The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-13
STEVENS FELL DOWN.
Canal Engineer Tried to Run Over
the President and His Bluff Was
Quickly Called.

States does so at his peril is the opin-
ion of all who have learned the in
side facts concerning the sudden sew
erance Of John F. Stevens connection
with the Panama canal, severance
of relations which proved quite as
surprising to Mr.. Stevens as it did to
senator's and others interested in the
canal.
r Mr.. Stevens, doubtless rejecting
on the cordial approval Of his work
on the istkmns expressed to. him per-
sally by the President and in the
Presidents special message to con-
congress, and on the further fact that
the President had so recently desiS-
mated him Chairman of the canal
commission, to succeed Mr.. Shonts,
made the unfortunate error of over
estimating his importance to the
great enterprise and assumed to die
tate terms to the President present
ing his own resignation as the alter
native, with the result that the Pres
ident promptly accepted the resigna-
ton so proffered.
The history OF the things which led
to Mr.. Stevens separation from the
canal work, as revealed to certain
Senator'S and others, is as follows: On
January "a Secretary Taft announced
that, Theodore P. Shonts having re-
signed, John F. Stevens would be ap-
pointed chairman and would con-
struct the canal. On January %, the
bid of w. ). Oliver having been found
unsatisfactory, it was announced at
the White House that Mr.. Oliver
would have ten days in which to per-
feet his bid. en- January 20, the Pres
ident received a cable dispatch from
Mr.. stevens saying that Mr.. Oliver
was not congenial to hbn and that
were the contract awarded to Mr..
Oliver he (Stevens) would resign.
The President took no action. on
this message and the next mail leav-
ing Colon brought a letter from Mr..
Stevens to the President, the like Of
which was probably never addressed
to a President Of the United States.
In terms remarkable for their
didacticism and dictatorialness, Mr..
Stevens Informed the President Of
his displeasure at hearing reports
that Mr.. Oliver had said in an inter-
view that he would be pointed to as
the man who built the Panama Ca
nal.
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 ever been taken out before;
declared his unwillingness to have
any one receive the contract for con-
structing the canal, his determination
to share the glory with no man; de-
clared with considerable emphasis
that he did not propose to be dictat-
ed to or cross examined by any COM
mittee Of congress or hampered by
the petty legislation Of men far less
familiar with the subject than him
self, and finally warned the President
that unless his wishes we're complied
with the government would forfeit
his services as chairman and chief
engineer, his warning being couched
in terms, according to those who
have read his letter, which clearly
demonstrated his conviction that the
President would regard his resigna-
ton as quite the greatest calamity
which could befau 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 execu-
reading it, and tried to dismiss the
matter from his mind until the next
morning. Then he consulted with
some Of his advisers, and finally after
reading Stevens letter over twice
more, he cabled in substance as fol-
lows:
stevens, Panama Canal Zone:
Your letter received, and resignation
accepted
Mr.. Stevens has not since been
heard from.
To some persons who suggested to
the President that Mr.. Stevens letter
was explicable only on the ground
that he had been affected by the
magnitude Of mis- work and that his
nerves had suffered from residence in
a tropical country, the President said