The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-28
Kansas Congressman Returns
From Panama Trip.
Thinks Big Ditch May Be Com :
pIeted I'm Five Years.
QUESTION OF A JURY.
Does Constitution Follow Flag
to the Isthmus.
Case to Be Taken to the Supreme
Court.

Kansas City, Mo-, March 2S.-Rep-
resentative Charles F. Scott, of lola
Kan, one of the party of congress
men, recently returned from a trip to
the isthmus, said here last night:
1.-THE people on the isthmus believe
that the Panama canal can and VIE
be finished in about 1ve years. II
plausible. 1 don't say that the work
will be done within that length OF
time but at the rate the digging is be-
ing carried on now 1 believe 1T could
be. It certainly will not take much
longer time than five years.
Scott was DESTROYS of seeing the
work on the canal after congress ad-
1ourned, and by talking the matter up.
succeeded in getting party OF
statesmen" to make a trip to the Dig
ditch. The return was made last sat
urday. Scott got to Kansas City yes
terday.
THE canal zone" said he, ''is gov
erned by a set of laws of its own.
Judges of courts are appointed there'
and one of their powers, under It's pro
visions, is to sentence murderers TO
death. A native of the Barbados,
who was working on the canal, killed
a fellow laborer. There was absolute
" no question about the facts OF the
case; the killing, the unprecedented
nature of the act, and the sanity OF the
man. He went before Judge Gudger
and confessed. The court, according
to its power, without trial by jury
sentenced the man to death But ne
stayed the time of execution Tor elgn1
months, for he thought that undoubt-
edIy the procedure. namely, without a
jury trial, would sooner or later be
questioned"
His expecta lions were realized The
party of congressman heard of the in
cfdent as soon as they arrived In the
canal zone Without jury trial, is
a phrase which will make the ordinary
American citizen take on every YES
tige of clothes and fight, if it is nee
essarv. The ''statesmen'' quickly had
their feelings Jared. They inquired
Judge Gudger said that he simply fol-
lowed the power that was given hlrn'
but delayed the execution a long time
because he knew that questions would
be raised. So the congressman inves-
ttEated, and found that he had acted
entirely within the limits of his power.
But they did not like the looks of the
thing. TT is un-American," was their
comment.
one of their number Franklin E.
Brooks of Colorado Springs, who is
Just retiring from office, volunteered
his services in behalf of an appeal
The other congressman conceded with
the idea. and it was determined to ap-
peal 10 the United States supreme
court
1.-The verdict of the party" said Mr..
Scott, was simply, It's another ques-
lows the flag"
The trip was very advantageous to
the future of the canal. Mr.. Scott said
that at Washington during the winter
there has been more or less blue feel
ing about the matter, because of the
resignation of Mr. Shonts. followed
quickly by a similar step by Mr.. Stew
ems.
I'VE thought we would like to see
what was going on said Mr.. Scott.
$50 we made the trip and stayed five
deys on the works. We were very
esreeably surprised. Things moved
along in splendid fashion. Mr.. Stevens
was pre-eminently a railroad man, and
his style of work was wonderfully
adapted to the conditions to date. Now
is needed a man who knows about
locks and canals, and Major Goethals,
his successor, is fitted exactly for this
work From all present appearances
the canal will be ready in seven years.
We were much pleased and came back
feeling enthusiastic over the matter"
Mr.. Scott won't talk Burton" He
SHE'D at the question Of its effect on
Kansas politics. and upon his opinion
of the matter per Sc Il feel" he said.
Ssthat as a member of the delegation
of which Mr.. Burton was a member 1
should say nothing. as the others have
done" He did venture the opinion.
however. that Roosevelt was losing no
sleep over the natter He denied
effect of the speech on Longs sena-
torial candidacy for recollection
Scott will speak tonight in Kansas
City, Kan. under the auspices of the
Young Mems Republican club. 100
1.-THE Situation in Panama" will be
the subject of Congressman Charles F.
Scott's address before the Young Mems
Republican club at the Auditorium in
Kansas City. Kan. tonight.
0nyAHa Az - ann 49,