Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-11
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Conference as to Type OF
Panama Canal.
SENATOR knox's VIEWS
Proposition for Looks il Gaining
Ground in the Senate.
CURIOUS CASE or DEsERTI0N
Mountain Boy Entered Navy Under
Belief It Was Religious Institu-
tion and Deserted.
CURIOUS CASE OF DEsERr1oH

Senator Knox. who is the backbone in
the Senate of the administration fight for
a lock canal, had talk with the President
this morning. When asked about his visit.
he jokingly said he had called to ask the
President where he would get good beef
steak, but when asked directly about the
canal. said: THE proposition for lock ca.
ma, is gaining ground in the Senate. The
main fact as to the great difference In cost
in the two types of canal is having the
most weight In changing sentiment. This,
together with the long time that would be
taken in building sea-level canal, VIII
mean much when vote is taken. do not
believe Congress will be much delayed In
adjournment by consideration of this ques-
tion. The Senate Is already well informed
as to the matter and is acquiring informa-
ton rapidly every day.
Senator Overman of North Carolina pre-
sented the President with an invitation
from the people of Salisbury N. c., 10 visit
that city on the occasion of big Fourth
of July celebration. The President said he
would not be able to attend.
A Curious Case of Desertion.
Senator Tillman didn't visit President
Roosevelt today, but he did send represen-
tative to the President in the person of Sen
ator Gallinger. who is Senator Tillman's
close personal friend Along with Senator
Gallinger was Representative johnson of
South Carolina. The visit related to a Gu
rious case of desertion from the navy, and
the President was asked to exercise Glenn
ency.
Living in Pickens county, S. c., was j.
Matthews Former. a mountain boy with
ambitions to become Baptist minister. He
had few opportunities to acquire an educa-
ton, as his people were too poor to send
n lint n sob mo daV he ran a
cruiting officer for the navy and, while
talking. told OF his desire for information
and his wish to become a minister OF God.
The recruiting officer saw great joke In
the whole thing. He told Fortner that the
navy furnished a magnificent opportunity
for him to the world. become learned
man and make money enough to go to school
at the conclusion of his term. The recruit
ing officer told the ignorant mountain boy
that the navy was especially adapted to re-
ligiously inclined young men.
Former enlisted. This was in 1902. he
was sent aboard the Lancaster. He soon
found that his religious purposes were not
likely to be improved among the sailors
of the navy. The choice vocabularles or
the navy were shocking to the boy, who
watched the first opportunity to desert,
and did SO. He kept out of the clutches Of
the police after desertion and made some
money. Then he went to Greenville. 8. c.,
and entered Furman University as a stu
dent. This is the Baptist college of the
STATE. tOrtner ndQ DSen IN SCHOOL nearly
a year when the local police learned his
history and arrested him. He is now in
prison. The President listened to the story
with interest. He said. however, that Fort
ner would have to stand trial, when the
facts would be brought out; that he would
take the case up after the trial and yer-
dict and see what, Ii anything, could be
done In the way of leniency.
Presidential Nominations.
The President today sent to the Senate
the following nominations:
Receiver of public moneys at Marquette.
Mich.--John Jones.
Observation-Disclosures r. Elliott, northern dis
trct of California: Leo V. Young worth,
southern district of California.
Postmasters:
New York;. II. Van Kirk, ithaca.
Pennsylvania-A. g. Hudson, Safe Har-
Dor: ]. Grein. Homestead: G. r. Morrison
Oakmont: ]. E. Harms, Springdale; E. g.
Edgerton, Yankton.
Florida-D. T. Gerow. Jacksonville
Illinois-T. w. Price, Astoria; w. II.
Shaw, Canton; c. NJ. C. Weedman, Farmer
City; S. P. Wood Pennington; ]. T. Van
Gundy. Monticello.
indiana. R. spIvey. Burton; H A.
Strohm, Kentland.
Iowa-w. NJ Sindlinger, Waterloo.
Kansas-F. E. Young Stockton j. w.
Skinner. Winfield.
Ohio-E. P Webster, Gambler; O. w.
Parrish Hamilton.
Indian Territory-U. s. Markham, Caddo.
North Carolina-B. G. Green, Warrenton.
Oregon. II. Brown, Pendleton.
Virginia-Edward Mccormick, Berryvile.
Observation-Disclosures Ewart. Colfax.
Wisconsin = Benjamin Webster, Platte
vile.