Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-19
AN ISTHM|AN CANAL
Secretary Hay Hopeless Of Ne
gotiations With Colombia.
THE NICARAGUA DEAL
He WANTS TO GO AHEAD WITH
THAT.
President Reported to Be Inclined to
Give More Time-Gossip at
the Capitol.
THE NICARAGUA DEAL

Secretary Hay is said to be hopeless OF
successfully negotiating with Colombia for
the construction of the Panama canal, ana
anxious to go ahead with the Nicaragua
deal.
President Roosevelt is reported to be in
clined to give Colombia more time, hoping
that when the little republic finally con-
cludes Uncle Sam cannot be shaken down"
any further it will do business.
Senator Scott of West Virginia, who is
backing the Darien route Chat is the one
which would necessitate tunnel five miles
long through solid rock) manifests dis
position to come to the front with another
proposition to investigates; some more
soundings and borings, surveys and things.
One report has it that he believes he has
interested the President in the proposition.
These were the features of the gossip on
the isthmian canal question at the Capitol
today. No more pathetic instance Of al
ternating hope and despair is furnished In
the annals of legislation than the rising
and falling of the hopes of the canal pro-
jectors.
Two Glasses of Statesmen.
There are two classes of statesmen who
discuss the isthmian canal subject. One
faction do not want any kind of interoceanic
. canal in any kind of circumstances. and
ought to have a canal by all means, but let
us go slowly and investigate all the offers.
The other faction would like to see some
kind of a canal at most any place. but are
frank enough and cynical enough to admit
that adverse influences probably are suffi-
ciently powerful and plausible to cause an
other period of indefinite delay.
There is danger that some of the friends
Of the isthmian canal will lose heart in the
fight and give it up as hopeless job There
is no danger that the opponents will become
discouraged or will abate their industry.
Every time the friends of the canal think
they see clear water ahead there is a cavein
at some unexpected point, and progress is
blockade again. They know of course, what
influences are at work to create tese obsta-
Cles, although the devious workings from
cause to effect frequently are not clearly
outlined.
The most clear-headed friends in Congress
Of the canal project in private conversation
are inclined to be very pessimistic of a
happy outcome from all the difficulties
which now beset the situation. The report
that there was difference of opinion between
Secretary Hay and the President upon the
best method of procedure attracted some
attention at the Capitol today.
Panama Advocates in Bad COMPANY.
The Panama route is advocated by some
men in Congress whose sincerity in behalf
Of an isthmian canal is ur1doubted They
they really believe it to be preferable to
the Nicaragua route. But like Poor Dog
Tray they are found In bad company.
Nearly every man who is known to be op-
posed to any canal at all favors the Pan
anna project OF course it is but revival
or an old story to say it is charged that
the latter class favor the Panama project
because it, in the opinion of some we'll
posted men. contains features which rem
der absolutely impossible the construction
OF waterway to float ships between the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Congress consented a the last session
10 the legislation authorizing the Pres
ldent to go ahead with the Panama nego-
tiations with the alternative of dealing
with Nicaragua. through the votes of those
who believed that the Panama project
would soon be determined impra cticable
and that advantage would be taken of the
alternative. 1t is safe to say that if that
belief had not prevailed the legislation
which passed Congress would not have been
enacted. There is impatience on the part of
the friends of a canal at the failure to take
up the alternative proposition.
III the report proved true that Secretary
Hay has concluded that, in all the cir
cumstances. it is advisable to proceed with
negotiations with Nicaragua he will have
the moral support of a large and infiuen-
tial following in Congress.