Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-16
ROOSEVELT SCORES
EDITOR PULITZER
(Continued from First Page.)

Of the World. While the criminal Of
Tense of which Mr.. Pulitzer has been
guilty Is in form lilrl upon indi-
viduals, the great injury done Is in
'b!ackening the good name OF the
American people. 1t should not be
left to private citizen to sue Mr..
cuted for libel by the governmental
authorities. In point of encourage,
ment OF iniQuity, in point OF infamy. OF
wrongdoing. there Is nothing to choose
between q public servant who betrays
his trust a public servant who Is
guilty Of blackmail, or theft. or finan-
cial dishonesty Of any kind. and man
guilty as Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer has been
guilty in this instance. 1t is there
fore q high national duty TO bring to
Justice this vilifier of the American
people. this man who wantonly and
wickedly and without one shadow OF
justification seeks to hlacken the
char: cter of reputable private citizens
and to convict the Government of
his own country IN the eyes of the
civilized world Of wrongdoing OF the
basest and foulest kind, when he has
not one shadow OF jnstific alton Of any
sort or description for the charge he
has made The Attorney General has
under consideration the form in which
the proceedings against Mr.. Pulitzer
shall be brought.
Meanwhile I submit to YOU all the
accompanying papers. SO that you may
have before you complete informa-
ton on the subject.
Whist Congress Provided.
In the Act approved June %. 1902.
To provide for the construction Of
canal connecting the waters OF
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans" the
Congress provided as follows:
That the President OF the United
States is hereby authorized 10 acquire.
for and On behalf Of the United
States, at a cost not exceeding forty
millions Of dollars. the rights. privi-
ieges. franchises. concessions. grants
OF land. right Of way. unfinished work.
plants. sIi other property. real, per-
sonal. and mixed. OF every name and
nature. owned BY the New Panama
Canal Company. Of France. on the
1sthmus Of Panama. and all its maps.
plans drawings records On the 18th
mus Of Panama. and in Paris. includ-
ing all the capital stock. rot less.
however. than sixty eight hundred and
sixty-threc shares OF the Panama
Railroad Company. owned by or held
for the Use Of said Canal COMPANY.
provided a satisfactory title to all
OF said props rty can be obtained.
II thcreupon became the duty Of the
President. in execution of this statute
10 purchase the property specified
from the New Panama Canal Com
pany. OF France. provided he could
obtain a satisfactory title The Do
partmen, Of Justice was instructed Ia
examine the little, and after such an
! examination Attorney General Knox
reported that q satisfactory title could
, be obtained Psymen; CT the pur-
chase price vas thercupon made 20
-. the New Panama Canal COMPANY. in
accordance with the act cf the Con
! gress. and the property was convey
cd by that company TO the United
States. n was no concern OF the
President or OF anv oficer Of the
I Executive Department. 20 inquire as
to what the Nex Panama Canal
Company did with the monty which
u received. A matter Of fact. the
New Panama Canal Company did dis
tribute the money between its share
holders Of the, preceding Panama
Canal Company In accordance with
the decree Of q French court. and
the records Of the French court show