The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-11
ROOSEVELT THREAT
CAUSES COMMENT
1t Is Not Believed He Will
Bring Criminal Libel
Action.

President Roosevelt's startling ar
raignment Of certain Americans, whom
he declares have been guilty of in
famous falsehood concerning the ac-
ouisition" of the Panama canal prop
erty and his reported desire to sue such
persons for criminal libel aroused much
comment this morning.
While there have been no further
statements from the White House re-
garding this threat of summary and
drastic procedure on the part OF the
Chief Executive, the statement made
Yesterday to a delegation from the Lake
10 the Gulf Deep Waterways Associa-
ton. is taken IN many quarters TO mean
that the President is tired OF having to
submit to attacks from certain sources.
Cause for Shame.
In his speech to the delegation the
President made use OF the following
statements:
1--WE have cause to be ashamed OF
only one set of Americans in connec-
ton with the building Of the canal and
that is OF those Americans who have
been guilty of faIsehood concerning the
ACQUISITION of the property, and the
construction of the canal itselE
IF they can be reached for criminal
libel I shall try TO have them reacheo'
II not. at any rate all the facts We
know or ever have known are at the
dispossl of each and every one or you
here and of any one. in Congress, or
of all Congress il they wish 10 see
That the President or any one con-
nected with the Government would in
stitute a suit for libel is not resarueo
as a tenable proposition by those VINO
have considered such matters, Not oLly
would such a procedure be deemed In
COMPATIBLE with the office OF the ChleI
Executive. but II Is believed that some
of the aSsailants would IKE noInlhs
better than 10 be parties 10 a SUN uIoL Il
the mart of the President of the United
states. - -
direct William Nelson Cromwell or ms
brother-in-law. Douglas Robinson
whose name was mentioned IN the Pan
ANA allegations. or Charles p IaIt'
brother of the Fresident-electi TO lnstl-
tute some suit In case the matter Us
not dropped, is believed TO be entirely
possible.
Invites Action.
The only way in which the men who
are insistent on discovering scandal
in the Panama transactions can con-
tinue their allegations, therefore, is
held TO be through CONGRESSIONAL dC-
ton. Tt is believed possible that the
President, considering just such con-
tingency has invited any such action
before IL may be seriously thought OF
by others.
Further proof that the President IS
thoroughly aroused over the Panama
matter was given yesterday when II.
W. Farnham, a New York attorney
who Is connected with William Nelson
Cromwell, issued a statement denying
any scandal in the transactions lead
ing to the American acquisition of the
canal territory.
Mr. Farnham was an early White
House caller, and after a few minutes
with the President, left for his hotel
He returned later and gave his state
ment out from the executive offices
Mr.. Cromwell giving one out stimuli
taneously in New York
That this statement was submitted tC
the Chief Executive before it was made
public is the general belief today and
that ii is the intention to hit every
head that talks about the affair with
out investigating thoroughly, is prob
able.