Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-16
More Light on Panama Deal
Is Wanted by DeIavan Smith

NEW YORK. December 16-After read
ing President Roosevelt's message to Con
gress relative to the Panama canal in
vestiga ton. Delavan Smith of the In
dianapolis News. one of the editors at
tackled by the President. said last nigh
in his apartments at the Hotel Plaza:
The President has undoubtedly en-
deavored I'm his communication to cover
as fully as his available information
permitted the questions raised by the re-
cent discussion in the newspapers of the
Panama canal purchase. No one ques
tions the personal integrity of the Presl-
dent.
1T would seem that he has already sue
ceeded in gathering much Information
since his previous utterance on the sub
ject However. there would appear to o.
many points needing light which he has
failed to touch on in his communication
of yesterday.
to the alleged American Syndicate. Wh!
1t was formed: who was in 1t: how mucl
money did each participant furnish; VIVA
was Its object: was it instrumental in 10
menting the Colombian revolution?
Asks Why Plans Were Changed.
Another interesting point on which thu
public should have light is What cause:
led up to the sudden shift from the Mica
rasua to the Panama project in the face
of the expert advice of many of the bes
American engineers favorable to TIN
Nicaragua route
did the Americans buy up shares in tn
French company when they were depre
ciated by the prospect OF the aoopIoi
of the Nicaraguan route? Were the In
ventories of machinery and other asset
of the old company properly made?
a
be taken at this time would be the de
termination of the feasibility of the pres
ent plans of construction. 1t would seen
already apparent that the cost of thu
canal on the present plan Wall reacn oou
BILE the original estimate. If this be SO
would 1t not be better to construct a sea
level canal in lieu Of the proposed loci
canal?
..The government, l believe, shou't
pause at this time and carefully deter
mine all of these points. The Kane!
resolution, / still believe, shouio %
adopted.
Believes Cromwell Could Tell More
I'm view of the fact that Mr.. Crom
we'll has shown disposition 10 iuihlsl
at this time some of the important III
formation which the Morgan committee
failed to elicit from him, fresh lhVesti
CATION, with Mr. Cromwell as more VIII
ing witness, might be more fruitful OF re
suits than it's predecessor.
I've regret that the President OF tn
United States should so misconstrue IN
spirit of the editorial comment of the In
dianapolis News as Is evidenced py ~.
violent expressions in his recent conliiiuill
cation to Mr.. Foulke and in his messag
of yesterday. The editorial columns Q
| the News have always been devoted U
| the public interest. and It's recognize
| character in this respect should save !
from such abuse as the President ma
| chosen to heap upon It,
ut Is hardly necessary for me 10 Sd
| that the character of the PRESIDENT ret
| erence to Mr. Joseph Pulitzer and IN
| New York World is wholly unwarranted
THE World. In character and lhhuehce
| I hold, is the equal Of any newspaper u
| the United States. Its influence Is UNI
| formly for good government. and any
| thing that the President may nave sal
to the contrary will not alter its stano
| inc among Mr. Pulitzer's fellow journal
lists or the American people.