Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-15
RESIDENTS SPECIAL MESSAGE ON THE PANAMA CANAL SCANDAL

Mr.. Root in the matter had not taken
the trouble 10 read the public docu-
ments which would have informed
them that Mr.. Root had nothing to do
with the purchase which was entirely
arranged through the department of
justice under the then Attorney Cen
eral, Mr.. Knox
String of Infamous Libels.
Now, these stories, as matter of
fact, need no investigation whatever.
No shadow of proof has been, or can
be, produced in behalf of any of them.
They consist simply of string OF in
famous libels. In form, they are in
part libels upon individuals, upon Mr..
Taft, and Mr.. Robinson for instance.
But they are in fact wholly, and in
form partly, libel upon the United
States government. | do not believe
we should concern ourselves with Inc
particular individuals who wrote the
lying and libelous editorials. articles
from correspondents, or articles in the
news columns.
The real offender is Mr.. Joseph
Pulitzer editor and proprietor of The
World" While the criminal offense
of which Mr.. Pulitzer has been guilty
is in a form libel upon individuals,
the great injury done is in blackmail-
ing the good name of the American
people 1t should not be left to a
private citizen to sue Mr.. Pulitzer for
libel. - He should, be prosecuted for
libel by the government authorities.
In point of encouragement of iniquity,
in point of infamy, of wrong doing,
| there is nothing to chose between a
public servant who betrays his trust,
public servant who is guilty OF
blacknlail, or theft, or financial dis
| honesty of any kind, and man guilty
as Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer has been guilty
| In this instance. 1t is, therefore, 4
high national duty to bring to justice
this vilifier of the American people;
| this man who wantonly and wickedly
and without one shadow of justifica-
ton seeks to blacken the character of
| reputable private citizens and to con-
vict the government of his own coun-
|
| of wrong doing of the baseSt and foul
| est kind, when he has not one shadow
| of justification of any sort or descrip-
| ton for the charge he has made. The
attorney general has under considera-
ton the form in which the proceedings
against Mr.. Pulitzer shall be brought.
information on the Subject.
| / xyo,,
accompanying papers, so that you may
have before you complete information
on the subject. l call your attention
to my communications in my messages
to the congress of Jan. 20, 1902, March
II, 1903, Dec. Z, 1908, Jan. 4, 1904, and
Dec. II, 1906, in which | set forth at
length the history of various phases
of the whole transaction. | recall
your attention to the report and
| opinion of the attorney general rem
| deTed to me, dated Oct. %. 1902, with
/ the accompanying documents ana eX-
hibits. | call your attention to the
correspondence of the officers and
agents of the Panama Canal company
| with the president and other officers OF
| tAC - llICu III oClldlS
| Document No. "a, Dec. 10, 1902; also
| to the copy of the official proceeding,
of the New Panama Canal company al
l Paris on the Both of December, 1908
1 together with a report of the council
of administration of that company
printed in Senate Document No. 1873
Jan. 2S, 1904; and to the copy of the
general conveyance by the New Pana
|, ma Canal company to the United
States, also copies of certain telegram!
from the president of the compan!
= making an offer of sale, and Attorne,
, General KnoX's cablegram in respons,
printed in Senate Document No. 2S5
? March 23, 1906. j call your attention
: furthermore to the exhaustive testi
mony recorded in public document
Senate Document No. 401, Fifty-nintl
Congress, second session., which con
tains the searching investigation int,
the whole transaction made by con
gross for its information and full
considered by the congress before I
G took action.
VI What Congress Provided.
In the Act, approved June 2S, 100:
e ''To provide for the construction OF
n canal connecting the waters of the AT
lantic and Pacific Oceans the con
:. gress provided as follows:
e THAT the president Of the Unite
;. States is hereby authorized to acquire
{ for and on behalf of the United State.
f at a cost not exceeding forty million
- I'LL ,,ol,{ g.
: chises, concessions, grants of lan(
right of way. unfinished work, plant.