Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-27

for the viciously false statement made as
to it's authenticity, is immaterial for the
purpose of this communication. The pur-
port of the postscript is and the inten-
ton of the fabrieator was, TO make Mr.
Richard S. Ryan testify through its
words to the public that although | was
at first opposed in the public interest TO
granting the elimination which he re-
quested. nevertheless through the undue
influence of my brother, Mr.. Charles /
Taft, and the disclosure of the real per-
sons in interest, / was induced improper
ly and for the promotion of their private
gain. to make the order.
THE statement, in so far as my brother
is concerned-and that is the chief fea-
tufe of the postscrlpt-is utterly I'M
founded. He never wrote to me or spoke
TO me in reference to Richard : RYAN or
on the subject of Controller Ray 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 con-
nected with this transaction He~does
not remember that he ever met Richard
5. Ryan. He never heard of the Con
troller Bay Railroad until my eablegram
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 received
such a postscript and that he was in
Seattle ON the date of July IL, when it
was said to have been written.
Mr. Richard S. Ryan, in letter which
he has sent me without solicitation. and
fob ie in . he T.,
met my brother Mr.. Charles = Taft,
and that 50 far as he knows, Mr.. Charles
p. Taft never had the slightest interest
in Controller Bay, in the Controller Rail-
way & Navigation Co, or in any Alaskan
company. and he utterly denies writing
or signing the alleged postscript The ut
ter improbability of his writing such
postscript 10 Mr.. Ballinger at Washing
ton. when the latter was away for his
vacation for two months. must impress
everyone.
THE fact is that Mr.. Ballinger never
saw the letter of July 10, 1910. TO which
this postscript is said to have been at
tached 1t was sent to me by Mr.. Carr.
Secretary Ballinger's private secretary,
at Beverly. on July 1.-THE next day. [
read the letter at Beverly in August with
other papers and sent them to the White
House. II was placed upon the White
House files and remained there until
April 90 1911 when il was, by request of
Secretary Fisher, returned to the In
terror Department. and il was after this
that Miss Abbott says she saw the letter
with the postscript attached. Mr.. Carr
saw no such postscript when he
sent the letter to me. / did not see it
when / read it. No ona saw it in the ex-
eeutive office, but it remained to appear
as a postscript when Miss Abbott saw
the letter in April or May on the files of
the Interior Department. All others were
denied the sight.
THE person upon whose statement TIE
existence of what has been properly |
as an amazing postscript |
is based is a writer for the newspapers
and magazines. She was given permits |
sion by Secretary Fisher. after consulta- |
ton 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 To the
Secretary of the Interior. After the eX- |
animation, at which she alleges she re-
cefved this postscript from the hand of |
Mr. Brown she prepared an elaborate |
article on the subject of this order and |
Controller Bay which she submitted 10 !
Mr. Fisher and which she discussed |
with Mr. Fisher at length. but never in |
the conversation did she mention the ex- |
istence of the postscript, Mr.. Brown, who |
was with her at the time and showed her
the files testifies that there was no such |
postscript in the papers, and that he |
never handed her and she never saw such
a postscript there. Similar evidence isl
given by Mr. Carr and other custou.ans |
of the records in the Interior Depart |
ment.
Stronger evidence of the falsity and
slanderous character of the
alleged postscript could not be had. Its
only significance is the light it throws on
the bitterness and venom of some of
those who take active part in every dis
cussion of Alaskan issues. The intensity
of their desire to besmirch all who invest
in that district, and all who are officially
connected with its administration,
operates upon the minds of weak or de-
PRAYED human instruments and prompts
the fabrication of such false testimony
as this postscript. | dislike to dwell up
on this feature of the case. but it is so
fun of lesson that ought to be taken To
the heart of every patriotic citizen that
l can not pass il over in silence.
when l made this order / was aware
that the condition of public opinion in
reference to investments in Alaska.
famed by charges of fraud-sOme well
and others of an hysterieal and
unjust or false character-would lead to
an attack upon ii and to the questioning
of my motives in signing it. / remarked
this when | made the order. and ! was
not mistaken. But public otncer, when
he conceives it his duty to take affirma
tive action in the public interest, has no
more right to allow fear of unjust criti-
cism and attack TO hinder him from taxi
ing that action than he would allow per-
sonal and dishonest motives to affect
him. it is easy in cases like this 10 take
the course which umidlty prompts, and
to do nothing. but such a course does not
inure to the public veal
II 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 exploited for
the profit of greedy. absorbing, monopo-