Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-12-17
President Sends Hot Message
to Congress-
PURCHASE OF PANAMA CANAL
Executive Brands the Newspaper
Charges as False.

Roosevelt [oGa! transmitted ID con
gress a special message regarding the
charges published b. certain newspa-
pers that several Americans profted
by the purchase Of me property Of the
Panama Canal co.-4pany Of France.
TIE message, in part, follows:
In view OF the constant reiteTation
OF the assertion that there was some
corrupt action by or on behalf OF the
United States government in connec
ton with the acquisition OF the title
of the French company to the Pan
ANA canal, and OF the repetition OF the
story that d syndicate OF American
citizens owned either one or both OF
the Panama companies, | deem it wise
to submit TO the congress all the in
formation l have on the subject. These
stories were first brought to nay at
tention as published in a paper in In
d~ianapolis, called the News, edited by
MIR. Delayan Smith. The stories were
gcurrilous and libelous in character
and false in every essential particu-
lar. Sir. Smith shelters himself be
hind the excuse that he merely &C
cepted the statements which had ap-
peared in d paper published in New
York. the World, owned BY AIr. JOS
eph Pulitzer.
1t is idle TO 4ay that the known
character OF Mr.. Pulitzer and his
newspaper are such that the state
n1ents in tina paper will be believed
by nobody; unfortunately. thousands
OF persons are i'll informed in this
respec. and believe the statements
they see in print, even though they
appear ii L newspaper published By
3ir. Pulitzer. 4 member OF the con
gress has actually introduced q reso-
luton in reference TO these charges
and / therefore lay all the facts be-
fore you.
Sums Up Newspaper Charges.
The scory repeated at various
times b. the World and by its fol-
lowers in the NEWSPAPER press is sub
sIau1jallv a. follows: That there
Wa. corruption by or on behalf OF the
government Of the United States in
the transaction b. which the Panama
c2raI propert. was acquired from its
= . ILL Df'----S - Tia 14-- 49,! ILL
proper dealings Of some kind be-
tween agents Of the government and
outside persons, representing or act
Ing ,or an American syndicate which
had gotten possession OF the French
COMPANY: thar among these persons,
who, il was alleged, made huge
profits were lIr. Charles P. Taft, a
brother Of Mr.. William H. Taft, then
candidate for the presidency, and AIr,
Douglas Robinson, M brothcr-in-laH;
that Mr. Cromwell, the counsel for
the Panama Canal company in the
negotiations. was in some way impli-
Gated with the United States govern
ment authorities in these important
transactions; that the government
has concealed the true lacts and has
destroyed. Or procured or agreed to
the destruction Of, certain documents;
that Mr.. " ii. TAFT vas secretary of
war at the time; that by al agree
ment between the United States gov
eminent and the beneficiaries Of the
deal all traces thereof were wiped
out" By transferring all the archives
and secrets to the American govern.
uent just before the holding of the
convention last June and at which
Mr.. Taft was nominated. The state
menls are false in every partic-
ular from beginning to end. The
~wickedness of the ISLANDERS is only
surpassed by their faulty.
String of Infamous Libels.
Now, these stories, as a matter Of
fact. need no investigation whatever
No shadow Of proof has been, or TAI
be, produced on behalf of am Of them
They consist simply of a string of in
famous libels. In form they are il
part libcls upon individuals, upon Mr.
Taft and Mr.. Robinson for instance
Bur they are in fact wholly and II
form partly a libel upon the United
States government. | do not believe
We should concern ourselves with the
particular individuals who wrote the
lying and libelous editorials, articles
from correspondents, or articles il
the news columns. The real offendet
is Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer, editor ant
proprietor of the World. While tn
criminal offense of which Mr.. Pulitze.
has been guilty is in form a libel upol
individuals the great injury done is il
b~lackening the good name of tn
American people; it should not be lef
to the private citizen to sue Mr.. Pulit
ger for libel. He should be prose
cuted for libel by the government at
thorities. In point of encouragement
of %iniquity, in point of infamy, Q
wrong doing, there is nothing t
choose between a public servant VIII
betrays his trust, a public servan
who is guilty of blackmail, or theft
or financial dishonesty of any kline
and a man guilty as Mr.. Joseph Pu
Dtzer has been guilty in this instance
It is therefore a high national duty t
bring to justice this villifer of tn
whole American people and the a
torney general has under considers
ton the form in which the proceed
ings against Mr.. Pulitzer shall b
brought.
The president then details at lengt