Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-01
WHY WALLACE QUIT
Secretary of War Outraged
 His Feelings.
HIS SECONDARY OFFER SpURHED.
Taft Took Position That He Was Compelled to Remain Under What He Called . Contract Regard
 less of Conditions.

Compelled to Remain Under What
 He Called Contract Regard
 less of Conditions.
 NEW YORK, July 1.-John F. Wal lace, who resigned as member and chief engineer of the Panama canal commission. and whom Secretary Taft charged with leaving the canal work at critical moment, gave out state- ment last night replying to Secretary Taft.
 "The primary causes which led me to tender my resignation as chief en- gineer of the isthmian canal commits :. sion were underlying and fundamen- tai, aud I must emphatically resent the charge that my motive in leaving the work was financial one.
 "On my arrival in New York I was met by Mir. William Nelson Cromwell, who stated that he was delegated by the secretary to arrange for personal interview.
 "On arriving at the Manhattan hotel on Sunday was met by MT. Crom- well, who ushered me into the secre- tary's private apartment, accompanied by my son. Assuming thst arrange ments had been made for strictly private interview my son withdrew, expecting Mir. Cromwell to do the same. However, the secretary in rather pc remptory manner directed MT. Crom- well to remain.
 This action of course caused irrita- tion and apprehension on my part that the interview would be unpleasant and unsatisfactory, and the irritation under which the secretary was evidently la boring had tendency to prevent that calm and dignified consideration of the question in all it's bearings which should have been given it.
 If the secretary understood me to say that had accepted position in New York he labored under a misap- prehension. I did state to him that I desired to accept one, but under such circumstances and conditions and at such time as would cause the least em- barrassment to the adyninistration and the least injury to the work and that I was even willing to go t0 tle extent of remaining for an indefinite time on the commission should he desire my counsel and advice.
 Much to my surprise he indignantly spurned my suggestion and took the position that was compelled under what he called my contract to remain in charge of the isthmian canal regard. less of circumstances or conditions un. | til the completion of the work and spoke in such manner as to outrage my feelings to such an extent that fur ther discussion of the reasons for my action was out of the question.
 Tt was with the greatest reluctance that decided to resign as chief engi neer.
 , While it was my own expectation that I should continue my connection with the work. it did not occur to me that was not free to withdraw if justice to myself and my family and to my reputation as an engineer re quired me to do so.
 "No intimation of friction between the secretary of war and myself would ever have become public if 1t had not accidentally or otherwise been given out by the persons in attendance at the conference Other than myself. and de sire to state emphatically. and the rep resentatives of the press will bear me out, that I have refused absolutely eli ther directly or indirectly to be inter viewed and have remained silent un der the innuendos which have been daily published since the conference and would not have made even this statement at this time if it had not been for the severe strictures con tained in the published statement oi the secretary. which consider unjust and uncslled for and which could serve no useful purpose.
 "I have made no criticism of individ uals, but do believe that the obsta cles due to the governmental methods required by existing laws are so seri ous that they will have to be elimi mated If the American people are to SCI the Panama canal constructed In req sonable time and at a moderate cost.
 My only desire in this statement hal been to protest against what I con slider the unjust denunciations of th, secretary and to fully inform my per sonal friends and professional brethrer who have been familiar with my careel of the essential facts relating to thi! matter. emphatically disclaim all re sponsibility for the various statement, recently published alleged to have beer ! made hv so called frfands 1"