The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-23

In what are regarded as well-informed
circles in Washington, the understanding
is current that the most spectacular
feature of the present investigation Of
the grand jury into alleged Hbeis con
nected with the purchase Of the Panama
Canal IS yet 10 come
Il IS claimed that the ground work for
indictments against the publishers Of the
newspapers has been laid, and the finish
ing touches viii be given by the appear
ance before the grand. jury Of President
Roosevelt himself
II is known by many persons. other
than officials who are doing the work Of
presenting TO the jury evidence upon
which to obtain an indictment. that Pres
ident Roosevelt is intensely anxious 10
have true bills returned against Joseph
Pulitzer. the editor Of the New York
World. and Delevan Smith, editor OF the
Indianapolis News.
Look for Indictment.
Around the courthouse and elsewhere
there are persons who claim tn know
that It Is an easy bet that an Indictment
District Attorney Baker reports 10 Mr.
Roosevelt that his appearance before the
grand jury is necessary 10 bring out
statements indicating that certain publ
cations about the canal purchase were
HbeIous, the President VIII appear.
If il should become necessary 10 call
Mr.. Roosevelt, il will be the first time in
the history OF the government that d
President OF the United States has ap-
peared in his official capacity before
grand jury, or. in fact, as g witness in
criminal proceedings
Baker il silent.
District Attorney Baker declined 70 an
swer a question as 10 whether Mr. ROose-
Welt would be called before the grand
jury.
Il was said yesterday that If Mr.. ROose-
welt IS to be witness he will 90 before
the grand jury on Monday
William Nelson Cromwell. Of New York.
who was counsel for the Panama Canal
Company Of France, has been subpoenaed
10 appear to-day
This viii be the first time in the history
Of the District Of Columbia that q grand
jury has held sessions on Saturday, court
attaches say, and bears out the belief
that President Roosevelt is directing the
proceedings through District Attorney
Baker, and is anxious TO have an indict-
ment returned and some court action
taken before he retires from Office.
Root Before Jury.
One Of the witnesses before the grand
jury yesterday was ElIhu Root. tle Sec
rotary Of state. Mr. Root was Secretary
of War for part Of the period of the ne
gOtiatiOns which resulted in the transfer
OF control over the Panama Canal to the
United States, and he vas called appsr-
emily 10 testify that TO his knowledge the
proceedings connected with the transfer
were entirely regular. and that there had
been 10 deal Of d questionable character
which prodted private American citizens
He was in the grand jury room just six
minutes
He declined to say anything about his
testimony. One Of the reporters asked
him If this had been his first appearance
before a grand jury. and, with a smile
Mr.. Root said:
why. I ran a grand jury for a long
time up in New York when I was district
attorney. There Is one thing I viii say.
though, and that is that the last tine
was IN this building vas during the
trial Of Guiteau- I was there merely as e
spectator"
Knox L. Called.
Senator Ph.IandeT c. Knox. Mr. Taft's
new Secretary Of State. was also a wit
ness yesterday. Nh Knox was ATTORNEY
General o. the United States a. the tine
Of the negotiations for the purchase of
the canal property
Assistant Attorney General Charles ".
Russell, who handled many OF The LEGAL
details attending the transaction went
into the jury room with la1gs bundle
OF papers under his arm
Another witness was Otis Guild clerk
in the Washington Post-offlce. who IS sup
posed 70 have been called for the purpose
OF testifying as 20 the circulation q va
TioUs newspapers through the mails