The Washington times., 1908-12-07
Rainey Wants to Know If
Syndicate Got Any of
100000.

Following closely on the heels Of Pres
i0ent Roosevelt's condemnation In the
morning newspapers Of editors who
questioned the honesty and purpose OF
those who participated In the purchase
OF the Panama Canal came the intro
duction in the House today Of a reso-
luton by Representative Henry T. Raj
ney OF Illinois, providing for the ap-
pointment OF a committee to investigate
the purchase of the Panama Canal
properly.
The resolution asked for a committee
OF hve members in the House 70 in
vestigate how mucn Of the $40,O00,J3O
which appears TO have been paid To
the French company, was really PAID
TO said company. or for the stock or
holdings of said company, or TO the
French government for said company.
and with a view also Of ascertaining
how much Of said sum. If anT, was di-
rectly or Indirectly paid TO American
citizens, or TO an American syndicate;
ana with a view TO ascertaining wheth-
er any member Of either branch OF the
Congress OF the United States in an
official capacity pronted directly or IN
directly by said transaction"
President RooseveITs Ananias Club
having received two distinguished ad-
d-tions TO its membership an the last
twenty -four hours, there is report To-
day that the Chief Executive will pres
emily turn his activities IN the direction
of Governor Haskell OF Oklahoma, with
view TO that gcnJLeman's demolition
The Oklahoma executive has not been
reconCiled TO the fate which befeu him
during the late campaign, and has given
utterance TO some attacks on the Presi-
dent ia connection with the Prairie Oil
and Gas franchise. The President al
luded to this matter in his letter issued
today, regarding The charges Of flnan-
clal conspiracy IN connection with the
Government purchase Of the Panama
Canal
1t has been rumored for some time
mat the President was seeking 70 have
an investigator, presumably an agent
OF the Department Of Justice sent 20
Oklahoma TO look into this Prairie OH
AFFAIR, and some other matters, with
special reference TO developing the full
story OF Governor Haskell's Oklahoma
career 1t is known that the Attorney
General took up with one Of TIE lawyers
in his department the matter of con
Quoting some Investigations in the new
state, ana that this lawyer objected to
undertaking the work
Would Cause Criticism
He had been connected prominently
with the conduct Of the Republican ma
uonal campaign, and pointed out that
no matter how proper might be the
work in which ne should engage in
Oklahoma, his recent political relations
would be certain 10 cause misConstrlc-
ton and criticism.
Governor Haskell is one OF the de-
PENDANTS IN a series Of cases To de-
ternine whether titles to lands nIIr-
chased from the Indians were secured
By proper methods His relations to
Prairie oil have also been bitterly as
sailed both in his State and outside
AneSc and other matters, il Is supposed
nave been IN the mind Of the Depart-
lnent Of Justice officials in its cOntem-
pLauOn OF an investigation in Ok
lahoma- Governor Haskell has an
nounced purpose TO camp on the
Presidents trail indefinitely; and as
the President has not been commonly
suspected Of desire 10 dIsappoint gentle
men looking for trouble, Il has been
assumed that he is going 20 give the
governor ample satisfaction in his de-
sire for trouble
Much Incensed.
The President for a long time has been
particularly incensed because of the in
timatOns Of a financial conspiracy back
Of the Panama Canal purchase. During
the campaign the story was put out.
in more or less yelled form. that there
was an American syndicate which had
come into control of the canal, for a
comparatively small investment: thar
this syndicate ultimately got the $4,000
900 paid by the United States, and cary
ed a huge melon; and finally, that
Henry W. Taft and Douglas Robinson.
the first a brother OF William II. Tart,
and the second q brother-in-law OF
President Roosevelt. were members Of
the syndicate.
This story, first dealt with in the
New York World, afterward received
much attention at the hands or the
indianapolis News.
The correspondence given out by the
President for print today deals with
the charges and explains itself The
letters, exchanged, between the PresI-
dent and William Dudley Foulke, or
Indiana, follows:
The Presidents Reply.
White House.
Washington, Dec 1, 1908.
My Dear Mr.. FoUllze; 1 have re-
ceived your letter Of the 2Sth ultimo,
and have read it IN connection with
your previous lettrs, InclOSing quota
g L. IL