The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-08
"TAFT MADE MESS
OF IT WALLACE
Engineer Writes to a Minneapolis
81. Friend About His Res
ignation.
WHAT rs BEHIND IT
" ALL CANNOT BE SAID"
L. H. Churchill Convinced that
Developments Will Relieve
Wallace of Blame.
"Taft stopped over and got mad
and made mess Of it for himself.
I can stand it, guess, better than
he. John F. Wallace in a letter
to l., M. Churchill of Minneapolis.

| can SGduu u, guess, U01oo1 ot.e.A !
to L. M. Churchill Of Minneapolis.
M. Churchill, 1900 Nicollet avenue,
today received letter from John M.
Wallace, former chief engineer IN charge
canal, in which Mr.. Wallace expresses
himself plainly on his recent interview
with Secretary Of War Taft.
Mr.. Wallace and Mr.. Churchill have
been close friends for twenty years, and
frequently visit one another. When the
story Of the formers resignation from
Churchill wrote to Mr.. Wallace asking
what it all meant and expressing his
regret that the comment Of the secre-
tary had been so unfavorable. He was
particularly interested because he hap
pened to be very familiar with the cir
cumstances under which the position
had been rendered to his friend, and
HMr Wallace is more Jealous OF his
integrity than Of anything in the
world.'
MIR. Wallace's Letter.
The letter which came from Mr.. Wal
lace was dated at the Honeward Coun-
try club, Fossmoor, Ill. It was brief,
and left to be inferred more than was
said. It was as follows:
My Dear Churchill b
Your kind note at hand. hope you
saw my full statement In Saturdays pa
pers What is behind and under 1t all
cannot be said at this time. offered
to give as much notice as was necessary
but Taft stopped over and got mad and
made q mess of it for himself. l can
stand it, guess, better than he.
That Mr.. Wallace resigned for the
sole purpose Of accepting q position 9
Offering more salary, as intimated by
Seeretary Taft, is beyond the compre-
4hension Of Mr. hurchsll. I;
AS Wallace says in thsr letter, !.
said Mr.. Churchill, Uthere is something
been made public. It is not difficult
for one who knows Wallace to under
stand that that something would ex
onerate him if it were published.
have known him for twenty years, ane
he would not, could not, do anything
that was not strictly honorable anc
Just to his government.
Couldn't Tell Taft AL.
ssThe circumstances Of the interview
with Secretary Taft indicate to me tina
Wallace had something to say to tn
secretary that he was not permitted tt
sav. I am convinced that he went to NEE
the secretary to have a private discus
sion of all affairs in the isthmus. Un
doubtely he had things to tell Tai
that would have placed his desire t.
resign the position in an entirely dlt
ferent light.
"When he went to the hotel to NEE
the secretary, Mr.. Wallace was accom-
panied by his son Harry, who visite
ct our home in Minneapolis about
month ago. William Nelson Cromwe
entered with Secretary Taft. After
little general conversation MI. Wallae
told his son that he wanted to have pr
vate talk with the secretary and aske
him to step out. He undoubtedl
thought that Cromwell would take tt
hint. T guess he did, for he started
60, and Taft said, No, Cromwell, yo
remain . ~ A..
VThe interview was cut short (
Taft's stopping over, and getting ma a
fore Wallace had opportunity to NAL
the report that he had intended. Aft
what Taft said to him there was not
Ing for him to- do but resign imm
diately. -. s".- :
1T know positively that Walla
didn' It seek the. Panama job. Membe
Of my family were visiting at We
lace s on the evening when the info
nation came that President Rooseve
had selected him for the place: It W
q great surprise to Mr.. Wallace, al
he showed it. He didn t know what
do about it, but he was finally pr
vailed upon to accept.
cit appears, however,, that othe
connected with the illinois Cent?
road had got wind of it, Preside
Stuyvesant Fish had heard about
and had gone direct to the preside
and asked him not to take Walla
that Wallace was the e'i best a soia
man for the place. Then he made t
appointment. So all stories about W
lace throwing up a place which he E
upon his own seeking are false.'
Mr.. Churchill was in formed that
,gtspatches received today from Washi1
ton indicated that other members
the cabinet were displeased with I
manner in which Secretary Taft h
treated Mr.. Wallace. He said that
had expected such news, for ne was
tain that Mr. Wallace s. honor wo,
not have permitted him to give up
position unless he Lad reason VIII
he knew would be held by the COVE
nlent to be just and reasonable.
His Reason Like Yeomans'.
81 can't understand why Wall
didn It speak out, tho, and give his
reason at first. It is my belief t
when his reason is stated, it will c
tain statement not very much uni
the statement Of conditions in Pana
made by Yeomans the other day. 4
who could expect man like Wall
to remain in charge Of great w
under such conditions9'
TAFT's COURSE DIsAPPRovE
President May Transfer Canal Ma
to Mr.. Root.
New York Sun Special Service.
4 Washington, July 8.-The presidel
i-..a.. ran ~ 70, Of