Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1911-06-15
Special 10 the Courier

SpeC1al 10 the Sourter
There is keen interest felt in the
appearance of German influences that
are seeking to secure a fooLhold in Pana-
ma, and are backing a project of rail
road development in the lsthmian Re
public. The matter is being discussed
in official circles, and many army, navy
and diplomatic people are carefully
watching the development of the conces-
sion granted by the government of Pana-
ma for the construction OF a new line of
railroad. most of which will be in Pana-
ma, but minor section in Columbia
The name of the concesSionaire corpora
tiOn suggests English control, but init
nation that German influences are real
ly back of it is being Investigated. The
possibility that such a railroad might
prove of great military and strategic
value in operations in the Canal Zone is
recognized.
There are other features in Panama
that are interesting Washington. One is
the matter Of the election of president
which will occur next May. Already
there are half dozen candidates in the
field, and the political pot is boiling furi-
ouSly. The numerous candidates have
followed Colonel Goethals to Washing
toH in order to secure his support but it
is likely that owing to his position as
chairman and chief engineer of the 18th.
man Canal Commission, he will keep
his hands off, Since the Colonels arrival
in the Capitol, he has reported to the
War Department that gambling is
common pracIiee on the Isthmus. and
that the city of Panama is run wide
open" 1t Is likely that the United
States government will request Panama
TO take stringent measures to remedy
this evil, Colonel Goethals has indicat-
ed TO the president that he would like to
have congress fix at as early a date as
possible, the tonnage tolls to be charged
ships which pass through the canal, and
it has been given out at the White House
that the president would be pleased to
see this legislation included in the Dem
ocrauc House program.
Old Soldier Makes SeriOas Charges
Peculiar interest attaches to the charg-
es made dy an old soldier named Silsby,
and living in Minnesota, involving the
Regiter,of the Gregory land Office. Mr..
SilSby makes aft 1avit that he was sue
cesSful in one of the drawings held at
the Gregory land Office and filed a soldiers
declaratory statement He recites that
it afterward developer that anothhr APP
plicant who was a squatter successfully
filed on the same land. The Selsby affi-
davit asserts that Register T. K. BurLs
favored the contestant through improp-
er methods In his reply Mr.. Burns
contends that when Mr.. SilSby's num-
Der was called he did not appear, and
consequently, lost his right of prefer
ment, and that the squatter's claim und
er these conditions deprived Silsby of
his pension right. Mr.. Sils by was allow
ed eighty acres of his claim, which was
not In controversy but subsequently re-
llnquished it to lee government. Register
Burns father claims that Silsby has
been used as a tool by operators who
practice disreputahle methods and were
debarred from appearing in land matters
The Register demands thorough inves-
tigation, Senator Gamble and Represent
attye Burke have urged that an inspector
be sent to inquire into tho affair. A
feature of the silsby affidavit charges
the Commissioner of the General Land
Office, Mr.. Dennatt, with also being
guilty of misconduct in office
Taft May be at State Fair
Senators Gamble and Crawford and
Representative Burke called at the
White House this week, and extended
an invitation TO President Taft to attend
the South Dakota State Fair between the
dates of September llth aud 18th. The
President enthusiastically received the
invitation and assured the Members
that If the itinerary of his Western trip
could be so arranged, that he would at
tend the big state show. Mr.. Taft's
schedule of travel for the middle OF
September has been partially filed aud
shere are one or two dates which conflict
with the south Dakota invitation. III
these differences can be adjusted the
Executive has. assured the delegation