The Washington times., 1915-03-27
WALSH PUBLISHES.
SHIP LOBBY FACTS
SENT BY ROOSEVELT.
Former President Refuses to
Testify, But Sets Forth His
Data in Telegram.

"Waiving.' as he expressed 1t, any
comment on the courtesy of the (Col-
onel Roosevelb reply to the message
he sent to the colonel asking his ap-
pearance before the Senate ship lobby
investigating committee. Chairman
Walsh Of the committee today incor-
porated the former ex-Presidents re-
aoonse In the inquirys Record.
'"rhe sources of my information are
and have been for months open to
every intelligent man. The whole
matter of the ship purchase bill has
for months been discussed in all its
details in the public press. Every
man who has looked into the matter
at all knew perfectly well that we
were literally purchasing quarrel
with every ship that was purchased
from any of the EVerg
man knew that the object of the bill
was to purchase these informed ships.
would have Contained a proviso OK,
pressly exempting these interned
ships from its provisions. such pro,
down, you yourself as l am informed
being one of those who voted it down.
The failure to put IN such proviso
ject in passing the act was to pur-
chase these very ships.
Such act was of necessity an act
foreign or native, who, had any in
terest in the ships. and Indirectly in
the interest of the German govern
; ment. one of the belligerent govern
: my statement was literally and ex-
: actly correct. President Wilson and Sec
rotary McAdoo have been pushing this
ship purchase bill to the utmost of their
ability This is Il matter of common no
toriety, and / do not suppose that any
one will pretend to deny IT. Their ac-
h. tot - 1,n tO n
corporations owning or interested in the
ownership of the interned ships. III It
had not been, then thsse ships would
have been specifically exempted from
the operations of the act.
Could Not Deny 1t.
'This statement again cannot be de-
MED. 1t is useless to attempt to try TO
deny it, and it would be mere folly to
get me on to testify on the matter when
sny information is merdly that which is
patent to every man of common sense
who takes an interest in his country's
welfare, and Is acquainted with the
course of current events.
There was no precedent for the pro-
posed act, for purchase by the Govern
ment is wholly distinct from purchase
by private individuals, and never before
has 1t been proposed that our Govern
nent should purchase the ships OF bel
ligerent powers
:.rhat the purpose of the bill was the
purchase of the German interned ships
was in effect admitted by. Secretary
McAdoo in his testimony before the
House committee last summer, which
testimony was quoted by Senator Lodge
in his first speech in the Senate on the
subject and must be familiar to you.
"As for President Wilson and Secre,
tary Bryan knowing that this proposed
act would bring us into conflict with
the powerS opposed to the power own
ing the interned ships, can refer you
TO the speeches In tho United States
Senate of Senators Lodge and Root and
others.
II am informed that our Government
was officially or unofticially notified OF
this fact by representatives of the for
cign governments with which we would
be brought into hostile contact by the
measure; but whether or not this is so,
any man in public position who did his
duty, who was Informed in any way of
the sentiment in the foreign countries
concerned about the measure or who
had read the debates of the United
States Senate or the articles in our
own press on the subject, could not
possibly have avoided knowing that we
would have been brought into conflict
with foreign powers by the success Of
the measure; that in the words of one
of your own body. we We're purchas-
ing q quarrel with every ship.
ut therefore appears:
First, that President Wilson and Sec
retary McAdoo pushed the measure.
Second. that it was in the interes
Of the foreign corporations owning the
interned ships.
Third, that the success Of the meas
ure would have meant the likelihood
of embroiling us with the allied powers
Fourth. that all of these facts hat
been stated again and again; that the!
We're brought out at length in debates
ip the United States Senate and in pub
lications of every kind; that the grea
benefit to the corporations owning th'
interned ships. which were of cours'
foreign corporations, and the fact tina
the purchase was in their interest, were
matters of common notor,cty to ever!
intelligent man; and that 1t is of Cours
childish to maintain that President vii
son and Secretary Bryan and Secretar!
McAdoo did not know these facts
which every one else did know
What have said. therefore, is no
only literally true, but cannot be dis
puted in any particular. 1t is based OIL
knowledge available to every one. Al
the matters spoken of are matters o
common notoriety. To ask me to testi
fly before your committee on the sub
ject is literally and precisely as If yo,
should ask me to testify to the damag
ing effect of the tariff bill on the Ameri
can sugar grower by removing the dut
on sugar. or to show that the amateu
war with Mexico last summer Cwhic
resulted in greater loss Of life il
the American navy than occurred l.
the American navy during the entir
war with SPAIN, was ended and Yer
CRUZ abandoned, without obtaining
salute for the American flag.
Based On Facts.
"My knowledge as to the effects O
the tariff bill on the American suga
grower in Louisiana and elsewhere
as to the pseudo or amateur war wit
Mexico. and finally as to the shi
purchase bill is in every case base
on facts which are matters of com
mon nOt"riety, which are known I
all Intelligent men who know any
thing of the subject at all, which ar
derived from sources as readily acces
Sible to your honorable committee a
to myself and to all other citizens.
Il have nC more special knowledG
to enable me to testify about one 0
these matters than about the Others
In no one of the cases is there nee
Of special knowledge. The facts ar
public property. Every one know
them. There is no possibility of dis
putting them. 70 ask me to come he
fore YOUR committee is precisely lik
asking Senator Root, Senator Lodg,
Senator 3Orah, Senator Burton, San
atcr Smoot. and all the other Senator
who We're opposed to the passing {