The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-02-14
UNCERTAINTY
SEEMS TO PREVAIL
As TO CONSTRUCTION OF TIE
CANAL.
STEVENS WILL SUIT HIS JOB
If Work is Turned Over to Contractor
Paving Way 10 Reject the Oliver
Bid. Much Speculation as to the
Outcome.

politicians in Washington are won-
dering what the mystery is back OF
the halting, uncertain and changeable
policy fthe government in connection
with the Panama Canal bids That the
administration is in a great quandary
as to what to do is plain to everyone,
and there are all kiads of stories an
rumors to account for the indecision
of bhe authorities. There have been
no end of surprises in the various de-
velopments IN the case up to date
and there will likely be many more
before 1t is finally determined what
shall be done.
Only faint conception of what is
going on behind the scenes has reach
ed the public. Bib politics is being
played. Some of the strongest politi-
cal and financial interests in the
country are fighting each other over
the award, while the charges brought
by the two sides, together with sus-
picions that have been aroused by
the character and associates of GER
tain men who want to have a hand in
controlling the contract, has so dis
turbed the President and his advisers
that no one feels competent to predict
what the outcome will be. Many be-
heve that the President will decide to
throw out the Oliver Mcdonald Pierce
80 A
thur Gillespie proposal, and give or
ders to Engineer Stevens to go ahead
with the enterprise, the President
himself assuming the chief response
'biiities of directing the work.
In the first place the report that
Engineer Stevens had sent an ultima
tum 10 the President to the effect that
he would quit if the canal work is
turned over to a contractor was en-
phatieally denied by Secretary Taft.
Mr.. Stevens has all along been an ad-
.vocate of the policy of digging the
canal by contract, and it is asserted
that he has not changed his views. 1t
is believed that the resignation yarn
was put out by those who want the
Oliver Mcdonald bid rejected
It is only one of a great many stories
that have been circulated for the pur-
pose of creating trouble and bringing
into discredit the principals in the
pending fight.
Mr.. Shonts and Mr.. Stevens are nc
longer friends Their relations have
been more than strained for some
months. There has been disposition
for some time for the administration
to depend more and more upon thg
Judgment and counsel Of Mr.. Stevens
and 1T is asserted that jealousy is al
the bottom Of the rupture IN the
friendly relations of Mr.. Shonts and
his chief assistant It is believed
that canal matters will proceed more
smoothly after Mr. Shonts sewers his
connection with the government.
The administration is paving ths
way for the rejection Of the Oliver
bid for constructing the Panama Ca
nal. It became known that the ad.
ministration officials are disposed to
find flaws In the company organized
by Oliver, and the declaration is
made that the records as to Oliver
financial ability and facilities fol
performing the work are not entirely
satisfactory. Dissatisfaction is ex
pressed concerning some of che mer
with whom Oliver has associated him
self Nothing whatever is said about
John B. Mcdonald Of New York, but
it is declared that he is growing old
and will be unable to give his per-
sonal attention to the contract.
The new Oliver combination will
he attacked by Paul D. Cravath, rep
reSeating the Arthur Gillespie combi-
nation. It is believed that all bids
will be thrown out and that the gov
eminent will continue work on the Ca
nal as at present under the direction
odf Chief Engineer Stevens.