The Dickinson press., 1908-10-24
average Of health prevailing.

r.. sTHA.n IN E E.4NFA-Hl -
Mammoth Construction Project.
President Roosevelt appointed q spe
cial commission to examine the 18th.
milan situation last spring, and It re-
ported Aug. 8, 1908. According to this
special report there were at work ut
the 1sthmus April 30, 1908, 2e,11s men
for tho Isthmian Canal Commission and
7.o75 At work Tor the Panama railroad.
. total Of s8.1es men al told. Housing
this Industrial army in quick time.
with due attention to sanitation and
hygiene, wal = problem which would
have been beyond most men. But Mr..
Taft did 1t successfully.
To keep the machinery and tools In
condition, three large machine and re-
pair shops. two shipyards and numsr-
ous warehouses are maintained. When
We recall that this enormous plant IL
operated at . distance Of 1882 miles
from it, nearest base Of supply, New
Orleans, and 1875 miles from its main
base Of supply, New York, We can e.
innate with more Justice and accuracy
the magnitude and complications Of the
undertaking Mr.. Taft has conducted 10
we'll.
Workingmen Appreciate Taft.
He has succeeded in impressing labor
On the Isthmus with his kindly inter.
est In it's behalf. On this point the spe-
cial commissions report says: From
tho outset we were strongly impressed
by the spirit Of good will and loyalty
Of the employees . The general
sentiment Of the workers was expressed
In the words Of a mechanic, in one of
the conferences which we held with
representatives Of different trades. Said
he: I'VE want it understood that we
are American citizens and that we are
proud to have a share in this great
work. We believe the government Is
treating US right, and we are as much
interested to see this thing a success
as anyone This spirit Of loyalty and
interest ip the work was evidenced on
many occasions and should be account.
ed as IN asset Of the highest value to
the government in the accomplishment
of its colossal task"
Taft Raises Wages.
On May 1, 1907, as Secretary Of War.
Mr.. Taft issued a longevity order max.
ing liberal and appreciate increase In
the wages of various classes Of work
men, as follows:
"All employees not native to the trop-
les who occupy the positions herein
designated shall be granted the follow
ing increases in pay for length Of con-
tinuous service on the 1sthmus: Five
per cent Of the basic or class rate for
the second year, with accumulatve adj
dition Of three per cent Of the basic
rate for each subsequent year; pro-
vided, however, that such cumulative
increase shall not exceed a total Of Csc
of the basic rate"
In other words, Mr.. Taft made 1t
| possible for every American laborer on
the 1sthmus, by remaining there and
working, to increase his wages % per
cent and at the same time have a per-
manent position. These men also get
four weeks vacation with pay, every
year and Mr.. Taft favors making the
vacation six weeks with pay.
Change Would Be DISASTROUS.
In the performance of this work the
United States is under the scrutiny Of
the entire world, especially Of our
%neighbors in Central and South Amer
lea, before whom we must make good
our profession Of high social and in
dustrial ideals. 1t would be a national
calamity to jeopardize the present lib
eral progressive policy that is SO sue
cessfully constructing the Panama Ca
nal. Mr.. Taft is the one man to con
tinue this great work to the end.