The Washington herald., 1907-04-15
solons in the Canal Zone.

1t would be presumptuous, of course,
for rank outsider TO attempt to defend
statesmen so thoroughly capable Of taking
care of themselves as Representatives
Cannon, Tawney. Sherman, and the others
who recently enjoyed a voyage in the
tropics as the guests of their colleague,
Mr. Mckinley, Of Illinois And yet.
since Uncle Joe" has spoken We are
constrained also to say a word IN their
behalf in view of published stories which
represent them as being more or less in
censed because they did not receive at
tentous commensurate with their i'm
portance during the time they were IN
the Panama Canal Zone.
Surely such men as those composing the
Mckinley party, to say nothing Of the
others on board. did not expect the health
officers 10 make exceptions in their favor
when such action might have resulted IN
the introduction Of fever or other disease
into the Zone. Those who enact laws
naturally would not wish to break them.
on this point we are sure that We but
reflect the opinion OF Mr.. Cannon and
those who sailed with him.
As 10 the alleged veXation of the travel
other canal officials did not stop work
and give an their time to the visitors, We
submit that such quiet, unostentatious
persons as Representative Mckinley and
his guests could only have been pleased
by the absence Of demonstrations in their
honor. Here in Washington, and in their
respective homes. the high and puissant
positions they occupy in the National
Legislature cause them 10 be the objects
Of notice and adulatiOn which can be
nothing but distasteful to them They
visited the Isthmus as private citizens.
not in their official capacity. Mr. Stevens,
Mr. smith, Col. Gorgas. and others of
consequence in the Canal Zone were busy
making the dirt and the mosquitoes fly.
The people here at home are anxious to
have the waterway completed as soon as
possible. and We feel sure that the mem
bers of the Mckinley party. all of them
representatives OF these people, would
have frowned upon, rather than well
coined, any tendency on the part Of the
canal makers to put pleasure above bust
ness by dropping their various tasks ana
devoting themselves TO the entertainment
Of the distinguished gentlemen ia their
midst. And if. as is stated in the now
discredited stories. Mr.. Stevens actually
did leave Mr.. Cannon abruptly when the
train on which they were passengers
reached CuIebra, and did so about his
work there without even asking TO meet
Uncle Joe's companions, il seems TO us
that the former chief engineer made as
stern a sacrifice on the altar of duty as
any we have heard Of recently. Think
Of inspecting steam shovels and sweating
workmen when one might be slipping
cooling drinks and listening to funny
stories told by such inimitabIe raconteurs
as Mr. Tawney and Mr.. Sherman and
Uncle Joe himself.
If unusual heat and lack OF attention
for a day or two affected in that way
such strong men as those composing the
Mckinley party-and we do not believe
it's there not some excuse for slight
lapses on the part Of individuals who re-
main on the Istbmus month after month
and who have, we assume, even greater
trials and disappointments to contend
with?
For our own part. we did not need I'm.
Gle JOe's" assurance to convince US of the
baseless character Of the whole yarn. Or
It's face, it was stamped not So