The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-01
A STATEMENT
 BY WALLACE Former Chief Engineer Replies to Taft. STRUCTURES ARE UNJUST Motive of His Step Was Not
 Mercenary. Demanded by Interests of Family and at No Time Could Resignation
 Have Caused Less Onicial
 Embarrassment.

New York. June 3o.-John F. wal lace. who resigned as memper ahu chief engineer of the Panama cana, Commission and whom secretary la,e chargea with leaving the canal Worh at ] critical moment gave state'neis to the Associated Press 'oIis', li,r ing to Secretary Taft. After making the statement public Mir. Wallace le1t the city. He said he was going to take a much needed rest and vacation ana did not expect to return during the summer. .,,,
 MT. Wallace would not make pubic any of his future plans and said that the work he is to take up will be an nounced by the officials of the organi- zation with which he Is to become con- nected when they deem it proper.
 MT. Wallace says:
 "The primary causes which led me to tender my resignation as chief en" gineer of the Isthmian Canal Commits stoa were underlying and fundamental and I must emphatically resent the charge that my motive in leaving the work was a financial one.
 "A careful consideration of the en- tire subject had brought me to the decision that I should disconnect my self with the work at the earliest pos sible date that 1t could be done with out embarrassment to the administra- tion or injury to the work. It is un- necessary to state the reasons for this decision, except that in fairness l should say that they involve no criu- cism of any act of the President or the Secretary of War
 After Careful Thought.
 My final decision was arrived at as the result of the six days uninterrupt- ed thought which I was able to give the subject in all its bearings during my voyage from New York to Colon in May Furthermore. I had pledged my self to my family to give the matter of my resignation as chief engineer. or any position which would require my continuous residence on the Isth- mus serious consideration.
 Tt was at this psychological moment that I received a cablegram from New York offering me business oppor- tunity which I was bound to consider. I therefore cabled the Secretary of War requesting conference and arr rived in New York for that purpose on Thursday, June 22
 Tn the meantime I had addressed a letter to the Secretary, in which con- f1rmed the desire for an interview, and also requested my annual leave of ab- sence, which was part of my original understanding with the Isthmian Canal Commission and which I had request sd from Admiral Walker in March, to take effect at our mutual convenience some time later in the season. which request, however, was not compiled with or an swered, owing probably to the sudden change made in the commission on the 1st of April.
 'On my arrival in New York I was met by MT. William Nelson Cromwell. who stated that he was delegated by the Secretary to arrange for a personal interview with me- and asked if I would meet him at the Manhattan Hotel at 10 a. m, Sunday. June 25
 Wanted to See Taft.
 While MT. Cromwell treated me with l suavity and courtesy for which he is noted, he endeavored to draw from mo my reasons for desiring to see the Sec retary. I told him frankly that I did not consider 1t would be proper for me to discuss the matter in advance of my | interview. and I also requested him 1 to arrange for me with the Secretary that tho interview should be abso- lutely private. and that no one but he | Secretary and myself should be pres ent
 "On arriving at the Manhattan Ho- tel on Sunday I was met by MT. Crom- well, who ushered me into the Secre- 1 tary's private apartment. accompanied by my son. Assuming that arrange ments had been made for a strictly pri- vate interview, my son withdrew. ex- pecting Mir Cromwell to do the same However, the Secretary in rather per emptcry manner directed MT. Cromw ell | to remain
 This action of course. caused irrita- tion and apprehension on my part that the interview would be unpleasant and lunsatisfactory and the irritation under which the Secretary was evidently la boring had a tendency to prevent that calm and dignifed consideration of the question in all it's bearings which should have been given 1t.
 If the Secretary understood me to say that I had accepted position in New York, he labored under a misap- nrehsnsfon. I did state to him that ] desired to accept one, but under such c,rc,,mstances and conditions and al