Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-26
President Authorizes State
ment That He Favors Plan.
HURRIES CANAL BUILDING
Goethels Will Not Promise to Have
It Done by 1918.
TAFT MAY HONOR WRIGHTS
Will Present Aero Medals If Event
Occurs Near Capital-Negro Post
master Fights for Job.

President Taft has again expressed rs
desire to see the Panama canal completed
by 1912 He told Col. George w. Cioethals.
chief engineer OF the Panama canal. today
that if the feat could be accomplished he
wanted TO see Il done
The engineer would not express an
opinion as to the possibility OF this
achievement He did say he would put
every force TO work to hustle things.
Col. Cocktails is on record as declaring
the canal Will be completed in 1919. lie
is understood to consider it impossible To
save two years Oh the job.
lie is Il soldier, however. and tries to
carry out the orders of his commander
ln-chief. These orders are 10 rush every
thing and get the canal ready for ships
by the close of the year 1913. lie will try
Col. Goethais sails from New York for
Panama tomorrow. leaving Washington
today. Tonight he is to confer with mem
bers of the New York Chamber of Com
merce as to certain work on the canal.
He called on the President today to say
goodbye and to express mis- delight to go
back again to the canal zone.
There will be no handicap as 10
money. Congress will make provision
at the extra session for additional is
sues of bonds, that money may he
cons family available. The question is
simply one of the physical possibilities
of men and machines, and more of both
are needed.
President Favors Ship Subsidy.
President Taft has given authority %
have his name used as fayoring a ship
subsidy. He talked today with Repre-
sentative Fassett of New York, who Will
deliver d speech on ship subsidy tomo:-
row night before the National Mer-
chants Marine League at Cleveland. Ohio.
President Tai. will discuss ship sub
sidy in his message to the next regular
session of Congress He has not pre-
pared any special plan for settling this
question. After eight months consi1-
Grafton he will have definite ideas 10
present.
Medals for Wright Brothers.
Representative Cox OF the third district
of Ohio called on the President today
to talk about the delivery Of the medals
of the Aero Club Of America TO the
Wright brothers, whose home is in Day
ton. President Taft will personally de-
liver these medals If the event occurs
close enough to Washington. If he does
not do this he will write letter to be
read on the occasion.
Representative Parsons. a member OF
the Aero Club. wants the event to take
place in New York. Dayton citizens de-
clare tne nome IoWn OF Ine great ali
navigatorS is the only proper place.
Representative Cox is insisting upon
Dayton. The President would not be
drawn into the controversy as to the
place.
Mr.. Cox is serving his first term I'm
Congress. Twelve years ago he was in
Washington as the private secretary of
Representative Sorg of the third district
He is now the owner of newspapers and
influential in Ohio politics.
p REPRESENTATION low nf ST vOniS
introduced to the President today by Sec
rotary Maggie. Mr.. Joy is now the city
recorder of deeds of st. Louis, and is also
practicing law.
He said today that in the municipal
election. TO be held in ST. Louis next
month Fred III. kreisman, the republican
nominee for mayor, will be elected by
$500 majority.
The cabinet meeting today lasted two
hours.
Postmaster Wilson to Fight.
Rev. Joshua Fl. Wilson. negro post
master at Florence. S. c.. abcut which
so much has recently been said, has come
to Washington to make fight to retain
that office. He will put the question of
non-recognition of the negro at southern
points right up to the administration.
He comes here backed by a number
of negro ministers. The influence OF this
body will be used In his favor.
Postmaster Wilson will declare that he
has been postmaster at Florence for four
years. having been appointed there by
President Roosevelt against the protests
of the people; that he has served 10. the
satisfaction OF the Post Office Depart
ment and without serious complaint from
the patrons of the office; that the only
ground upon which he will fail of reap
pointment is his color; that he thinks
character and attainments should count
and nothing else.
Wilson has not yet called at the White
House. but will seek an audience there.
He will also confer with Postmaster Cen
eral Hitchcock.
A committee of negro men representing
the Washington Division. Grand Foun-
tain. United Order of True Reformers,
called at the White House yesterday. L.
A. HILL secretary of the delegation. read
an address to the President. lauding him
for the interest he Is taking In the in
dustrial development OF the negro.
Mr.. Taft was also presented with the
first copy off the press of The Industrial
History OF the Negro Race Of the United
States" In the party were Giles Il. Jack
son, William Isaac Johnson. r. L. Hill,
T. A. Hill and w. r. Griffin.
Representative Fitzgerald. the Brook
lyn democrat who is badly at outs with
the majority of his party in the House
because he broke away from the caucus
as to action on the House rules, Is to be
a guest of President Taft at dinner this
evening. The White House today add
united that Mr.. Fitzgerald is to be among
the guests. The list OF guests VIII be