Indian Prairie Oil & Gas Company

President Roosevelt believes the statements made by Delevan Smith in the Indianapolis News are patently false, and that refuting them will bring them undue attention. Because William Dudley Foulke insists that a reply be made, however, Roosevelt writes to refute the charges of a scandal involved in the purchasing of the Panama Canal zone from France. Roosevelt particularly refutes the charge that the affair has not been transparent, as documents related to it have been freely available. Roosevelt has refuted other false charges leveled against his administration, but the newspapers continue to print them, so he doubts whether his denial will be effective.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt encloses a statement that he dictated to William Loeb in the presence of Ethan Allen Hitchcock, former secretary of the interior, and W. Scott Smith. The statement outlines Roosevelt’s and Hitchcock’s recollections of what happened in connection with a controversy over the Indian Prairie Oil & Gas Company’s pipeline contract. Roosevelt is confident that the report which The Sun alleges outlines Roosevelt’s taking action against Hitchcock’s recommendations does not exist.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

A statement issued by President Roosevelt refutes a false article in The Sun which states that he overruled then-Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock’s recommendations regarding pipeline permits for the Prairie Oil and Gas Company, to the benefit of the Standard Oil Company. Roosevelt asserts that this article is patently false, and that a so-called report detailing this incident is a falsehood. Rather, the permits were granted based on legislature, and Roosevelt believes that he has never ignored his Interior Secretaries’ recommendations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919