The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-05
CURTIS SOLVES 1T
Would Have President Dig
Panama Canal.
His Ambii ion to Complete the
Great Mater Nay.
Is ON A SEA LEVEL.
Earthquake Makes Lock Canal
Impractical.
Gives Public Insight Into
ROoseVeIt's Desires.
5 ON A SEA LEVEL.

Washin gton. Feb. 5.-Senator Cur
tbs is convinced that President Roose-
veIr has an ambition to build the Pan
anna canal after his term of office has
expired. The junior senator from
Kansas confded to q Washington pa
per the observations and conclusions
which follow
while the president is not to be
considered IN the connection with an
other nomination owing to his repeat
ed declaration that ne would not again
be a candidate, it must not be taken
for granted that he VIII retire from ae-
tive political life In my opinion the
president has an ambition somewhat
larger than desire for another term
believe he would ike to step from
the White House to the head of the
Panama canal In my opinion he IS
the one man in the country to carry to
a successful completion the building Of
that great waterway. He Is more IA
miIiar with the world wide enterprise
than any other man in the United
States. His recent message on the
Panama canal demonstrates that fact
I feel that that great feat of engineer
ing the most stupendOus underta king
Of the century. is nearest his heart
And L believe that he would welcome
nothing with greater enthusiasm than
head of that great work Just think or
il for a moment
What does a term in the White
House compare to the glory and re-
nown of the achievement of linking
the Atlantic and the Pacific ocean ? It
will be a monument to the man who
superiutends the construction of the
canal that will last to the end of time.
Tt will make his name famous
throughout the world And who is
better fitted than President Roosevelt
for this all important task2 He has
the energy the indomitabIe will for
overcoming every obstacle. the iuteg
rity the enthusiasm and the perse-
verauce. OF all our presidents there
are only two names that are house
hold words-WashinGto and Lincoln
Washingtea is the representative of
the first epoch in es1g btStors- and Lin
be the completion of the Panama
canal The first step of the beginning
was under Roosevelt. and believe the
completion of the canal will be under
the direction of his guiding hand
7 know he is charged with being i'm
pulsfve and at times reckless. but a
close scrutiny into his acts reveals an
Inherent honesty and lofty character
that carries with it a conviction that his
sole purpose has been for the welfare
of the country It is these traits of
character that make him pre-eminently
the man to build the canal I am sure
that IL the president would intinla te
that he would accept the responsibility
of carrying on the work of building the
canal the country, as in one voice.
would call On him at the close Of the
administration to take UP the work
And would it not be a great Office to
bestow on the retiring PRESIDENT
Already I have heard the suggestion
that the president Is the only man to
build the canal, and I will say that the
suggestion meets with my hearty ap-
prevail And you may add that. in my
opinion, the recent earthquake at King
stou makes it necessary to build a sea-
level instead of a lock canal