The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-14
LAST LETTER IF
 SENATOR MORGAN
Personal View of the Panama
 Canal Project
PRESENT PLAN DOUBTFUL
The Late Senator Tells Congressman Burleson What He Thinks of Grand stand Play of President In
 Digging the Big Ditch.

! Washington, July 13.-CSpecial )-What WIS pro bably the last expression of con viction by Senator Morgan on the status
 and outlook for tie Panama canal pro- iect was contained in q letter by him | to Representative A. S. Burleson of 1 Texas. The letter referred to an inter view with the Texas congressman in the l Washington Herald. which tomorrow will publish the Morgan letter. Mr. Burleson has said if Senator Morgans voice had been needed we would by now have q
 canal across Nicaragua, with easy tran sit for fleet of warships to the Pacific
 at any time. The letter follows:
 Washington, March 31. 1907.
 Hon. Albert S BHrleson.
 Dear Slr:-I venture 10 intrude upon
 an acquaintance that, l regret to say is scarcely personal, to thank you for your
 statement printed in the Washington Her
 aid of this morning. l was much grat- flied when l learned that you would
 visit Panama in company with other congressman, to inspect the canal sltua- tlon. ]! feel assured that no purpose could force you to take a surface view of the
 actual situation and to confirm your
 judgment to the demand that the super fcial notions of the President as to the
 canal should prevail against common
 sense. I think I may justly add common honesty.
 That Congress should permit three years to pass with an expenditure of $la0
 OOO,00O, without any real assurance that rla boh fa-
 the canal by our engineers. is matter of serious national concern. The Bohio
 location was abandoned, after the Spoon-
 CT lag adopted it. because Wallace as-
 certained that the borings made by the Walker commission were at least mis-
 leading and that locatioh was impossible. Wallace was driven from his office for expressing this terrible mistake. The Ga tun dam was adopted by Stevens on less definite knowledge of the underlying con
 ditions, and forced upon Congress, by
 the direct demand Of the President in an official message. Additional borings
 made since the Gatun site was adopted
 by Congress have evidently alarmed Ste
 vens and Shonts and they retire in fright from the batue.
 Time will prove. If you have not all ready proven, that l am right in this solution of this hegra of the great bosses.
 Digging pits anl further borings are still going on at Catun. and Tafts gone to Panama to inspect them. This is how
 near the government is to a safe foun- datiol for these enormous outlays, al- ready expended. The plan is, In fact more in doubt than 1t was three years ago.
 q will not discuss plan or plans 1 that rlay be practical. I did that in
 reports and speeches I made in the Senate that produced nD effect and | may never do so. Your intimation that the Gatun dam will be abandoned Is already q foregone conclusion, with many.
 RooseYelts plan Is to make the dirt fly through the presidential campaign of 1908 ! and to fill the eyes of the people with | 1t until they cannot discern the real si.- uaton.
 Yol have given the country an eye ] op ner in the facts you have so clearly /, and cautiously stated. The people will ! follow your suggestions. and in 1908 will | take the canal into their own hands by i selecting a President who will have some | one to serve besides himself and se- | lected combination.
 i with great respect. sincerely yours JOHN T. MORGAN"