Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-06

Taf;'s Forthcoming visit to the Canal
Zone that is finally to determine the
future OF the projected isthmian wat
erwAy. These hcts are important.
dn that they are hold by the advSsrs
q tho President elect - answering
Ss~sral IftMa which hEws boea 70
osfysd By ffSsn6s Itof N. Int here.
ku1horp Of q unnaAGr OF theoo lettGS
hsyO >untsnds0 thAt WpGts VINO
served ON the original board Of con-
sulting engineers which, three years
ago, presented the reports upon which
present plans were determined should
not have been designated to accom-
pany the President-elect on the I'M
portant mission that is impending.
They have held that all possibility
Of prejudiced ideas entering into the
problem should have been removed
The other writers have asked why
the commission in question should
net have been designated by Mr..
Taft. whose administration will he
most seriously concerned. rather than
by President Roosevelt.
TAFT Practically Chose Them.
To the latter query Mr.. Taft's ad-
visers point out that circumstances
required that the body should be ap-
pointed by the President or the Sec
rotary of War, as its status will be
that Of a Governmental commission
They further insist that Mr.. Taft
practically designated the six en-
gineers selected, in that his advice
controlled the formal appoinuve
power exercised by Mr. Roosevelt.
Two Of the six engineers served
as members Of the original consulting
board Both took a position with the
minority division. which declared Tor
the lock canal plan that was finally
adopted, and which Is now being pur-
sued. Explanation is advanced that
the previous experience has quallnea
these men to judge whether condl-
tons, which actual construction WORK
has created. have been contrary 10
their expectations. as formulated at
the time when they acted as members
of the advisory body. 1t is contend
ed that they can throw much light on
the reasons for the collapse of the re-
tanning wall CT the Gatun dam under
its own weight. as reported. II sal
isfactory explanations are not forth
coming, that very fact. it is n ID. Will
serve as an important guide 10 the
ultimate decision TO be registered py
Mr.. Taft as to whether the lock plan
should give way for the sea level
plan. Tha same result is anticipated
in connection with the problems en-
countered at the projected La boca
DAM
Mr.. Taft discussed the canal prob
lem today when he was visited by A.
]. Hemphill, editor Of the Charleston
News and Observer, and J. c. Lucn
and p. n. Gadsden. also OF Charles
ton. and arranged finally for his visit
10 that South Carolina city. where
members OF his party will go aboard
the two cruisers that are to bear
them to the Isthmns. He will leave
AUGUSTA early on the morning Of jan
uary %, arrive, in Charleston soon a.
ter noon, attend dinner to be given IN
his honor that evening and leave the
harbor for the trip southwark early
the following Monday.
Alfred Noble. one OF the members
Of the original consulting beard ana
an engineer whom Mr.. Taft was anx-
ious to have accompany him this
time has written the President-eiect
saving. in part:
II wish to say the reports in the
newspapers that 7 now favor a sea
level canal are absolutely without
foundation
This is in denial Of reports which
found currency in several Southern
newspapers recently.
Denies Interfering In Ohio.
The PTesident-eiect tonight author
ICED denial Of tha reports that his IN.
|terferercc in the ohio Senatorial!
fight was responsible for the with
drawaI from the race Of his brother.
Charles p. Taft II is understood that
Mr. Tai; entered that fight Of his own
vclition and withdrew solely because
Of his individual belief that such a
step woud be for the best interes's
Of the party in that State The Pres
ident-elcct was advised Of this IN
tcn,ion in an extended letter which
reached him. IL is known. just about
the time that Charles p. Taft an
nounced his retirement from the cen
test. Charles p. Taft acted on his
own inir5a.ive throughout. Though
no might have bssten Mr.. Burton
through throwing his strength to
dark horse as the Taft folIowins
insisted was possible. he believed that
such a course would split the party 50
badly that many persons might b. In
jured politically.
Henry W. TAFT t~other of tho Prs
kident-elect. departed for New for'
CITY this afternoon. The Judge den
ied tbs; he had made his brother tn
bearr cf q Cabinet invitation q
George w. wickershsm, a member o
the law firm with which Henry W
Tan IS connected ard whose nams'
has been mentioned In connection
With the Attorney Gsnersishtp. or q
any other person. .---.-
II 49, xx>l~~ T.Qs - Ehnp{nm I'M