The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-03-08
OLIVER ADMITS
BEING SUCKER
Says He Was "WhangdoodIcd"
by President in Canal Same.
IS PREPARING A ROAST
Illustrates Meaning Of Wh3ngioodIe
by Rsciting Story Of a Spiked
Poker Gam 0ut West.

by K2cltlng Story OF a spiked
Poker Gam OBI West.
William J. oliver, contractor, is
mad clear through as Their esult Of the
way in which he has been treated
by the administration in the matter
of the canal contract, says a Wash
ington dispatch. He states very en-
phatically that he has been "whang-
doodled.' and proposes to tell how it
was done. He is preparing a detailed
statement of the case that will, it is
believed, equal in many respects the
sensational feature Of the epistolary
deal between President Roosevelt and
tn Storers.
Mr.. Oliver announced that he spent
about $4,000 in Incorporating the
construction company which was to
assume the obligations OF digging the
canal, being induced to do this by
assurances, which he declared clearly
indicated that the contract would
finally he awarded him.
DO l look like a fellow who would
invest $4,000 in rainbows' he in
quired.
Not only MI Oliver himself, but
several of those who were in his con
fdence, have declared that he had pos
hive assurance from headquarters
that he would get the job, when he
Strengthened his hand. lie declared
alphabetically: Il dug up the men
and the dollars. My bid was the low
est, and according to the terms re-
quired. I have been handed a very
diminutiye line in exchange for $780,,
coo or $4,000 Of my good, hard
money"
Mr.. Oliver illustrated his condition
by reciting story of a spiked poker
game out west, in which "Whang-
doodle" was introduced and took a
Jackpot over four aces, held by a
tenderfoot The next night the rules
were changed, in order for four aces
to beat the tenderfoots "whangdoo-
dle."
In this case I'm the sucker" an
Dounced Mr.. Oliver. Il entered the
canal game, made the lowest respon-
sible bid, called The administration
hand, and got 'whangdoodled out OF
the job"
Because Oliver was too sure OF sue
cess and INDUCED in q species OF
Doasting, or because some newspaper
men assumed to send out premature
reports as to what oliver proposed TO
do, is given as The explanation Of
the presidents action in turning
down the Oliver bid.
The same explanation is made to ap'
ply to the acceptance Of Engineer
Stevens resignation. Stevens had
done well, it is admitted, but he
wanted to complete the work with
out any dictation or Intervention by
contractor, and wrote the presi-
dent that he would resign if Oliver
was given the contract. 1t is de-
clared he was very much surprised
when his resignation was really &C.
cepled, although &uo.her Story has IL
that he really did not aspire 10 be
known as the man who built the
canal" but resigned to take q posi-
ton with a western contractor, at
twice his present salary.
In accordance with the presidents
instructions as set out in his letter
TO the isthmian canal commission dis
posing Of the bids received for the
construction Of the Panama canal Mr..
Rogers. the law officer Of the commits
sion sent notice Thursday to Mr..
Oliver. Of the decision to reject all
bids. including his own. The certified
check which accompanied Mr.. OH
evr'g bid was also transmitted to him.
but was returned by him to the keep
ing Of the commission until later.