Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-10-20

morning with MIR. winters argument
on the proposition that these articles
are not libellous.
"Up to that time 1t had not oc.
CURED to me that there was any
question about their being libellous.
but am not SO sure about it. !
think myself that there is agood deal
in the proposition that, when ar
ticles charge people with swindling
and with thievery. and II in the ar
ticles Is contained statement of the
facts upon which the charge is based.
that does not necessarily follow that
because teh words'thieves and swind-
ling are used that the article is H.
bellous per Sc. will go that far
off hand.
Now. on two other questions that
have been discussed here, have
more definite notions. l will take
these up in their order-in the order
in which tehy have been discussed
and presented during this hearing.
Duty to Print the Truth.
Now, let US go back little bit.
have had occasion to say before
that a newspaper has a sort of duty
to perform. It was well stated by q
former Judge of the United States.
1T is the duty OF a newspaper to print
the news and tell the truth about it,
1t is the duty Of public newspaper,
such US is owned and conducted by
these defendants. to tell the people.
Its Subscribers, its readers. the facts
that it may find out about public
questions or matters Of public inter-
est 1t is It's duty and its rgiht to
draw inferences from the facts known
to draw them for the people.
[ 81 might just digress long enough
to- suggest that 1t is not everybody
that can draw inferenees. Now here
was great public question, There
are many peculiar circumstances
about the history Of this Panama ca
lnsl- -,bua,ress. l-de not wish 70 h
understood as reflecting upon my
body in office or out in connection
with that matter, except such per
sons as may name in that way.
"The revolution In Panama. the
circumstances surrounding it, were VI
usual. 1t was unusual, and the cir
cumstan.cs were unusual andpeculial
The people were interested in the con
struction Of canal. 1t was a mat
ter of great public concern. 1t wa
much discussed. A large portion %
the people favored the Nicarasu'
route. Another portion of those VIII
i were interested in it officially o
personally, or just interested, pre-
ferred the Panama route.
sudden Drop In Price.
il "A committee was appointed to II
yestigate the relative merits of tn
two routes. They investigated an
reported in favor OF the Nicaragu
Canal. Shortly afterward-I do nc
recall Just how soon atterward-the
changed to the Panama. Up to tn
time of the chgane, as gather froi
the evidence, the lowest sum tht
had been suggested at which u
property Of the Panama Canal Coz
pany could be procured was som
thing over a hundred million dollar
Then. rather suddenly. it becan
known that it could be procured 4
forty millions Of dollars.
"Now, there were a number
people who thought there was som
thing not just exactly right abo
that transaction, and will say I
myself that now feel E. natural c
iosity to know what the real fru
was. Thereupon a committee Of u
United States Senate was appoint
to investigate these matters-abo
the only way that that matter 4cou
be investigated.
"The committee met. aR stated
these articles; and the man aw
knew all about it-I think that
the proper way TO speak Of Mr., Gro
we'll, KNEW all about it'-he
called before the commission.
.'Now, Mr.. Cromwell. upon havi
certain questions put to him, mt
or less pertinent, stood upon
privilege as attorney, and refused
answer. That was the state Of
case as shown by the evidenceiwh
we adjourned last June.
Courts impression Of CfslnNsf:
:. "At this session, certain parts
the record showing the proceedii
before the Senate committee b
been introduced By the GoveF4me
and the impression made upen
mind from such parts as the @
ernment has seen fit to introd
is not more favorable to Mr. Cr
wells position than It was upon
former hearing.
$50 far as the record has b
read-and that is all the part i
have an acquaintance with
Cromwell stood upon his privil
whenever questions were asked
answers to which would. or might.
fleet upon him and his associa
but whenever a question was as
him which gave him an opportp
to say something in their be
he estentaHsspsly thaalpkesa the q.
insF for the question and procee
to answer II.
"To NY mind tsst ssys just srs