The Daily Missoulian., 1909-01-27
NEW YORK WANTS TO PROSE.
CUTE PUBLISHERS OF AL.
LEGGED LIBEL STORIES.
JEROME WRITES A LETTER
Notifies United States District Attor-
ney That He Is in Readiness to In.
stitute Proceedings II the Govern
mont Will Stand Aside and Permit
Him to Take Desired Action.

| New York. Jan. 26.-The possibility
of the federal authorities having to
stand aside to permit the state and
county of New York to proceed
against the publishers of the New
| York World for the alleged libel in
! connection with the Panama purchase.
was made apparent today in a letter
written by District Attorney Jerome
| to United States District Attorney
] Henry L. Stimson. Providing Douglas
Robinson, bfother-i in law of the pres
| ident, is willing to appear as COM
! planning witness, Mr.. Jerome is ready,
the letter states, to bring action at
once in the state courts. 1t would be
useless for him to do so, he explains
if his inquiry is not given precedence
over that begun before the federal
grand jury.
Il have given the matter published
in the New York World of October g.
| 1908, careful consideration" the let
| ter says, "and l am of the opinion
| that it is a plain libel upon Charles
P.Taft and Douglas Robinson, assum-
| ing, of course, that it is untrue as to
| their alleged connection Herewith I'm
der the law of this state, it's publica-
tion is crime and, as it was pub
lished in the county of New York, 1t
Is my duty under certain circum-
stances to prosecute those responsible
for the publication.
Wider Importance.
The petition has a much wider gem
eral importance than is found in most
| cases. In substance, it charges that by
corrupt and dishonorable, if not Grim
inal means the treasury of the Unit
ed States was depleted to the extent
of $36,500,000 through the connivance,
to give it no harsher description, of
some Of the chief officers of the state
and that this great sum was divided
among government favorites in the
world of politics and finances"
Mr.. jerome expresses his conviction
that SO serious a charge should not
pass unchallenged, and that adequate
justification should be shown or those
making it properly punished.
Positive Duty.
From this point of view," the let
ties it seems to me, have a distinct
interest and positive duty to perform
and from what you tell me- it would
seem that the jurisdiction of the fed
eral courts is adequate. There is an
othere point Of view, however. While
the whole people of the United States
have been injured by the publication
of much false and libelous matter, the
people Of this state have received a
distinct and separate injury in that
one of its citizens, Douglas Robinson,
has had false matter published about
him in the community in which he
lives and is respected, the direct pur-
pose and tendency of which Is to brand
him a dishonorable citizen and dis
honest man and one who was willing
to trade upon the honor of his broth
law, the president of the Unit
ed States.
Ready to Act.
This offense I am loath to pass un-
punished or at least without an effort
to properly punish it. Therefore.
should Mr.. Robinson express to mo his
wish to have an action for criminal
libel instituted, shall institute such
an unwise interference with a matter
over which the federal courts have jur-
isdiction and in which action has al
ready been taken by the federal au-
thorities.'
He believes the state prosecution
should take preference over one by the
United States.
Taken in connection with the hear
ings today before the federal grand
jury was adjourned until next Mon
day after but one witness, John F.
Wier, a reporter of the New York
American, had been on the stand, Mr..
Jerome's letter Is believed by many to
auger the suspension, momentarily at
least. of the federal inquiries and the
early inception of an inquisition by
the state, with Mr.. Ribinson as it's
moving spirit.