The Washington herald., 1907-04-14

Speaker Cannons party brought back
from the Canal Zone, they are nearly all
nursing a secret wound from thorn
thrust received while they were inspect
ing the work done on the great waterway.
Strong in their praise of what has been
accomplished. they returned with their
personal feelings rufied. They were
treated 1t appears, like ordinary noncon-
sequenuaI citizens. They received no
more consideration than if they had been
a party of commercial travellers. or 0rdi-
nary ''rubbernecks," instead of a digni-
fed delegation of the c0untry's law
makers. AS one of them put it. they were
treated about as a member of the House
is treated when he goes over to the Senate
side of the Capitol. No one extended
them a formal welcome or paid any par
ticular attention to them.
Commonly spoken of as Speaker Cam
mons party. as matter of fact it was
the party Of Representative Mckinley, OF
Illinois. The Speaker and all those who
made the trip were the personal guests OF
AIr. Mckinley. He is a very mild-man-
nered and good-natured man, but there is
reason 10 believe that even he was not
enthusiastic over the reception which the
canal officials on the isthmus accorded to
his friends.
Declare They Were Ignored.
Chief Engineer stevens. Dr. Gorgas, the
sanitary officer. and Jackson Smith, the
superintendent OF labor and quarters. and
now member of the commission. are the
subjects of criticism The Congressman
were not expecting to be met with a brass
band and soldier escort and TO be len
dered receptions and banquets-Mr Me
Kinley had provided everything for conf
fort and a good time-but they did an
ticipate some attention from those hold
ing positions they had helped to create.
Their troubles began when they were
held in quarantine. This cut short the
time allotted for inspection of the canal
work. When finally they got ashore they
found no one bat the gaping PaRamans
and idlers standing about looking with
wonderment at the visitors. No high Off
ciaIs greeted them nor offered facilities
for seeing and learning all that there was
TO see and learn, When they did see they
found for themselves.
The Congressman occupied q car by
themselves on the way across the 18TH
mus from Colon TO Panama, and went
without a chaperon. On the way over
Mr.. Cannon wandered through the train
and accidentally found Engineer Ste
vens, who was also "A passenger, al
though the others in the party did not
know it. The canal digger talked with
Uncle Joe informally for few minutes
and then the conductor yelled "AlI out
for Culebra Cut" Mr. Stevens is said to
have jumped up unceremoniously and
said: We'll. good day; here's where I
leave you" without asking TO meet the
other members of the party or express
ing any concern for them.
When they arrived at Panama they
foJnd the same absence OF any arrange
ments for their entertainment. and ac-
cordingly they all took lunch at the
railroad station and paid the fun price
for their food.
In Bad HumOr at Havana.
They We're in bad numor over the Pan
anna Incidents when they reached Cuba,
but under the soothing influence OF Gov.
Magoon, who is a professional pacifier,
they cooled down somewhat
After leaving Havana, there was a gen
eraI agreement that they should say
nothing about the treatment accorded
them on the isthmus. and that they
should simply report upon the great work
which is being done. which all agree is
being properly done. Il has been case
however, where a friend told friend
and that same friend told another friend
and told him not to tell. and thus the
rum0r spread about. until now il is cur.
rent gossip.
Last night a member of the party said
the report of the snubbing had beer
greatly exaggerated. He admitted that
there was much irritation over the quar-
antine episode. However. he felt disposed
10 acquit Engineer Stevens of any inten-
tional discOurtesy.
Speaker Cannon was in consultation fol
an hour with the President at the Whit,
House, and when he emerged from the
executive office was surrounded by
crowd of newspaper men, who asked hin
if he had anything to say about the woTl
of the next Congress or any of the Othel
burning questions.
When Cannon Was "a Boy.
When 1 was boy" he said, we use,
10 go coon hunting at night with oul
dogs. Each fellow had his dog and eacl
one was ready to swear by his dog. II
the main, they were pretty good dogs
too. but once in a while they weren't 81
good. Instead of following the trail o.
the coon straight 10 the tree where tn,
old fellow was lodged, these no-good dog:
would branch OF on hunt for a rabbit
"a poleeat, or some other critter we didnr
want. We used to call these dog.
'sooners. Now. the country is quiet JUS
now. Congress doesn't meet until mex
December. Then it viii meet, organize
and get down to business. An can say
TO you boys is tht I'm no sooner
The Speaker said that he was not awar,
of the fact that the President had select
ed man tor his successor in the Whit,
House. He has not told me that he has
any choice for the nomination" said tn,
Speaker. But, no matter who the mex
President is, 4 think that IN be able {.
get along with him all right ] got alonl
with President Mckinley. and with Pres
ident Harrison. and a number of othe
Presidents. and I have no doubt in tn,
world that I'll be able to keep friends
with the man that follows Presiden
Roosevelt into the White House"
BROWN SUCCEEDS FULLER.