New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-04
"cLUBBTYG CANAL WORKMEN."

Governor Magoon's official report disposes OF
lot of deplora BILE misrepresentation and, we
fear some more or less malicious mlsrepre-
sentation, which has been extant concerning
recent incident at Colon. where number or
workmen from Martinique refused to vacate
their quarters aboard the steamship and were
properly compelled to do so-just as passengers
are compelled to get out of one of our railroad
trains at the end of the road. We were told
that on reaching Colon they said they had been
misinformed as to the work, that conditions on
the isthmus were intolerable and deadly and
that they would rather die than go ashore
whereupon they were "clubbed ashore to make
the dirt fly.
Now upon the face of 1t. it absurd to
say they had been misinformed. but were en-
lightened concerning actual conditions on the
isthmus during their voyage from Martinique
If they had been misinformed. how did they
gain enlightenment? BY wireless telegraphy
from shore? Or from the cook. the captain
bold or the mate of the Nancy brig? Or were
they disappointed when they reached Colon be-
cause the gangway by which they were to land
was not carpeted with royal purple and canopiei
with silk? Really, it is difficult to regard with
patience such manifest twaddle Of course, the
pretence that conditions ashore at Panama were
"intolerabe and deadly" equally trashy
stuff Conditions at Panama are better than
at Martinique. Yellow fever has practically
disappeared, and malaria is more prevalent
than elsewhere in the tropics. while the hospital
and commissary arrangements now being per
fected are among the best In the world.
The secret of the whole trouble as Governor
Magoon makes plain. lay in the mems super
stitious prejudice against vaccination. The
salutary rule has been adopted that all canal
workmen must be vaccinated so as to guard
against a recurrence of smallpox on the 18TH
mus. But these men from Martinique under
the inspirat of ''voudoo'' wizards. regarded
vaccination somewhat as some fanatics in this
country do and being told they were re-
quired to submit TO the operation before going
to work they revolted Just so we have known
people in this city to refuse TO let their children
be vaccnated before going to school. and to act
about it as though the strong pillars of the Re
public were visibIy crumbling into ruin before
their very ewes.
OF course if these men didn't want to be vac
Cinated, and did want to cancel their contracts,
they had that privilege. But they had no bust
ness to remain the ship. They should have
gone ashore and settled matters with the French
consul. On the ship they were simply tres
passers. To say that they were 'clubbed ashore
TO make the dirt fly" Is simply preposterous
perversion of fact They were not driven 10
work. They were merely compelled to leave the
ship. on which they had no further right to re-
main. Just so we suppose that if passengers on
a ship reaching NewYork. on learning they
must have their baggage inspected. were TO
raise the cry, We betrayed!' and were TO
refuse to leave the vessel they would be very
promptly put ashore with whatever force was
necessary to effect that operation: and it would
be asinine to say they were dubbed ashore TO
patronize New-1ork hotels" But. as matter
Of fact. no force was used in getting these men
OF the ship. AS soon as they saw the police
coming they bolted for the woods. and the ONLY
force used upon them was to restrain them from
iawbreaking after they had gone ashore. Thus
is this latest mares nest disposed of. NextI