The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-31
A PANAMA PRIMER
MMRnMmmMMMMEmMM MEMIAM MMIMMMMIM IMM MnmMMmnlNMMM

 Samuel c. Blythe in New York world.
 What Is the Panama Canal7 A hole extending a short way across the isthmus of Panama en- tirely filled with money. Where did we get 1t? William Nelson Cromwell kindly persuaded the French Panama Com pany to sell 1t to us.
 What did the French Panama Com pany get? Forty million dollars. Was the company satisfied7
 It was astonished. What did William Nelson Cromwell getP The Senate of the United States has been trying to get him to tell for three years without success.
 What did we get7
 The Greatest Engineering Feat of the Age
 Is it?
 It would be if we could keep any engineers at work at 1t
 What Is the principal dam7
 Gatum dam.
 Will 1t ever be constructed?
 It will be as soon as the engineers find a way to make stone float on mud.
 What is the chagres river?
 A depraved stream that goes on a toot every few weeks.
 What are they going to do with 1t?
 They haven't found out.
 What sort of canal is this to bef
 A lock canal
 Why?
 Because the President changed his mind.
 What Is the difference between a lock canal and a sea-ievel canal?
 One is impossible and sthe other Is improbable.
 Why dld the President change his mind?
 So the dirt could begin to fly
 Is 1t flying?
 It's wings haven't grown yet.
 Is 1t likely that the canal will in- volve us in any disputes with foreign countries7
 No, unless we go to war with France for selling 1t to us.
 How long is the canal? About a century.
 This is a primer. not a dream book.
 Who is John Finley Wallace?
 He is a william, a coward. d weak ling, a cur a despicable wretch and a molIy-coddle
 Why?
 Because he resigned from the canal to take better job.
 Who is Theodore P. Shonts?
 He Is an able and unselfish patriot. man who has done we'll for his country. of high and enlightened Ideals and lofty character.
 Why?
 Because he resigned the canal to take better job.
 Who offered Wallace a job?
 Thomas F. Ryan. Who offered Shonts a job? Thomas F. Ryan.
 What was WalIace's incentive? Mere lucre. What was Shonts' incentive?
 The betterment of mankind.
 What constitutes an investigation of the canal? A trlp~to Panama.
 What have the recent investigations been?
 One by PouItney Bigelow and one by President Roosevelt.
 What was the Bigelow investi- gation? A malicious and premditated attack, a distortion of facts, a scandalous story. hurried and incomplete vis- tation
 What was the Presidents investi- gation?
 A thorough review of the work done and under way, searching inquiry Into COHulllOHSs q pGiSoHaAs Ho OSldS- tory and complete inspection of every thing In the canal zone
 How long did Poultney Bigelow stay on the isthmus?
 Two days.
 How long did President Roosevelt stay on the isthmus? Three days.
 What is the attitude of Congress towards the canal?
 Congress thinks the glory should all be the Presidents.
 Is this unselishness on the part of Congress?
 Yes. and tender regard for the Presi- dent.
 How tender? Congress Is firmly of the opinion that inasmuch. az the responsibility rests with the President he shall not be hampered in any way, but shall be given free rein
 Will Congress giyA the President all the money he wA s2 } lA Yes.
 Congress will sit pd say T told you so," whd explosion comes. Does Congress thinN4 Resident will dig the canal7
 Congress politely hopes he will. What is canal contract? Something a canal contractor does not get.
 What is a bidG