The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-01
ROOSEVELTS TRIP TO
PANAMA EXPLAINED
It Was Made to Gather Material in Support Of Pre.i
dents Plan for Digging the Canal by Contract 5@

men taken there, but this difficulty is
not to be fought with any elaborate
hospital system on the isthmus. On the
contrary, hospital ships are to be pro-
vided, and they are to be ample, com
modious and comfortable, and as fast
as any number, say two or three hun
dtred, become i'll, they are to be hustled
ern states, where they will be cared
for until complete recovery. It is be-
lieved that under this arrangement the
canal can be built without the vast loss
of life sure to follow any other plan
SO Tar suggested. i 5
Hopes for Good Conditions.
It is not likely. that the president
Will state the situation as BADLY as it
IS given here. Indeed, he probably
hopes that no very bad conditions will
be necessary on the isthmus in order to
keep the colored labor there and at
work. But the contractor and his
friends ..,re positive they know just
what. will have to be done to make the
canal a possibility within any reason
able time, and their ideas include such
provisions for the contentment and en-
tertainment Of the negroes as have been
found highly effective in other great
w 1Ao OA GIAS COut1ICuG. U1ftu d IISG
hand, they would be willing to gsaran-
tee the completion of the canal, under
bonds to any required amount, and the
completion Of the canal is what the
president wants.
The contracts on the canal are to be
made after the unit system. That is
the contractors are to be required to bid
on the removal Of earth and rock by
the unit or square yard. The locks and
works Of that nature, will, of course
have to be handled Sc parately, but the
first and greatest requirement is the
immense body Of unskilled labor fol-
the removal of the earth and rock
from the path of the canal. Literally
the digging Of the ditch. By the con
tract system it is believed this portion
of the undertaking can be carried out
with American labor and without any
certain to follow the employment Of
large bodies of foreigners, such as the
Chinese or West Indians. -
Avoids Chinese Question. !:
i Thus, in many ways this method vii
serve to make the republican party
more comfortable. The Chinese cues
ton promised to be a particularly
nasty thing to handle, in case coolies
dug the canal, because of the attitude
Of organized labor in this country, ant
if negroes from any of the West In
dian islands were taken to Panama il
such numbers as will required, expert
9ence has already demonstrated tina
that there will be unending pickering
with the government to which such NE
groes owe allegiance. Every individ
ual of them who feels he has griey
ance, even among the Jamaicans nov
on the isthmus, calls upon his hom
government for protection and thu
opens the way to keep conditions o.
the isthmus constantly under the lime
light. With nothing but American la
Dor employed on the canal there viii
not be occasion for some foreign pow
er periodically to make inquiry abou
matters which it would not be pleas
ant to air to the world in any officia
international correspondence. It will
be our own shooting match, and no
body's' business but our own as to tn,
way the canal is. dug, or. the sick caret
| wages paid, or the damages granted t.
those who get hurt. :. '-....,.