Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-01-21
.SHONTSLASHES
SLANDERERS
.UNNERC|FULLY
Stirring Defense Of Canal
Management
PAYS ElUQUtNI IKlbUtt
TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
Head Of Canal Commission Declares
He Not Only Welcomes But
Demands investigation.

Cincinnati, O., Jan. Theodore
Z. Shonts, chairman of the isthmian
canal commission, was the guest OF
honor and sole speaker at the Janu-
nly meeting of the Commercial club in
this city tonight. Mr.. Shonts had
been asked by the club sometime ago
to address it at such time as conven-
lent, the invitation being presented
through Secretary of War Taft ana
the invitation being accepted for this
month
Mr.. Shonts gave a very exhaustive
review Of the work done on the ca
nal, defending the administration of
the work most vigorously against the
attacks that have been made upon 1t,
paying an eloquent tribute to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and rendering his re-
spects in no uncertain terms to those
who have been libeling and slanderins
the methods used In the canal zone.
Mr. Shonts said in part
MIR. President and gentlemen of the
Commercial club:
II is a plesure of speak OF the Pana-
ma canal IN the home OF Secretary
Taft, and to an assemblage OF his
neighbors and friends. He Is a son
of Cincinnati and of Ohio IN whom the
whole country takes pride, for his
services on the bench. In the Philip
pines, and in the government at Wash
ngton have brought honor, not,
only to his native city and state. but
to the American name before the
world. / consider It a high privilege
to be associated with him under the
direction of President Roosevelt In
the conduct of the most stupendous
a Il Ia iaeY
ever put its hand He brings to this
task the broad intellectual grasp. the
calm clear Judgment, the .complete
patriotic devotion. and the intlexible.
estv that are the distinguishing traits
of his public career. The value to
the country of the services of such
"a man In its government cannot be-
nVerestmated. When the canal shall
nave been comDleted-as completed 1t
surely will be-no small share of the
credit for the great achievement viii
be due to his wise counsel inspiring
eo-operatlon and unhagRing faith In
the ability of the great American peo-
pie TO solve any problem with which
they are confronted.
! am here tonight to talk. as l have
said. not Of an experiment but of an
assured success. We are not merely
going to build the Panama canal-we
are building It.
gering literature was laid before the
country few days ago from the Dell
Of a man who had spent IWenty-eight
hours and ten minutes on the isthmus.
The ten minutes are important. for
a person of such extraordinary DOW
ers of observation and production can
collect an enormous amount of ma-
Colon on November 80, at 10 a. M.
and sailed away on the same steamer
from Colon at 2;10 u. m. on December
|. In those twenty-eight hours and
ten minutes he Accumulated a fund
Of exact knowledge sufficient to enable
him TO draw a general and sweeping
Indictment of the president Secretary
Tart the canal commission Governor
Magoon Chief Engineer Stevens. Col.
Gorgas, and everything that has been
done on the isthmus since the AM
erlcan government came into Dosses-
sion Of the canal zone.
Demands Investigation
Speaking for the members of the
commission. as well as for myself. |
wish to say with all possible emphasis
that we not only invite Investigation
OF our acts but ask for 1t as n right.
If we are doing our work honestly and
efficiently our hands should be un-
held: il It is shown that we are doing
and If we are doing II dishonesty we
should be exposed. convicted and sent
to prison, Neither knayes nor in
competents should be permitted 70
UHNt tllhiEt VI a. ltNh vi Huitt lildAIlf-
tudc. But while we court the fullest
investigation, we earnestly ask that it
be made by persons of character and
standing either In private or public
life. whose recognized intelligence and
fair mindedness are such as to COM
mand public confidence. and that II be
made unon the ground.
We ask further that the investign
tion be made promptly and ended us
soon as II can be and have its work
done thoroughly. This Is absolutely
necessary If we are to maintain any
degree OF efficiency in the organlza
unrest which constant agitation about
the commission and it's work creates
Is destructive Of that interest In the
work which IS essential II the best re-
suits are to be obtained. II Is inn
possible TO maintain good men ia the
service under such conditions,
Protest AGAINST Libel.
We protest IN the name of Amerl-
can fair play against the dssemina-
tiOn In the United States OF lihels and
SANDERS upon the efficiency and chnr-
meter of faithful workers on the In
thmus who bV reason OF their alb
not defend themselves from such as
saults. Many OF them went TO the
lsthmus before u was made health
ful place In which to work. and IN do
ing so faced death from disease rs the
soldier faces II from the bullet on the
field of battle. They saw many of
their comrades die from disense. bHs
they themselves either ESCAPED II en-
tirelv or recovered from It's attack.
more lnyal faithful. efficient body
Of men than those servants Of thn
United states on the lsthmuH Is not 10
be found anywhere on earth. Thor
devotion to the interest of their c0un-
try entities them to the gratitude of
their fellow eitizens and should Drp-
| teut thcm from the cowardlx attacks
Of that most degDicable Of all aHaal-
ants. the man who Rtabs In the back.
Believes In the Canal.
Gcntlcmen | believe In the canal:
believe that Il can be built IN n ren-
gonahle time and believe that when.
I through American generosity and uh-
! der American control, II shall be
thrown omen 10 the commerce OF the
world II Will be hailed and Will nrove
~ be. a priceless boon TO all mankind.
/ IL will inallfN The IuIlh ~ The "a NJ