New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-28
HOW STEVENS RESIGNED
HAD NOT EXPECTED TO.
Attempt to Dictate to President
about Contracts Failed.
TFrom The Tr.bune Blreau.l


6e-lakes % bluff the President OF the United
States does 50 at his peril is the opinion of al
who have learned the inside facts concerning
the sudden severance Of John +. Stevenss con-
nection with the Panama canal severance
II relations which proved quite as surprising
to Mr. Stevens as it did 10 Senator's and others
interested in the canal NJ Stevens. doubtless
rejecting on the cordial approval Of his work
the isthnus expressed to him personally by
the President and IL the Presidents special
message TO Congress and on the further fact
that the President had SO recently designated
him chairman of the Canal Commission. to sue
ceed Mr.. Shonts. made the unfortunate error OF
overesiimating his Importance 10 the great en-
terprise and assumed TO dictate terms 20 the
President. presenting his own resignation as
the alternative. with the result that the Presi-
dent promptly accepted the resignation prof
fered
The history Of the things which ted 10 Nr,
Stevens-s separation from the canal work. re
vealed to certain Senators and others. is as fol-
lows: on January ~ Secretary Taft announced
that. Theodore J. Shonts having resigned, John
p Stevens would be appointed chairman and
would construct the canal. on January 2S. the
bid Of ". J. Oliver having been found unsatis-
factory, IT was announced at the White House
that Mr.. Oliver would have ten days in which 10
perfect his bid. on January % the President
received a cable dispatch from Mr.. Stevens say
ing that Mr. Oliver was not congenial to him and
that we're the contract awarded 10 Mr.. Oliver he
Cstevens) would resign.
A REMARKABLE LETTER.
The President took no action on this message
and the next mail leaving Colon brought letter
from Mr. Stevens to the President the like Of
which was probably never addressed to a Presi-
dent Of the United States.
In terms remarkable for their didacticism and
dictatorialness, AIr Stevens informed the Presi-
dent of his displeasure ct hearing reports that
Mr.. Oliver had said in interview that he
would be pointed to as the man. who had built
the Panama Canal. The chief engineer asserted
that he had perfected the organization on the
isthmus and had excavated more material in
the previous thirty days than had been
taken out before; declared his unwillingness to
have any one receive the contract for construct
ing the canal. his determination to share the
glory with no man; declared with considerable
emphasis that he did not purpose to be die
,ated 70 or cross-e1amined by any committee of
Congress or hampered by the petty legislation
Of mn far less familiar with the subject than
hfrnse.f. ard finally warned the President that
unless his wishes were complied with the gov
ernulent would forfeit his services as chairman
4 I'D chief engineer. his warning being couched
in terms. according to those WHO have read his
letter. which clearly demonstrated his convlc-
1ion that the President would regard his reslg-
nation as quite the greatest calamity which
could befaH the canal.
To say that the President was amazed at the
tone and character of the communication is to
describe his feelings mildly. However, the Ex-
ecutive laid the letter away, after rereadng It,
and tried 10 dismiss the matter from his mind
until the next morning. Then he consulted with
some Of his advisers, and finally. after reading
stevens's letter twice more. he cabled in sub
stance as follows:
stevens. Panama Canal Zone: Your letter re-
ceived and resignation accepted.
Mr. stevens has not since been heard from.
COMMITS WORK TO ARMY.
To some persons who suggested 10 the PresI-
dent that Mr. stevens's letter was explicabe
only on the ground that he had been affected by
the magnitude Of HIS work and that his nerves
had suffered from residence in q tropical coun-
try. the President said that he now purposed to
commit the work the isthmus 70 the officers
Of the engineer corps Of the army.
Then" the President is reported to have said.
.ff the man in charge suffers from enlarged
Uranium or his nerves go to the bad, can order
him north for his health and FL his place with
out confusion or explanations"
1t appears that after Chief Engineer Wallace
demanded tnat ne De peItl4lLteu 10 ulIeCL Inc
canal aneirs from Washington, and Secretary
Taft demanded Mr.. Walaces resignation, Judge
Magoon. now Governor Of Cuba. was requested
by the President to prepare confidential opin-
ion for the benefit of the Executive the stu
alton and prospects Of the canal Judge Ma
eoon then made an earnest recommendation that
the work be confided TO the army engineer corps.
and submitted his reasons therefor in
tended argument This opinion OF Judge Ma
COON the President called for after sending his
message TO Mr.. Stevens. and. apparently, IT con-
frined him in his determination to adopt the
course suggested.
TO AVOID INTERRUPTIONS.
The President then sent for Major Goethals.
of the engineer CORPS and told him he would be
assigned 10 the work, and that Majors Galard
and Sibert would be assigned to assist him. The
President is reported TO have told Major Goe-
thaIs that he desired shat his assistants should
also be his understudies, that were he inca
pacitated by i'll health or for other reason either
Of them would be competent to carry the
work without interruption. the man thus pro-
NOTED to be succeeded in turn by engineer
who would be his understudy. In this way. it is
explained the President purposes 10 avoid any
interr1ption OF the work through death or other
casualties incapacitating the man at the top
The President is also said 10 have advised
Major Goethals to make nc suggestions or rec
concentrations regarding the placing of contracts
AT this time and TO indicate TO no one what his
present views on that subject might be.
GO down to the iath;nus" the President ls re-
ported TO have SAID, relieve Stevens, who VIII