The Washington times., 1908-10-03
DEMOCRATS KNEW
OF PANAMA CHARGE
Cromwell Says Effort Is Be
ing Made to Blackmail Him,
So Goes to Jerome.
Continued from First Page)

no transaction ever took place. and
that everything was regular and th2t
the money went TO the French interests
for which II was intended
Plan to Spring Story.
AT one time, knowing that the Demo
Gratis were investigating some such
story. there was consideration here at
Republican headquarters OF springing
the story and telling the truth about il,
in order TO beat the Democrats to 1t,
and spoil their sensation. But we con-
Guided that If we did II, II would give
tho Democrats an excuse Tor trying TO
keep the story alive nd make more OF
It. SO we gave up II At plan. Now that
Mr. Cromwell has complained to the
authorities Of what he believes IS an at
tempt TO blackman him, the thing has
Mr.. CromweITs denial is most sweep
ing. He said that there never was any
such American syndicate as has been
alleged. The only excuse for suggestion
OF such q thinC is in the fact that in
1899 there was talk OF organizing an
American corporation to buy the canal
from the French and finish II as an
American enterprise
Plan Falls Through.
This fell through. because investiga-
ton showed that It was impossible 10
carry out such a scheme There were
more than 10000 stock and bond hold
ers. Mr.. Cromwell said he was not
connected with any deal and did not be-
lieve any American was connected with
q deal 10 buy the Panama securities in
France with the purpose Of making
profits when the canal was sold to the
United States.
Mr. Cromwell said: I'VE may expect
during a heated political contest, all
kinds OF stories which are not worthy
OF notice, but this one I wish TO de
nOunCe. in the strongest terms, as
lying fabrication without a shadow OF
truth in H. Neither l, nor any one al
lied with me, either directly or indi-
rectly, at any time or in any place in
America OF abroad. ever bought, sold,
dealt in. or ever made penny Of
profit out Of any stocks. bonds, or other
securities Of either the old Panama
Canal Company. or ever received from
the same a single dollar Of the 100000
paid by the United State. ] make this
the most sweeping statement that Ian
guage can convey
Refused the Money.
As everybody connected with the
affair knows. / abstained from receiv-
ing the &4OOO0,0OO in my own hands az
Washington or New York as the gen
eraI counsel Of the company, and ny
self arranged for the payment OF me
entire S4OOO00OO direct from the Treas
ury Of the United States through the
bankers Of the Government into the
Bank Of France at Paris 20 the credit
Of the liquidators Of the two com
panles.
There il remained subject 10 the order
OF the HquidatOrS until distributed by
them TO the hundreds OF thousands OF
benenCiaTies. and not one dollar of Il
ever came 10 me or anyone in any wlst
connected with me OF course, dc
not refer TO our regular compensation
as counsel / suppose il will be year.
before the ueneficiaries will all be iden-
tined and the distribution completely
made
--.he mention of names of Mr.. Taf
ana Douglas Robinson is another eyi
Gence that this IS a fake story. NJ
member OF the TAFT family or Douglas
Robinson ever had the remOteSJ con
nectIou with Panama canal matter
directly or indirectly. and l never saw
one of them On this subject before Tn
United States acquired the canal.
never saw Douglas Robinson in my life
The names Of Caesar and NapOleO'
might as we'll have been used, for
could not be more impossible.
ThIeshed Out in Senate.
"Au this. except the dragging in o.
new names. was threshed out befOr,
the United States committee by the lat,
Senator Morgan. Out Of respect for tn,
dead, I refrain from comment upon tina
proceeding. but ! feel warranted il
saying that it was pursued with IN
however. completely exploded and re
futed by the facts in the case and end
ed in complete discontinue. There i!
not a word Of truth in II, and l would
not notice II at this time II II did no
concern others"
20 have studied the Panama situation
treated the complaint Of Mr. Jerome a
Joke.
Cromwell FOR two years" he declared
4 have had no communication wit
him. l have never taken dishOnes
dollar III my life / know Of no com
plant against me at the district attOT
ney's office. and III be there to answe
it when l am notified. The TACT o
the matter. so far as 1 may disclose a
present, is as follows:
Il tried TO expose this syndicate as IA
back as 1901 when the United State
bought the canal 1 knew then tina
there was a syndicate Of American capi
talists which had bought this properU
from the French company. but L dl
not know the names of the men in thi
syndicate.
Made Tnp to France.
Il made a trip 30 France to find out
but did not get the information. Eigh
days ago, l returned from a second tri
TO France on the same errand, and no.
know the names in this syndicat'
When you ask me whether Taft an
Robinson are among those names,
must beg to be excused The Who'll
thing Will come out shortly AR CroH
well knows what the Republican na
tiOnal committee knows. II there is an
complaint before the district attorney G
New York, il looks to me like an al
tempt to balk me.
Il have heard Of no complaint an
! have never heard Of any person name
Ellington, who is supposed to be assC
ciated with me in the present alleGe
complaint. I was sent over to Franc
this last time to investigate the can;
purchase by certain prominent person
whom I cannot indicate at this mC
ruent The Democratic national con
rrittee knows all about Il. SO does II
Republican national committee If an
one charges that I have tried % blacl
mail him, ne lies. Once before a ma
was sent 10 France TO find the trut
OF this Panama syndicate. and he Wa
bought off. I cannot be bought on
GOV. HUGHES VOICE
DEI AVS CAMPAIGN