The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-29

represented / told him. according to
our agreement. that represented myself.
But this didn't seem TO satisfy him. 80
sent for Charlie Taft and asked him to
tell lis brother. the president. who It was
really represented. The president made
no further objection to my claim. Yours
DICK.
Tie postscript is not now on the files
Of the department. II 1t were. It would
be my duty 10 transmit II under this
resolution. Who Is really responsible
for It's wicked fabrication, II It ever ex-
listed. or for the viciously false state
meut made as TO its authenticity Is
immatcria for the purposes Of this
communication. The purport Of the al
legged postscript is and the intention OF
the fabricator was to make Mr.. Rich
ard ) Ryan testify through its words
Ia the public that although | was at
first opposed In the public interest to
granting the elimination which he re-
questcd. nevertheless through the I'M
due influence OF my brother, Mr..
Charles z. Taft, and the disclosure OF
the real persons in interest | was In
du,cd Improperly and for the promo
lion of their private gain to make the
order
The statement in so far as my brother
is concerned that IS the chief
feature Of the postscrlpt-is utterly un-
founded He never wrote 10 me or
spoke TO me In reference to Richard ).
RYAN or on the subject OF Controller
bay or the granting Of any privileges
or the making OF any orders In respect
10 Alaska. He has no Interest In
Alaska. never had and knows nothing
Of the circumstances connected Win
,hls transaction. He does not remem-
lcr that he ever met Richard s. Ryan.
H., never heard OF the Controller Bay
railroad until my cablegram OF inquiry
reached him.
Mr. Ballinger says In telegram IN
answer to my inquiry that he never
re-. civcd such n postscript and that he
was in Seattle on the date OF July IL.
when IL was said 10 have been writ
ten
Mr.. Richard s. Ryan, in n letter
viii, II be has sent me without solicita-
ton. says that he never met my broth
cr. Mr. Charles +. Taft. and that So
far rs ne knows Mr.. Charles 7. Taft
never had the slightest interest I'm Con
troller bay. In the Controller Railway
and Navigation company or In any
Alaskan company. and he utterly de
nics writing or signing the alleged
nosf.eript The utter improbability OF
bis writing such a postscript TO Mr.
Rallinger ut Washington when the
latter was away for his vacation FOR
two months must impress every one.
The fact Is that Mr.. Ballinger never
saw the letter OF July -. 1910. 10
which this postscript is said to have
been attached 1t was sent to me by
Mr. Carr. Secretary Ballingers pri-
vaie secretary at Beverly. on July
n the next day. read the letter nj
Poverty in August with other papers
and sent them 10 the White House
% was placed upon the White House
files ana remained there until April
- 1911. when Il was. by request OF
Secretary Fisher. for Use I'm connection
with his answer TO a senate inquiry.
returned to the interior department
audeit was after this that the CORE
spondent * said 10 have seen the let
ter with the postscript attached. Mr.
Carr saw no such postscript when he
sent the letter to me / did not see it
VIXEN / read It. 40 one saw II IN the
executive Office. but 1t remained 10 ap-
pear as a. postscript when II Is said
that the correspondent saw the letter
in April or May on the files OF the In
terrier department All others were de
nlrd he sight.
The person on whose statement the
existence OF what has been properly
characterized as an Amazing post
xrlpt is based is n writer FOR news
PAPERS and magazines who was given
permission by Secretary Fisher. after
consultation with me. to examine all
The dles I'm respect 10 the Controller
hay matter. and this under the super
vision ~ Mr. Brown. then private sec
rotary 10 the secretary Of the interior.
After the examination, at which It Is
ALLEGED this postscript was received
from the hand Of Mr.. Brown. the cor
respondent prepared an elaborate arti-
90. on the subject Of this order and
Controller bay. which was submitted
fD MI Fisher and which was discuss
ed With Mr. Fisher at length. but new
er in the conversation between them
or in The article submitted did the cor
RESPONDENT mention the existence OF
the postscrlpt Mr. Brown states that
there was no such postscript In the
papcrs when be showed them TO the
cnrrspondent and that he never saw
such postscript. Similar evidence Is
.fvrn hy Mr.. Carr and other custo-
dams ~ the records In the Interior de-
mr'nent
Stronger evidence ~ the falsity and
mali iously slanderous character OF
la alleged postscript could not be
bel Its only significance Is the light
il frrpws Oh the bitterness and venom
% some Of these who take active part
IN c-ery discussion Of Alaskan issues.
The intensity Of their desire to be- I
sml.ch all who invest in that district /
and all who are officially connected
with its administration operates upon /
the minds Of weak human instru- /
menis and prompts the fabrication Of
such false testimony as this post /
script. | dislike to dwell upon this
feature Of the case. but II Is so full OF
n lesson that ought to be taken to the
heart Of every patriotic citizen that ]
cannot pass 1t over In silence.
When made this order | was aware
that the condition Of public opinion In
reference to investments in Alaska
famed by charges Of fraud, some well
founded and others OF an hysterical
and unjust or false character. would
lead 10 an attack upon II and TO the
questioning Of my motives In signing
II. | remarked this when ] made the
order. and 7 was not mistaken. But q
public officer when he cOnceives Il his
duty 10 take affirmative action in the
public interest has no more right TO a.
low fear of unjust criticism and atiack