The evening world., 1908-12-15

was sent to Congress to-day. Here
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
'Tn view OF the constant reiteration OF
the assertion that there was some cor
rupt action ~ or on behalf OF the
United States Government in connec-
ton with the acquisition of the title OF
the French Company to The Panama
Canal. and of the repetition Of the story
that syndicate of American citizens
owned either one or both OF the Panama
companies. l deem 1t wise to submit to
the Congress all the information
have on the subject.
''hese stories were first brought to my
attention as published in a paper in H.
dianapols. called The News" edited
by Mr.. Delavan Smith. The stories
were scurrilous and 'libelous in character
and false In every essential particular
INT. Smith shelters himself behind
the excuse that he merely accepted
the statements which had appeared il
. paper published in New York. The
world, owned by Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer.
It IL idle to say tia. the known CHAR
paper are such that the statements In
that paper will be believed by nobody;
unfortunately, thousP DIS of persons
are Ill informed in this respect and be-
Asvs the statements they see in print,
even though they appear in news
paper published by Mr.. Pulitzer.
"A member of the Congress has actu-
ally introduced a resolution in refer
ence to these charges. l therefore lay
ali the facts before you.
Talk Of Corruption.
"Tke story repeated at various times
by The World and by its followers in
the newspaper press Is subs, antally as
follows: That there was corruption by
or on behalf Of the Government OF the
United Safes in the transaction by
which the Panama Canal property was
acquired from its French owners: that
there were improper dealings OF some
kind between agents of the Government
and outside persons, representing or act
Ing for an American syndicate. VINO had
gotten possession of the French COM
psny; that among these persons. who
II was alleged made huge profits"
were Mr. Charles - Taft, a brother Of
for the Presidency. and Mr. Douglas
Robinson. my brotherin-law; thai Mr..
Cromwell. the counsel For the Panama
Canal Company in the negotiations. was
In some way implicated with the United
States Government authorities in these
improper Transactions. that the Govern
ment has concealed the true facts. and
has destroyed, OF procured or agreed to
tie destruction o: certain documents:
that MIR. w. ii. Taft was Secretary of
War at the time that by an agreement
between the United States Goyerum mt
and the benetC.ar!es If the ura. all
traces thereof We're wiped out by
transferring all the archives and
secrets TO the American Government.
just before the holding of the conyan-
ton last June at wniGh Nh Tai. was
nominated.
These statements sometimes appeared
In tie editorials. sometimes N the news
columns. sometimes in the shape OF
contributions from individuals either
unknown or known TO be Of lad cl.ar-
acter. They are false In evcIS. par .cu-
lar from beginning 10 end The wicked
ness of the ISLANDERS Is only surpassed
BY their faulty. So utterly uaselcss
are the stories that apparently they
represent In part merely ma ,er!al col
lected for campaign purposes and IN
part stories originally Connected win
view of possible blackman.
Taft, Robinson, Root.
''The inventor of the story about
Charles +. Taft, for Instance evidently
supposed tnat at some period Of the
Panama purchase MIR. W n Taft was
Secretary OF War whereas in reality
MIR. W. II. Taft never became Secretary
OF War until long after The whole
Transaction In question had been clos cd
The inventor OF the story about Mr.
Douglas Robinson had not taken the
trouble to md 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 beginning TO
end. The men who attacked Mr. Root
In the matter had not taken the lrou-
BILE TO read the public documents which
would have Informed them tina, MIR
Root had nothing to DO with the pur-
chase, which was entirely arranged
through the Department of Justice
under the then Attorney General, Mr.,
Knox.
NOW, these stories rs matter Of
sact ased no investigation whatever.
no shadow Of proof has been, o. can
be, produced IN behalf OF any Of them.
Thsy consist simply Of a string OF In
famous ibsls. In form. they are in
part nhsis upon individuals, upon MIR.
ran ana Mr.. Robinson, for instance,
nut they are in fact wholly, and IN
form partly, libel upon the uuited
states Government. 90 not believe
We should concern ouraslveH with the
particular individuals who wrote the
lying ana libelous editorials, articles
; Sson eoErespondsnts, or articles in the
asws columns. The real orondOr 10
NJ. Joseph Falitssr, editor ana pro-