THE.CANAL SCANDAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 409, 19 January 1909, Page 5

THE.CANAL SCANDAL.

PRESS CHARGES. PROSECUTION BY GOVERNMENT. THE PURCHASE MONEY. (Dt THt-ECiui'iir-riiEss association—coi'YuianT.) (Rec, January 18; 9.52 p.m.) ■ v New York; January 18. The Government at Washington is prosecu-. ting the New York "World" and tho Indianapolis' "News", for liliols in. alleging, corruption in connection with tho 'purchase of tho Panama Canal; ALLEGATIONS AND REPLY, ■ The following passage from a characteristic letter by President- Roosevelt serves to illustrate both. the .nature, of the "News's" charges nnil tho quality of Mr..Roosevelt's defence:— ' "The 'News' gives currency to the oharge that 'the TJnitcd States bought from .American citizens for 40,000,000. dols. property that cost these citizens only. 12,000,000 dols.' The statement is false. 'The.'United States did not:pay a cent, of the. 40,000,000.dol&. to any American citizen. The 'News' says that there is no doubt that tho Government paid 40,000,000 dols. for the property, and continues: 'But who got the money? • Wo are not to know. The Administration and Mr. Taft do not. think it right that the people should know.';. Really, this is so ludiorons as to make one feel »'. little impatient at having to answer .it.! The fact has been officially published again and again that the Government paid 40,000,000:,dols., and 'that is paid, this 40,000,000 dols, direct to the French Government getting the receipts of the' lifciidator appointed by tho Frenoh Governmenf to receive the same. The United 'States' Government has not-the slightest knowledge as to the partioiilnr individuals among the 'French Government to whom was distributed : the sum. This was the business of the French Government. Tho mere supposition that any. American received from . the French Government a 'rake off' is too absurd lo |jo discussed. It is an abominable falsehood, and it. is a slander not against tho American Government, but. against the Fronch. Government. : ' . "The 'News' continues, saying that the President's is involved in the 'scandal, but has nothing to say. The President's brother-in-law ; was . involved in no scandal. Delavan Smith: and the other people who repeated this falsehood lied'about the President's brother-in-law; but why ,the fact that Mr. Smith' lied should be held to involve Mr. Robinson in. a'i'scandal' is difficult to understand. .-'The' scandal affects no one by Mr.; Smith,, and his conduct has been not merely scandalous but; infamous. 'Mr. Robinson had not the slightest; connection of any kind,, sort, or.'deso'ripjion;-. at any time, or under any_ circumstances,.'with the Panama matter. Neither did; Charles. Taft. The 'News' says that Mr. -Taft . was a-member of tho 'syndicate.' So far as I know.'.there was no syndicate; there certainly was no' syndicate in the United States that, to my, knowledge, had any dealings with the Government , directly or indirsotly, and. inasmuch as there was no syndicate, Mr. Tnft naturally, did-not : belong to it."- •: Mr. Chas.. Taft, it may. be added, is brother to the President-elect.