The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-07

but who got the money? We are not
10 know. The administration and Mr..
Taft do not think 1t right that the
people should know
Really, this is SO iudicrous as 10
make one feel little impatient at
having 10 answer IL. The act has
been officially published again and
again that the government paid $40.
600 900, and that II paid this $40. 100000
direct TO the French government, get
ting the receipt OF the hquidator APP
Uointed by the French government
10 receive the same. The United States
government has not the slighte o.
knowledge as 10 the particular indi-
yiduals among whom the French gov
vrhment distributed the sum. This was
the business of the French govern
ment.
Brands IL Absurd.
"The mere supposition that any AM
erican received from the French gov
eminent a 'rake-off' is too absurd TO
be discussed. II is an abominable
falsehood and IL Is Islander. ne;
against the American government. but
against the French government. Tho
News continues. saying that the pres
lident's hrotherin-law Ii Involved lii
the scandal, but he has nothing 10
saw The president brotherin-law
was involved In no scandal.
"Mr. Delavan Smith and the other
people who repeated this falsehood
! lied about the presidents brother-in-
law: but why the fact that Mr.. Smith
| lied should be held to involve Mr..
Robinson In scandal Is dificu't
TO understand. The scandal Affects no
one but Mr.. Smith. His conduct has
Leen not merely scandalous. but IN
famous. Mr.. Robinson had not the
slightest connection OF any kind. sort
or description at any time or Indsr
any circumstances with the Panama
matter. Neither did Charles Taft.
1.-The News says Mr.. Taft was q
member OF the syndicate. so far a.
| know there was no syndicate; there
certainly was no syndicate In the
United States that, TO my knowledge.
had any dealings with the government.
directly or indirectly, and inasmuch a.
there was no syndicate. Mr.. TAFT MAJ
urally could not belong to It."
Defends OIL Deal.
las the New York Sun story en-
Titled Roosevelt and Prairie OH has
seemed TO deceive a number Of peo-
pie, the following statement was made
public about It.:
AS soon as the story was brought
to President Roosevelt's attention he
not only called for reports concerning
the statements from the department
Of justice and the department of the
interior, but also communicated with
ex-Secretary Hitchcock 30 as to be
sure that the presidents recollection
was not at fault. The story Is false
In every particular from beginning to
end. Not only Is there no such report
In the department Of justice and never
has been, but no such report was ever
made.
"'in granting the franchise of the
Prail e Oil & Gas Co.. the president
simply approved the recommendation
OF Secretary Hitchcock. submitted 70
him precisely as all other recommen-
dations were submitted. Moreover, in
every case referring 10 the granting
of franchises or the adoption Of regu-
chises In Oklahoma and the Indian ter
ritory, the president approved the rec
ommendation Of Secretary Hitchcock
with the exception OF one small and
unimportant grant to Delaware In
dian to whom the Delaware Indians.
In recognition OF eight years OF serv-
ices 10 the tribe, had voted In council
fee OF $4,000, which he had de-
clined to accept. and who was given
twice the usual amount OF land.
THE fact Is that these particular
newspapers habitually and continually
and as a matter of business, practice
every form of mendacity known to
man, from the suppression Of the
truth and the suggestion Of the false
10 the lie direct. Those who write or
procure others to write these articles
are engaged in the practice Of men,
dacity for hire; and surely there can
be no lower form OF gaining liveli-
hood.
The most corrupt financiers, the
most corrupt politicians are no greater
menace to this country than the news
paper men OF the type l have above
discussed. Whether they belong to
the yellow press or to the purchased
press. whatever may be the stimulat-
ing cause OF their slanderous men,
dacity, and whatever the cloak II may
wear, matters but little. In any event,
they represent one Of the potent
forces for evil in the community.
yours very truly,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.