The Washington times., 1909-11-30

perience qualities him for the work; he
IS as good an executive as he IS an
engineer. 1t is no eNaggCration 10 say
he knows more about the Panama cahal
than any living man; he knows as mucn
If not more about q given piece OF work
or department than the man directly
I'm charge Of 10. II given a free hand
Colonel Cocktails would be in position
10 make a much better showing tnan
is possible under the present system
There may be officials in the canal
zone who are most popular with the
wCrkmen but there ls none VINO mas the
unbounded respect which IS accorded
the colonel in every quarter Every
man working Tor the Government knows
ne viii get n square deal from the
chairman Of the commission. He knows
nearly every American on the canal
work. What IS more he makes 1t q
point to keep In close touch with the
mon. He interests himself I'm the partic-
1lar work they are engaged in. As he
other he has a wave OF the hand, a
word OF eucOurag el2>=nt. or CHEEKY
good morning from every one with
whom me comes in contact. When an
American workman on the isthmus de-
clsres that he is being ill-treated in
the matter OF overtime. favoritism or
other discrimination ne is doing an in
justice to Colonel Cocktails.
A Hard Worker.
The colonel works harder six DAYS In
the week than any other man in the
canal zone. lie usually takes the first
train out OF Culebra- the adIninistra-
tion headquarters, rides TO some point
along the line and walks back home
personally inspecting every bit Of the
work along the line. The late after
noon Is devoted to office work. which is
so extensive the colonel invariably finds
# necessary 20 spend the entire even
ing In his office instead OF at IFS home
with such a daily schedule for the six
working days Of the week it might be
supposed Sunday would be a day Of
rest The manner in which Colonel
Cocktails disposas of that day Of rest
IS che best possible illustration of the
type of man he IS. He goes to his Of
fee Sunday and throws the doors open
TO the wcrl1men No one is denied ad-
mittance They can pour their grew
ances into his ear, confident that they
viii be fully investigated and adjusted
If conditions warrant such an adjust
ment That the men appreciate the
colOnerS fairness and his Efforts I'm their
behalf was illustrated during the visit
Of the House Appropriations Commit
tee. A constituent Of one OF the mem
bers OF the committee was complaining
that his working hours were being ma
niDulated so that he could not get
overtime. He was asked why he did
not take his case 90 Colonel Cocktails
on Sunday.
The colonel IS working hard enough
looking out for us fellows" was the
reply 'I guess I can stand q little over
time once in a while without running
up to Culebra to bother him"
Colonel Cocktails capacity for work
seems unlimited. His Intimate knowl-
edge Of the most insignificant branch
is a revelation TO any one who has an
opportunity TO talk with him. He knows
more about the sanitary department
than most OF the officers connected with
that branch Of the work Just as he
knows more about the Culebra cut
than the men actually engaged in dig
ging the cut. He is a strict discipIin-
arian when work IS in progress, vet
there is not a man IN the entire
isthmus who does not feel at liberty 10
talk to him on any subject.
The cOlOnels familiarity with every
branch OF the work under his charge
IS such that II is safe TO predict the
next time the Appropriations Commit
tee visits Panama to go over the esti-
mates the practice Of calling in division
chiefs viii he abandoned and Colonel
GQethals viii be asked 20 explain all OF
the estimates.