The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-18
TEDDY FOAMS
Roosevelt Uses Strong Words In
Message on Panama,
SAYS PULITZER LIES
About and Slanders the Nation
When He Charges a Deal in the
Buying of the Panama Canal
and Suit Will be Brought Against
Him Says the President.

and Suit Will be brought Against
Him Says the President.
Washington, Dec. 15.-President
Roosevelt today sent to the Senate
a statement concerning the purchase
of the Panama canal property by the
United States, denouhcing in strong
language the charges that there was
anything wrong in the acquisition
by the United States of the canal
property.
"These stories," he continues.
"were first brought to my attention
40 published in paper in India
napolis called The News, edited by
Mr.. Delavan Smith. The stories wee
scurrilous and libelous in character,
and false in e.ery essential particu-
lar.
Smith shelters himself behind the
excuse that he merely accepted the
statements which had appeared in
paper published in New York
The World'-owned by Joseph
Pulitzer"
Summarizing the charges made in
this connection the President says
in part: "These statements some
times appeared in editorials, some
times in the shape of contributions
from individuals, either unknown or
known to be of bad character.
"They are false in every partic-
ular from beginning to end. The
wickedness of these SANDERS is only
surpassed by their faulty So ut
terly baseless are the stories that
apparently they represent in part
merely the material collected for
campaign purposes and in part sto-
ries originally connected with view
of possible blackmail."
The President adds: "Now these
stores 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 con-
sist simply of a string of infamous
libels. In form, they are in pal-
libels upon individuals, upon NJ.
Taft and Mr.. Robinson, for instance;
but they are in fact wholly and in
form partly, libel upon the United
States government. I do not believe
we should concern ourselves with
the particular individuals who wrote
the lying and libelous editorials,
articles from correspondents or ar
ticles in the news columns.
"The real offender is Mr.. Joseph
Pulitzer, editor and proprietor of
The World While the criminal
offense Of which Pulitzer has been
guilty is in the form Of libel upon
individuals, the great injury done
is in blackening the good name of
the American people. 1t should not
be left to a private citizen to sue
Politzer for libel. He should be
prosecuted for libel by the govern
mental authorities"
The president continued: "It ia
therefore a high national duty to
bring to justice this vfllifier Of the
American people"
The President Gays: '"The Attor-
ney General has under considera-
ton the form In which the proceed
ings against Mr.. Pulitzer shall be
brought
The president then explains the
method OF concluding the purchase,
saying the transaction was carried
through by the then Attorney Gen
eral Knox and not by Mr.. Hay or
Mr.. Root. The President accepts
all the responsibility for carrying
out the will of Congress. He says
that his government had nothing
to do with the distribution Of the
4O,000,000. He also includes a
copy Of the statement made by