To private citizcn 10 sue Mr. 4
Pulitzer for libel, He should he prnse-
cuted Tor libel bv the governmental nu-
thorities. In point of encouragement
~ inequity, In point NJ inflmv ~
wrong doing. there r. nothing to choose
between public servant who hetrays 4
his trust. n public servant who Is guilty
~ blackmail, or theft. or financial dis
honesty Of any kind. aud a man guilty |
ms Mr. Joseph ptlitzer has been guilty |
In this instance. II is therefore a high
national duty 10 bring To justice this /
man who not only and wickedly and
without one shadow OF justification
seeks TO blacken the character Of repu-
table private citizens and to convict
The government of his own country In
the eyes OF the civilized world 81 wrong
doing OF the basest and foulest kind.
when he has not one shadow of jnstifi.
cation OF any sort or description ~
the charge he has made The attorney
general has under consideration the
form In which the proceedings against
Mr.. Pulitzer shall be Meanwhile
submit tO VOn all tho noCntn nn pvtn, ,a