Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-17

w y-|'-''S'S - SFSN'N
work OF the canal commission. From
time to time changes of this kind will
undoubtedly have to be made, for 1t
must be remembered that in this
giant work OF construction, it is con-
tinually necessary to put up buildings,
end even to erect towns, which in ten
years will once more give place to
jungle or will then be at the bottom
of the great lakes at the ends of the
canal.
Critics and Doubling Thomases.
1t Is. not only natural, but inevitable,
that work as gigantic as this which
has been undertaken on the isthmus
should arouse every species of hostil-
ity and criticism. The conditions are
SO new and 80 trying, and the work so
vast, that it would be absolutely out
of the question that mistakes should
not be made. Checks will occur. I'm
foreseen difficulties will arise. From
time to time seemingly well-settled
plans will have to be changed. At
present $4,000 men are engaged on
the task. After while the number
will be doubled. In such a multitude
1t is inevitable that there should be
here and there 2 scoundrel. Very
many of the poorer class OF laborers
lack the mental development to pro-
tect themselves, against either the
rascality of others or their own folly,
and 1t is not possible for human wis
dom to devise plan by which they
can invariably be protected. In
place which has been for ages by
word for unhealthfulness, and with so
large congregation Of strangers sud
denly put down and set to hard work
there Will nov and then be outbreaks
OF disease. There will now and then
be shortcomings In administrations;
there will be unlocked for accidents
to delay the excavation of the cut or
the building Of the dams and locks.
Each such incident will be entirely
natural, and, even though serious, no
one of them will mean more than
little extra delay or trouble. Yet each.
when discovered by sensation mon
gers and retailed to timid folk Of little
faith, will serve as an excuse for the
belief that the whole work is being
badly managed. Experiments Will
continually be tried in housing, in
hygiene, in street repairing. in dreds-
ing and in digging earth and rock.
Now and then an experiment will be q
failure: and among those who hear of
1t, a certain proportion OF doubling
Thomases will at once believe that the
whole work is q failure. Doubtless
here and there some minor rascality
will be uncovered; but As to this,
have to say that after the most pains
taking inquiry l have been unable to
find q single reputable person who
had SO much as heard Of any serious
accusations affecting the honesty OF
the commission or of any responsible
officer under 1t. append q letter
dealing with the most serious charge,
that of the ownership Of lots in Colon;
the charge was not advanced by re-
putable man, and is utterly baseless.
It is not too much to say that the
whole atmosphere Of the commission
breathes honesty as 1t breathes eff
cheney and energy. Above all, the
work has been kept absolutely clear
Of politics. have never heard even
suggestion OF spoils politics in con-
nection with 1t.
have investigated every complaint
brought to me for which there seemed
to be any shadow Of foundation. In
two or three cases, all of which ]
have indicated in the course of this
message, I came to the conclusion
that there was foundation for the COM
plant, and that the methods Of the
commission in the respect complained
Of could be bettered. In the other In
stances the complaints proved abso-
lutely baseless. save in two or three
instances where they referred to mis-
takes which the commission had al
ready itself found out and corrected.
sIanderers and Libelers.
So much for honest CRITICISM.
There remains an immense amount OF
as reckless SANDER as has ever been
published. Where the slanderers are
of foreign origin have no concern
with them. Where they are Ameri-
cans, I feel for them the heartiest
contempt and indignation; because. in
q spirit Of wanton dishonesty and mall
ice, they are trying to interfere with
and hamper the execution of, the
greatest work Of the kind ever at
tempted, and are seeking to bring to
naught the efforts Of their countrymen
to put to the credit of America one OF
the giant feats Of the ages. The out
rageous accusations Of these SANDER
ers constitute gross libel upon q
body Of public servants who. Tor
trained intelligence, expert ability.
high character and devotion to duty,
have never been excelled anywhere.
There is not q man among those d.
recting the work on the isthmus who
has obtained his position on any 9TH
or basis than merit alone, and not one