Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-01
REPLIED TO Mr.. TAFT
Wallace's Reasons for Resign
ing Panama Job
PURELY FUNDAMENTAL
DECLARED THAT HE WAS NOT IN
FLUENCED BY MONEY.
No Criticism Of President or Secretary
of WARRIOR System on
Isthmus.

John F. Wallace, who resigned as mem
| Der and chief engineer of the Panama canal
commission. and whom Secretary Taft
| charged with leaving the canal work at a
critical moment, gave out statement in
New York last night. replying to Secretary
| Taft After making the statement public
| Mr.. Wallace left the city. He said he was
| going to take much-needed rest and vaca-
| tion and did not expect to return during the
| summer.
Mr.. Wallace would not make public any
| of his future plans, and said that the work
| he is to take up will be announced by the
officials of the organization with which he
| is to become connected when they deem it
| proper. Mr.. Wallace says:
| The primary causes which led me to
| tender my resignation as chief engineer of
! the isthmian canal commission were under
| lying and fundamental, and 1 must en-
phatically resent the charge that my motive
| in leaving the work was a financial one.
| "A careful consideration of the entire sub
| ject had brought me to the decision that
| should disconnect myself with the work at
| the earliest possible date that it could be
| done without embarrassment to the admin
! istration or injury to the work. 1t IS unnec-
essary to state the reasons for this decision,
except that in fairness l should say that
they involve no criticism of any act of the
Decision Reached During Voyage.
My final decision was arrived at the
result of the six days uninterrupted thought
which l able to give the subject in all
its bearings during my voyage from New
York to Colon in May. Furthermore, had
pledged myself to my family to give the
matter of my resignation chief engineer,
of any position which would require my
ntjpno1IS residence the iSthnuS. serious
consideration.
1T was at this psychological moment that
l received a cablegram from New York OF
fcring me q business opportunity which L
was bound to consider. l therefore fmme-
diately cabled the Secretary of War request
ing a conference and arrived in New York
for that purpose Thursday. June ~
I'm the meantime | had addressed a letter
to the Secretary, in which | confirmed the
interview, and also requested my annual
leave of absence, which was part OF my
original understanding with the lsthmlan
canal commission. and which had request
ed from Admiral Walker in March, TO take
effect at our mutual convenience some time
later in the season, which request, however,
was not complied with or answered, owing
probably to the sudden change made In the
commission on the LIST of April
ION my arrival in New York was met by
Mr. William Nelson Cromwell, who stated
! that he was delegated by the Secretary 10
arrange for a personal interview with me,
and asked if l would meet him at the Man
haitian Hotel at 10 a m. Sunday, June 20.
Cromwell Witness to Interview.
"While Mr. Cromwell treated me with
the suavity and courtesy for which he is
noted he endeavored to draw from me
NV reasons for desiring to see the Secre-
tary. | told him frankly that l did not
consider it would be proper for me to dis
cuss the matter in advance of my inter
view, and | also requested him TO arrange
for me with the Secretary that the inter-
view should be absolutely private, and that
no one but the Secretary and myself should
be present.
ION arriving at the Manhattan on Sun
day I was met by Mr.. Cromwell, who ush-
cred me into the Secretdrys private apart
ment accompanied by my son. Assuming
that arrangements had been made Tor
strictly private interview, my son Withdrew
expecting Mr.. Cromwell to do the same.
However the Secretary, in rather per-
emptory manner, directed Mr.. Cromwell TO
remain. .
This action of course. caused irritation
and apprehension on my part that the In
teryiew would be unpleasant and unSatlS-
FACTORY. and the Irritation under which the
Secretary was evidently laboring had a ten
dency to prevent that calm and dlgnlneo
consideration of the question in all its bear
ings which should have been given 1t.
"If the Secretary understood me to say
that had accepted position in New YORK,
he labored under misrepresentation dld
state to him that / desired to accept one,
but under such circumstances and condl-
tions and at such time as would cause the
least embarrassment to the administration
and the least injury to the work, and that
/ was even willing to go to the extent or re-
naming for an indefinite time on the COM
mission should he desire my counsel and ad-
vice in arranging for the change, assisting
in preparing plans for submission TO the
advisory board of engineers in September,
or in the further consideration OF the queS-
ton by the administration or Congress dur
ing its next session.
Never Sought the Position.
Much to nv surprise, he Indignantly
spurned my suggestion, and took the posi-
ton that l was compelled, under what he
called my contract, to remain in charge of
the isthm!an canal regardless of crcum-
stances or conditions until the completion
of the work. and spoke in such manner
as to outrage my feelings to such an ex-
tent that further discussion of the reasons
for my action was out of the question.
Il did not seek the position of chief en-
gineer of the isthmian canal comm sSion,
and considering my salary as general man.
aper of the Illinois Central Railroad Com
pany and my other sources of earnings.
my financial condition was not improved
by my acceptance of the position. and 1t
was with the greatest reluctance that l did
So
while 1t was my own expectation that
I should continue my connection with the
work, 1t did not occur TO me that L was
not free to withdraw IL justice to myself and
my family, and to my reputation as an en-
gineer. required to do So 1t was not
only my right, but my duty. to give the
matter the most careful consideration in all
it's bearings considering not only the gen
eral situation, as 1t affected the work but
my family, personal and business relations,
and all the various factors entering into
the problem; and l could not concede the
right to the Secretary of War or to any one
to dictate my decision. The only debatable
questions were the details to putting
my decision into effect and while l stated
to the Secretary what my desires were, l
told him that 1 was perfectly willing to
conform to his wishes as far as posshle az