The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-01-14
CALLS FOR INQUIRY
FACTS AS TO CANAL PURCHASE
MUST De GIVEN.
President Roosevelt's Elaborate "Es-
plantations" Unfortunately Do Not
Espisln-mueh 70 investi
gate and Ascertain.

II there existed no reason for coun.
selling or demanding an Official Inquiry
into the purchase OF the Panama canal
before Mr.. Roosevelt explained the
matter so deliberately and painfully. n
good many do exist now. No president
has ever occupied such n position be-
fore the people that by sweeping de-
NAL he could remove popular i'm
preston or by general Endorsement
create one.
Certain declarations OF Mr.. Roose-
welt. based on what must have been
assumptions. are bowled over instantly
by explanations OF their character. For
instance, Mr.. Roosevelt assumed that
Charles r. Taft was charged with
some compromising connection with
the purchase Of the canal. and that
the charge was registered for the pur-
pose OF impugning the honesty OF the
presidentelect. The New York World
dismisses that matter by saying II
never made such a charge and gladly
printed Charles p. Taft's denial. or the
allegations as to Douglas Robinson. IL
says the same thing. but that II print
ed no personal denial from him be-
cause II could not secure Il. As n mat
ter of fact. no acquaintance OF either
OF these men ever INDUCED moments
suspicion Of their guilt.
The president simply sets up a man
OF straw to knock over aud wait for
the applause. lie has neither logical
nor a legal mind. nor an adequate COM
prehension OF the value of facts or the
method TO be followed In their mar
shaling. In his palpable effort TO
prove an investigation unnecessary. he
has proved that one is more necessary
than ever.
The American people are not going
20 accept blindly Mr.. Rooseyelt's asser-
ton that I'VE did not have anything 10
do with the distribution OF a dollar OF
the $4,000. 900 we paid as regards any
stakeholder or bondholder OF the
French company" as final and conclu-
sive. nor is the submission OF list OF
the names OF the 5000 stockholders OF
the new Panama canal company evil
dence that they were either the i'm
mediate or ultimate recipients of the
money. or any part Of II. Nor are we
obligated 10 consider the assertion
that we wanted the canal and got II Mt
the price agreed upon as final evidence
that the transaction was honest from
inception TO elimination and that Isl
not 10 say that any OF the officials who
conducted the pegotiations on behalf
4 the government we're involved In
any wrongdoing. "a
II is also pertinent to remark that
Mr.. Roosevelt's dictum as TO our total
lack of concern over the relations OF
Mr.. William Nelson Cromwell with
the French companies is not final. We
are very much. concerned about that II
Mr.. Cromwell conspired. or deceived.
or secured a high appraisal, or added
some millions to the purchase price Of
his own yolition. or promoted a reyolu-
tion-with OF without the sanction or
knowledge Of this government that
title might be perfected Ia the proper
ties the subject OF purchase,
As a matter OF satisfying. II not sub
stantiyely valuable. Information we
are concerned TO know whether II Is
true that a control OF the stocks OF the
French companies could have been Sc
cured for si,000.00O, even though the
purchase OF all the stock would have
cost a good deal more. There Is very
much 20 investigate and ascertain and
the matter OF not the least importance
Is how Il happened that Mr.. Roosevelt
Is so exercised about II all and SO In
slstent that these stories. as matter
of fact. need no Investigation what
ever" g. -