New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-21
Ex-President, Speaking at
Ohio Dinner, Gives Some
Inside History.
WATERWAY UNLIKELY
BUT FOR SEIZURE
Preferential Tolls, Rapid Fortifl-
cation and Presidential
Control Urged.

Ex-President Taft. speaking at the
twenty-eighth dinner OF the Ohio Society
at the Waldorf-Ast last night on the
inside history Of the Panama Canal. said
Theodore Roosevelt made the canal pos
sble by taking the zone He excusd d
himself from going into discussion OF
the manner in which the United states
acquired title to the strip of land.
THE Lord works in mysterious ways
His wonders TO perform he said. 'but
I doubt very much whether the canal
would have been built unless what hap
pened did happen
Actual credit for the big ditch. he said,
also belonged first to Mark Hanna, Tor
his business sagacty in urging the en-
terprise and to Senator John 1. Spooher'
Of Wisconsin, who drew the Dill thd'
authorized President Roosevelt to decide
which route ought TO he accepted.
Mr.. Taft entered into broad retro
spcct Of connection with the canal from
1901 10 1913. He reviewed the controversy
over the sea level VS. the lock canal, say
ing trat both President Roosevelt and he
were al first I'm favor of the sea level plan
and were dissuaded only by the argu-
ments Of the majority OF American engi-
neers. IL the sea level plan had Deeh
adopted, he said. it would have taken
twenty years TO complete the work and
the patience of the American people would
probably have been exhausted.
Escaped Alien Control.
Going back 10 the subject OF PRESIDENT
Roosevelts taking the canal zone, MI
Taft said the United States Of Colombia
would undoubtedly have seized the zone
and attained dominion over 1t II the Hay
lIerran treaty had gone into effect. Inc
result. he said would have been that the
strip would have been policed and fortified
Ey an alien people.
The real work OF W Nelson Cromwell,
the New York lawyer who established the
"modus vivendi" in taking the French
Canal Company shares and In other ways
making easy the beginning Of the enter
prise, Mr.. Taft. said, had never been prop
eily recognized.
Going on with his story. he told Of the
breaking down OF John f. Stevens. the
engineer. and OF the difficulties that fol-
was finally found To head the commits
sion. Mr. Taft said President Roosevelt
asked him II he, as Secretary OF war,
could find the man to do the trick
Il replied that l had found such a
man. that his name was Goethals and
that he was a son OF a Dutchman. which
ought 10 give him a pretty good start
said Mr.. Taft.
Without the knowledge of the treat
ment OF tropical diseases. based on ex-
perience of TIE army surgeons in the
Spanish War. the canal could not have
been completed as successfully ana
quickly as IL was. Mr.. Taft said.
.r do not wish 10 make invidious com
parsons" he said. but our army sur
geons have made more progress along
that line in the last fifteen years than
all the other nations have made in the
last hundred years ] very much believe
that had the French possessed the same
knowledge there would have certainly
been French canal there instead OF
monument 10 American enterprise ana
scientific knowledge"
The ex-President touched on the ques-
ton of tolls, and declared again un-
eduivocally In favor Of preferential tolls.
He bluntly remarked that he was in favor
Of submitting the question TO an interna-
tional tribunal for arbitration. He said
ne regretted having 10 differ with Senator
Root and Joseph II. Choate as TO the con-
struction OF the treaty terms, but as for
himself, he said. he did not wish To APP
pear in the light Of breaking the United
states part Of the contract.
Favors Rapid Fertilization.
As to fortifying the zone. Mr.. Taft said
ne. as "A man of peace and a member or
many peace societies. was heartily in
favor Of certifying as rapidly AS the
United States could push the fortfica-
tons.
Willie | am essentially man OF
peace" he remarked, Il am no more in
favor OF not taking precautions to pre-
serve peace than ! am OF leaving my
front door open nights because | am not
i'm favor of burglars"
Future government on the zone. he said.
ought to be simple enough not 10 harass
the already overburdened minds OF the
"oyerworiled Legislators at Washington
He declared in favor OF an administrative
control by the President
Mr.. Taft thought the effects of the canal
would exceed the most careful computa-
tions He said it would undoubtedly have
a great effect upon the rates OF trans
continental railroads and on the character
nf the freight carried As "A bond be-
tween the east and west ocean coasts OF
the country the opening Of the canal
would be tremendous he said.
William H. Truesdale. president of the
Ohio Society. presiCed at the dinner.
John Barrett, president of the Pan Amerl-
can Union. and J. Adam Bede were the
other speakers
Those on the dais with eX-Presldent
Taft included Marcus NJ. Marks, II. +.
Dawson, William s. Hawk, Congressman
Calder. Major General Nelson A. Miles.
General Henry l.. Burnett. Major Gen
eral Thomas II. Barry, Dudley Field Ma
lone. Captain Albert Gleaves. L. ;. N:
4 r. Smith: eX-Secretary OF War Jacob
NJ Dickinson, Controller William 4.
Prendergast, Henry w. Taft, the Right
Roy W A. Leonard. Bishop Of Ohio;
Colgate Hoyt, Frank r.. Farnsworth. r. a.
Drake. Walter l.. McCorckle, 8. S. Gar
wood George II. OConnor and w. w.
Mischief.
DINNER FOR ADMIRAL KNIGHT.
tBy Telegraph to The Tribune
nap Rear Admiral Austin