Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-18

With the lanai canal now safely past
the halfway stage OF completion. II appears
that the most serious labor problems nave
been solved. and that aside from ooca-
sional acquisitions on the West indies for
negro workmen there viii be no need for
worry about the supply OF laborers to
finish the work. Last faii there was trouble
with the European laborers that threatened
to grow into a serious affair. but II was
handled so adroltly by Chief Engineer
Goethals and his associates thai It re-
suited In a positive advantage.
When the digging Of the canal we begun
II was shown that a Spanish laborer could
do as much as two or three negroes from
the West Indies. 1t was upon this basis
that the wage scale Of the canal was fixed.
In view Of the working qualities Of the
Spaniards they were recruited by the Canal
commission, their transportation expenses
advanced and a certain amount OF work
guaranteed them. For several years every
thing went well, but gradually the European
laborer( realizing that there was a con-
tract with the Spanish government back Of
him, grew Indifferent. Gradually his effe-
cheney declined, until in many cases he was
no better workman than the West Indian,
although he was drawing double the pay.
When urged TO buckle down to work he
reminded the boss OF his contract.
This state of affairs continued for awhile
and then Colonel Cocktails Issued an order
that any European laborer who was not
giving a satisfactory return for his hire,
should be told that his services were no
longer needed, his pay check taken away
from him and the contract with the Span
lsh government marked satisfied and com
pleted. Thereafter. IL the lahorer wanted
to return to the job he would be hired In
the open labor market. which relieved the
commission Of all further responsibility to
Spain under the recruiting contract.
The effect was magical. At first the
Spaniards who were discharged appealed
to the Spanish consular representative at
Panama, and he pretented 10 believe that
their contract rights had been violated,
and that the commission was getting
around the spirit OF the contract II not
around the letter OF it. But Colonel
Goethals informed him that the canal
would not be dug with recalcitrant labor,
and that II the spaniards didn't work they
could go home or starve. After being
made TO understand that the commission
required a days. work for a days pay, and
that the penalty for refusing to work
WYNN ~ AAoN1AAN AAoAAAAnRAAg NAAEN bOQn hOA
down to hard work again. and from that
time to this they have had nothing more
to say about their contract rights. Colonel
Goethals' attitude has been no less salutary
on those who continue to labor under con-
tracts than upon those who were discharged
from the contract roll and reihstated from
the open market. IL also has stimulated
The West Indians. who are doing more
work than ever before.
As the canal nears completion there Is a
gradual increase In immigration from the
West Indies to the Isthmus. Realizing
that the canal will be the worlds greatest
highway OF International trade, the negroes
OF the Caribbean seek to avail themselves
OF the opportunity to get a cheap home In
the bush, and an opportunity to live where
the business OF the world is passing. The
result is that the commission gets prac-
tically all the labor it needs at its own
doors. Aside from one or two recruiting
agents In the West Indies, to be called on
in case Of unexpected demand, Il has called
In all of IT'S Representatives nom the labor
markets of the world
this desirable situation has been
attained is largely due TO two things--tha
sanitary work that has changed Panama
from a byword OF unhealthfulness into an
object lesson OF sanitary excellence, n
the broadly planned labor system laid out
by Jackson Smith, who died only a few
weeks ago. Before coming to Panama Mr..
Smith had engaged in many big railroad
construction Jobs in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador
and elsewhere. He successfully organized
the force which built the Guayaquil &
Quito railroad In the heart Of the Andes.
When he finally resigned from the Panama
commission to go into private business
again, the president stated that the canal
would even be indebted to him for the
magnificent labor force he had built M.
Not long ago another rather serious labor
trouble arose. Throughout South America
there are many engineering undertakings
being carried forward, and the supply Of
labor for these projects is not equal to the
demand. Inasmuch as these projects usually
give no attention to sanitation or the fur
nishing Of proper quarters. but on the other
hand use the commissary as a money-mSk-
ing institution, they can afford to pay