The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-15

ma canal, ana OF rithe repetition of the
story that q syndicate of American
citizens owned either one or both of
the Papama companies. deem 1t
wise to submit to the congress all
the information | have on the sub
iect These stories were first brought
to my attention as published in a pa
per in Indianapolis, called The News,
edited by Mr. Delavan Smith. The
stories we're scurrilous and libelous
in character and false in every essen
tial particular. Mr.. Smith shelters
himself behind the excuse that he
merely accepted the statements
which had appeared in a paper pub
lished in New York. The World, own.
ed by Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer. It is idle
to say that the known character OF
Mr.. Pulitzer and his newspaper are
such that the statements in that pa.
per will be. believed by nobody; un-
fortunately thousands of persons are
il-informed in this respect and be.
lieve the statements they see in
print, even though they appear in a
newspaper published by Mr.. Pulitzer.
A member of the congress has actu-
ally introduced a resolution In refer
ence to these charges. | therefore
lay all the facts before you:
The story repeated at various times
by the World and by its followers IN
the newspaper press is substantially
as follows: That there was corrup.
tion by or on behalf OF the govern.
ment OF the United States in the
transaction by which the Panama
canal property was acquired from its
French owners; that there were i'm
proper dealings OF some kind be.
tween agents Of the government anG
outside persons, representing or act
ing for an American syndicate, which
had gotten possession of the French
company; that among these persons
who II was alleged made huge
profits" were Mr.. Charles p Taft,
brother of William n. Taft, then can.
didate fsr~the presidency, and Mr..
DQyefas Robinson, my brother.in.law;
<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 facts, and has
destroyed or procured or agreed to
the destruction Of certain docu.
ments that Mr., w. II. Taft was sec
retary. ~ war at the time; that by an
agrsement between the United States
government and the beneficiaries OF
Fthe deal all traces thereof were
"wiped out by transferring all the
archives and secrets" to the Amer.
lean government just bcaore the hold.
ing OF the convention last June, at
which Mr. Taft was nominated
Says Stories 5aseIess.
These statements sometimes ap-
peared in the editorials, sometimes IN
the news columns, sometimes in the
shape OF contributions from indi.
yiduaIs either unknown or known to
be1of bad character They are false
Yin every particular from beginning to
end The wickedness of the slanders
is only surpassed by their faulty So
utterly baseless are the stories that
apparently they represent in part
merely material collected for cam
raign purposes, and in part storles
originally concocted with a view Of
possible blackmail.
The inventor OF the story about
Mr.. Charles p. Taft for instance. evil
IDENTIFY supposed that at some period
OF the Panama purchase Mr.. w. H.
Taft was secretary Of war, whereas
in reality Mr. w. ". Taft never be-
came secretary of war until long
after the whole transaction in ques-
ton had been closed.
The inventor of the story about Mr.
Douglas Robinson had not taken the
trouble to find out the fact that Mr.
Robinson had not had the slightest
connection, directly or indirectly, OF
any kind or sort with any phase of
the Panama transaction from begin
ming to end. The men who attacked
Mr. Root ia the matter had not taken
the. trouble to read the public docu-
msnJs which would lave informed