The National tribune., 1906-06-28


utilized in entertaining South American
representatives at the different ports
visited.
1t will be almost strictly a family
party, the only members Of it, in addi-
ton to Secretary Root, Mrs. Root and
Miss Root. being a secretary. a valet
and maid. 1t is expected that they
will start from New York July z. stop
ping first at San Juan, p. r.. and then
proceeding direct to Rio de Janeiro
Visits will be made subsequently to
Montevideo, Buenos Ayres, Valparaiso,
Callao. Guayaquil and Panama. AT the
last-named port the party will disem-
bark from the Charleston and. proceed
ing by rail across the Isthmus to Colon.
steamer.
There is an old and trite saying that
''he who by the pillow would thrive must
either hold the pillow or drive" And
there is yet another that. III you would
have a thing well done do 1t yourself"
President Roosevelt evidently believes
these axioms to be true for he is going
to try them on himself. after q fashion.
He is just plumb tired OF the Panama
discussion, the "'tis," "'tisn't' stories
that have been brought back. He has
sent special commissions and regular
commissions, commissions extraordinary
and just plain civil engineers down to
that canal, and no two people have
come back with stories that match. The
President has without doubt made every
effort in his power to get the straight
OF things at Panama. and evidently he
feels that he has failed Of getting the
whole truth, SO now he will Investigate.
for himself. He will go to the Isthmus.
Of Panama himself.
The idea is truly Rooseveltian. Never
before In the history of this country
has President Of the United States
left the shadow of Old Glory's jurisdfc-f
ton. President Roosevelt has decided.
that he will break the precedent. There
is no law against it; 1t is simply an un-l
written law, but so strictly adhered to
that the President Of the United States
will not even set a social foot inside an
Embassy door I'm Washington. By COM
mon consent, also. the Embassy OF a.
Government, over which floats the flag
OF that Government, Is foreign soil, and
by common consent 1t has been held
that the President must not go where
the authority OF his Flag cannot follow
him. President Mckinley would only
go to the middle Of the bridge across
the Rio Grande at Ell Paso. Tex, to-
meet President Diaz, in his memorable
swing around the circle. The center Of
the bridge marks the line Of division
the President Of the United States would
have been under the protection of the
President Of Mexico had he crossed that
line by SO much as one foot.
. President Roosevelt has decided that
he will go to Panama in November. He
will go In one Of the biggest Of our
warships, well protected with guns.
men to man them and the best Of sea-
fighters. He will take with him Secre-
tary Taft and Mr.. Shonts, Chairman of
the Canal Commission, and perhaps
some other friends. and 1t is thought
that the trip will consume about a
month. The President will visit every
mile of the canal route, and make a
thorough inspection. and it is intimated
that il dirt is not flying when he gets
there that he will demand very brusque-
ly the reason why.
The Presidents decision to personally
visit the Isthmus and inspect the prog
ress of affairs has been reached after
careful study, and there is little likeH-
hood that he will be dissuaded from
the task he has set for himself. Con-
gress, he feels, has placed upon him
the responsibility OF constructing the
great waterway. and he does not pro-
pose that this responsibility shall exist
with his eyes blind to the actual state
Of affairs.
One thing IS sure, the President has
made his plans so fully known that
there will be every opportunity for the |
Panama people to get things in ship
shape before the President arrives. 1t
is known that the President has siren
uously objected to the delay In doing
things" down there. and that he does
not believe that there is any good rea-
son for 1t. 1t Is emphaticaily stated that
the President has the fullest confidencel
in Chairman Shonts, and that his trip
south must not be taken as disparage-I
ment Of his action Cor inaction), butt
Just the same. everybody who thinks at
all is bound to believe that the Presi-
dent Is feeling more than irritated be-
cause OF the inactiOn in the Panama.
work, and that 1t Is determination tol
get at the truth which has caused hist
decision to slap in the face and tol
smash most ruthlessly all traditionsI
his right to step OF Unitedi
States soil. Of course this happened
when he came up from New Orleansd
last Summer when he was out Of CALI
by wire or any other way on the deepi
blue sea. It ID true he was on q battle-l
ship and under the Flag. but he was att
the same time on the oceans great
and might have been the sub
Iect OF any piratical ship afioat. IL theret
were such things now. The Presidential
to knew for himself the
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