The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-02
LABOR AT PANAMA.
BY E. /. MONKS.

The final solution of the labor question
in the Panama canal will be the employ
ment of white labor; most likely American
labor.
All this talk about the white man not
being able to work in tropical climates is
disproven by what may be seen every day
in summer here in the south. With very
few exceptions the temperature at the
equator seldom rises above "a degrees and
that same degree of heat is not unusual
in the United States, even as far north
as New York. So far, therefore, as the
temperature is concerned, there is no
doubt about the ability of white men to
work at Panama.
But 1t is said the climate Is ma1arial
True; all tropical countries are malarial,
and yet there are thousands and thous-
ands of white men employed In those
countries either as soldiers or laborers. In
the tropical regions of North Queensland
in Australia the white man works through
the swamps and jungle laying croSsties
and rails With the pick and shovel he
cuts his way through and over moun-
tains. He goes into the forest with axe
and saw and clears the land on which
sugar cane and tobacco are afterwards
planted. He does not go there as an i'm
mune coming in the majority of cases,
as an immigrant from Great Britain or
Germany he steps, as 1t were, from the
mild and genial climate of England to the
torrid heat of the equator in one step.
If men can be found to endure the
tropical climate of Queensland. why can
they not be found to survive under far
better conditions In Panama? If the United
States wanted soldiers tomorrow to 60
down to the isthmus there would be
thousands of volunteers. There would be
no reports put in circulation about the
-
of malaria. The man who would en-
ploy these reasons as excuses to remain
at home would be branded as a coward,
and yet everyone knows that soldiers
life is the very hardest known.
The United States has undertaken the
greatest work of ages in building the ca
nal. The honor of the nation is at stake
in this matter and cannot be lightly lost
By their failure the French, not alone
lost millions of dollars but, in addition,
they earned the reputation of failure
Shall this country follow in the course
of France? Before such calamity as that
should happen it would be well to call
for volunteers who, for the sake of the
good name of their country, would under
take the task and perform It.
But there is one thing which threatens
everyone who associates himself. not
alone with Panama, but with all great
national enterprises, and that Is the crit
icism of those who stay at nome. Ihere
used to be time when men went forth
to action believing that the path of glory
lead to the grave, but that belief or fear
did not deter them. Nowadays 1t is not
death but disgrace that awaits the ven
turesome. Stoessel held Port Arthur while
the world looked on in admiration of his
courage and coolness He went home to
be courtmartialed and condemned to
death Kuropatiin held his army for
eleven days before Mukden-one of the
greatest and perhaps the longest battle
in history-the stay-at-homes criticise and
condemn him; SO 1t was with Rojestvensky
and so it was with Admirals Samson and
Schley after the Spanish-American war.
From behind roll-top desks in New
York and Washington are heard voices
criticising Stevens. the engineer of the
canal and Magoon. the governor of Pan
anna. They and their associates are called
grafters and their names held up to public
scorn. How can 1t be hoped or expected
that men will be found to accept difficult
and dangerous tasks If their ears are to
be kept eternally infiamed by the SLAM
ders of their political enemies?
President Roosevelt. in his letter to
Watson of Indiana, alludes to the dangers
that lie ahead of the canal construction,
but so far no man has openly proposed
that the work be abandoned. These dan
gers may or may not exist. but there is
no need to fear them. No collateral at
tacks will be tolerated which would cause
delay and direct opposition is out OF the
question.
The United States has a big job on
its hands; 1t will require the assistance
and sympathy of the whole people to
bring 1t to successful Issue.