Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1908-03-01

LOT continuance Of the work of
p the Panama canal. Col. George W.
Goethals has been i'll Washington all
winter advocating additional appro-
priations and widening Of the canal.
1t would seem from his represen-
tations and the various reports of
the Panama canal that the work has
progressed rapidly ever since Col
onel Goethals entered upon his du-
ties in Panama. -.
I hope I shall not be considered
egotistical if l call attention to the
fact that many months ago 1 adyo~
Gated that the engineers OF the army
be assigned to this duty, and be-
lieve it is now admitted that the as
signing Of engineers * the work was
one of the wisest things that could
have been done, because of the fact
that they do not stand on the order
of their going, when ordered. They
must go at once and accept condi~
tons as they find them and make
the best of everything in the dis
charge Of their duties.
Colonel Cocktails suggestion Of
an appropriation Of an additional
$S,OO0,O00 sounds eXtravagant, but,
beyond question, as they advance
with the work, TIE greater must be
the expense and the United States
will realize the enormity OF the un-
tertaking. However, there Will be
ways and means provided for the
completion Of the canal, and 1t IS TO
be hoped thai in the next quarter
of a century the wisdom OF this un-
" dertaking will be proven by the
great success Of the canal AID the
advantage which ii gives 10 COM
merce.
Through the policies of the sani-
tary officers a Ereat victory has been
won over diseases and tropical me-
mace to- helth. 1t is predicted by
Senator Blackburn, a member OF the
Panama Canal Commission, that
Panama will the Riviera Of the
Western Hemisphere, which would
surely be a great Improvement on
what it was as the Slough OF Dc
spond" few years ago
AS matter of fact, without
change of conditions in this respect,
it would have been necessary to
abandon the canal, as the cost OF
human life would have been so APP
palling that there would have been
a general uprising against the sac
rifice.
They have solved also the problem
of .ne kind of labor that is the most
profitable in that region, and | have
no doubt that Congress will make
the appropriation according to the
estimates that have been made. as
American pride will have large
share in providing for the accom-
plishment of this stupendous under
taking
Club women OF Washington have
again become interested In the sub
ject, race suicide and the keen
interest manifested in the discus
cussions would make it appear that
the matter was being discussed for
the first time.
Cardinal Gibbons has just uttered
some very able criticism on the sub
lect. and has expressed in letters of
gold the duty of a wife and mother.
He emphasizes the crime OF older
women instructing young mothers
how to avoid the responsibilities of
motherho God.
The Cardinals characterization OF
.'indiscretions and designations that
seem to fascinate some Of the Amer
lean women within recent years"
is not too severe, and no doubt many
innocet young women are in1uenc-
ed by their older associates to avoid
care so as to enjoy good time"
without realizing that while they
succeed in relieving themselves OF
care and responsibility, they are
committing a great moral wrong.
The fact that they have been mar
ried does not lesson their crime or
place them above those at whose
lives these same women
express great horror.
If women are to be held blameless
for the practice OF race, suicide, the
nation is destined to serious degen-
Grafton. His Eminence says truly: