The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-16

VINO Told Truth About Panama
scandlhi blocked by Independent
Jpdge-DcIAvan Smith Must be
Tried In Indianapolis o. Not 1t An.
Indianapolis. Ind, Oct 12.--Judge
A. b. Anderson Of the United States
Ccass' Of shis district today dismissed
the procssdinss against Dslevan
Smith and Charles n. wnliams, pro-
pristors Of the IAdianapStb News.
who were resisting removal ito the
District Of Columbia for trial under
,. grana Jury indictment charging
them with having committed criminal
libel against ex-President Roosevelt.
President Taft. Charles p. Taft. Will
liam Nelson Cromwell. J. Pierpont
Morgan and others in publishing ar
ticies alleging that there was cor
rupt pront Of s3s. 900. 900 in the sale
Of the Panama canal to the United
States.
That man has read the history Of
our institutions to little purpose" said
Judge Anderson In concluding his de-
cision. "who does not view with ap-
r.hension the success Of such a pro-
ceedins as this to the end that citi-
ssns could be dragged from their
homes to the District Of Columbia,
the seat of government. for trial un-
der the circumstances Of this case.
The defendants are discharged"
AT the close today of arguments in
the hearing. Judge Anderson said that
ne was too busy to write a long, opin-
Ion In the case but he would sum up
At once his View Of the evidence and
the argument. 'fA
"Now there are many peculiar cir
cilmstances about the whole Panama
canal busaacss. do not wish to be
understood a. rejecting upon any
lN,dy In or out Of ONCE. except such
psrson er persons a. may name.
The revolution IN Panama. the cir
'sumstaAces concerning II. wore an.
IIlY34S IA Rsspper. The people sssrs
III tsd IN Ibs construcfion ct the
tswaLEIt was matter of great pub.
~, concern, q large portion of the
lasople favored the Nicaraxuan route;
another portion, those who were in
terested In It, officially and personal
ly--just terested-prefsumed the
Panama route. A committee was ap-
pointed TO investigate the relative
merits of the two routes. They in
yestigated and reported in favor of
the Nicaraguan. Shortly afterwards
they changed to Panama.
Now there was number of peo-
pie who thought there was something
wrong--sOmething not Just exactly
risht--about that transaction, and /
say for myself that now I feel a nat
ural curiosity to know what the real
truth was q fitt
.'Thereupon the connmattee of the
United states !senate wus appointed
TO investigate these matters-about
the only,way It could be investigated.
The committee met. as stated in the
articles. these men who knew all
about IT, Z think that Is the proper
way 70 spesk Of Wasiam Nelson
cromwell Well. these saen were called
before the committee 4nd so far as
the record has been read, Mr.. Crom-
well stood upon his p~iwilege when
ever questions were asansd, the an
swer to. which would or might reflect
upon him or his associates; but when
ever q question was asked Diim which
gave him an opportunity % say some
thing In their behalf. he osnentatious-
ly thanked the examiner and proceed
ed to answer. To my mind that was
lust ground for suspicion. am sus-
piciOus about that now. >&ht'
so we have this situation. Here Is
matter OF great public concern. I
was interested, you were Interested,
we were all interested. Here was a
newspaper printing the news-or try
irs to. Here was this matter up for
discussion. and / am not willing to
say that differences were too strongly
drawn. lam not approving them
am simply saying that / am not able
to say they were too strongly drawn"
The Judge continued that the court
must determine II defendants when