Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-24
PANAMA INVESTIGATION.


more about the alleged bad manage
ment OF the Panama Canal construc-
ton, than he was prepared 10 prove.
For his testimony before the Senate
committee does not establish the
charges made. Mr. Blgelow took oc-
casion TO speak quite glibly about him
self and his public work, but when II
came to the chief question, he had lit
lie 10 say. And that is no wonder,
when II Is remembered that his stay
on the Isthmus did not cover two days
How much could he learn, by personal
observation, In n few short hours? NO
doubt. he could hear number of SEN
sational stories. such as are told by
chronic grumblers everywhere, but no
responsible Journalist bases his judg-
nent on such gossip, particularly when,
as In this instance. most important In
terets are involved.
Mr.. Bigelow. In an article In the In
dependent, charged gross mismanage-
ment there, because of the physical
when pinned down to particulars. he
seemed to have only one. He claimed
that many eminent engineers had de-
cined to accept government employ
ment there. because Of the physical
condition In the Canal zone. Pressed
by the committee for names, he de-
clined to give them on the ground That
10 40. n. to ale LOT
and subject these persons to embar-
easements He intimated that the dis
pleasure of the administration would
be exhibited In such manner that their
regulations would be worth nothing
after the official replies had been con-
Guided" Finally, he mentioned one
engineer, but as soon as this gentle
man was approached for statement,
he contradicted Mr. Bigelow. He had,
he said, had conversation with him
concerning the engineering work of the
canal. He had made the remark that
those who had the proposition In hand
had the entire sympathy of all en-
gineers. He meant by that. that It was
a hard job, and there was a deal of
uphill work before the engineers who
were engaged upon 1t. But he made no
reference to objections based upon the
physical conditions OF the men or their
sanitary surroundings SO this disposes
OF the support Mr.. Bigelow hoped TO
get from him for his arraignment OF
| the administration.
Mr.. William Il. Curtis In n letter to
! the Chicago Record-ilerald, suggests
| that II Is probably merely coincl-
| dence that the attack OF Mr.. Blgelow
was published In the New York Inde-
| pendent and that when Mr.. Bowen
| was removed from the mission to
Venezuela he threatened President
| Roosevelt with the vengeance Of that
paper, 1t Is also, according to this au-
| thorty. coincidence that Arthur
| Sherburne Hardy, who was removed
from the Spanish mission in what
| he considers an unjust and arbitrary
manner. IL also brother-n-law OF
| Clarence W. Bowen, the editor Of the
independent. Anent this Incident Mr..
Curtis relates:
Mr.. Hardy was very competent
and acceptable minister and the pres-
| dent and Secretary OF State thought
| so highly Of him that he was rendered
| by cable tho position Of first assistant
| secretary TO succeed Mr.. LOOMS. When
| he received this offer Mr. Hardy In
| qulred IL he could be restored to he
| diplomatic service nnd given an em-
| bassy OF higher mission after serving
! ~ assistant secretary Of state. The
| President considered this impairment
and cabled Mr.. Hardy that he was not
| I'm the habit of making bargains of
| that kind. Whereupon william NJ,
| Collier of New York was appointed 10
/ succeed Mr. Hardy as minister to Spain.
and both his family and the Bowen
family. which are influential In New
England have had bad hearts to-
| ward the Administrations"
The entire story is illustrative Of the
sources to which. In many Instances,
attacks upon men and institutions can
be traced. Gossip is taken up by per-
sons who fancy they have grievance
TO avenge, The tales OF scandal-mon-
gers are set forth as facts, and false
rufnors are circulated I'm the hone that
they VIII be established as truths. II
repeated often enough Impartial IN.
Nestigatlon is sure 10 expose such little
schemes and place the orlglnators
thereof In their true light. or rather
shade.
FOR THE SOUTH POLE.