Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-03

its words to the public that although
l was at first opposed in the public in
terest to granting the eiinIiFatior
which he requested. nevertheless
through the undue influence OF my
brother, Mr. Charles P Taft, and the
disclosure of the real persons in in
terest, l was induced improperly aud
for the promotion CT their private
gain, to make the order.
''The statement in so far as my broth.
er is concerned-and that is the chief
feature Of the postscript-is utterly
unfounded. He never wrote to me or
spoke to NE in reference to Richard
S. Ryan or on the subject Of Controller
Bay or the granting Of any privileges
or the making of any orders in respect
to Alaska. He has no interest IN
Alaska, never had, and knows nothing
of the circumstances connected with
this transaction. He does not remem'
Der that he ever met Richard S. Ryan.
He never heard of the Controller Bay
railroad until my cablegram Of inquiry
reached him, which, with his answer,
is in the record.
''Mr. Ballinger says in a telegram in
answer to my inquiry, both of which
are in the record that he never re-
ceiyed such a postscript and that he
was in Seattle on the date Of July q,
when it was said to have been written.
'Mr. Richard S. Ryan in letter
which he has sent me without
solicitation, and which IS in the
record, says that he never met my
brother, Mr.. Charles P Taft, and
that so far as he knows, Mr. Charles
P. Taft never had the slightest inter
est In Controller Bay, IN the CONTROL
er Railway and Navigation company,
or in any Alaskan company, and he
utterly denies writing or signing the
alleged postscript. The utter improb-
ability of his writing such a postscript
to Mr.. Ballinger at Washington, when
the latter was away for his vacation
for two months, must impress every
one
PIac>s the Blame. 9
"The person upon whose statement
the existence of what has been proper
ly characterized as an amazing post
script is based, is q writer for newspa
pers and magazines, who was given
permission by Secretary Fisher, after
consulting with me, to examine all the
files in respect to the Controller Bay
matter-and this under the supervision
of Mr.. Brown, then private secretary
of the secretary of the interior.
After the examination, at which it
is alleged this postscript was re-
ceived from the hand of Mr.. Brown
the correspondent prepared an elab
crate article on the subject OF
this order and Controller Bay,
which was submitted to MI Fisher
and which was discussed with Mr.
Fisher at length, but never in the con,
versation between them OF in the arti-
Gle submitted did the correspondent
mention the existence of the post
script. Mr.. Brown states that there
was no such postscripL in the papers
when he showed them to the CORE
spOndent and that he never saw such
a postscript. Similar evidence is
given by Mr.. Carr and other custodians
of the records in the interior depart
ment
Stronger evidence of the falsity and
maliciOusly slanderous character of the
alleged postscript could not be had
It's only significance is the light it
throws on the bitterness and venom Of
some of those who take active part in
every discussion of Alaskan issues.
Scandal-M ongering Denounced.
81 am in full sympathy with the con
Germ of reasonable and patriotic men
that the valuable resources of Alaska
should not be turned over to be ex.
plotted for the profit of greedy, absorb
ing and monopolistic corporations or
syndicates. Whatever the attempts
which have been made, no one, as
matter of fact, has secured in Alaska
any undue pr ilege or franchise not
completely under the control of con.
gress. I am in full agreement with the
view that every care, both in admin
Gstration and in legislation, must be
observed to prevent the corrupt or I'M
fair acquisition Of undue privilege,
franchise, or right from the govern.
lent in that district.
ION the other hand, the acrimony OF
spirit and the intense malice that have
been engendered in respect of the ad-
ministTation of the government In
Alaska and in the consideration of
measures proposed for her relief and
the Wanton recklessness and eagerness
with which attempts have been made
to besmirch the characters of high Of
ficials having to do with the Alaskan
government, and even Of persons not
in public life, present a condition that
calls for condemnation and requires
that the public be warned of the de-
moralization that has been produced
by the hysterical suspicious of good
people and the INSCRIPTIONS and cor
rupt misrepresentation of the wicked.
| The helpless state to which the credul,
| itv of some and the malevolent scan
| dal-mOngering of others have brought
| the people of Alaska in their struggle
for its development ought to give the
public pause, for until juster and fair
| er view be taken, investment in
| Alaska, which is necessary its de-
velopment, will be impossible. and hon
est administrators and legislators will
! be embarrassed in the advocacy and
putting into operation of those policies
/ in regard to the territory which are
necessary to its progress and pros
| perity. WILLIAM H. TAFT.
The White House, July 26, 1911"
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