Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-03
DROPS CANAL PLAN
Taft Decides Not to Name Col.
GoethaIs Civic Governor.
LATTER VOICES PLEASURE
Democrats Not United in Opposition
to Nomination, However.
MOVE AFFECTS COL. JUDSON
With Transfer to Panama Off In
terest Centers on What Will Be
Done With Commissioner.
LATTER VOICES PLEASURE
MOVE AFFECTS COL. JUDs0N

| The definite determination of President
Taft today that he will not attempt to in
stitute civil government in the Panama
Canal Zone and will not send to the SEN
ate the nomination of Col. Cocktails to be
the first civil governor brings up the inter-
| esting question to the District of Columbia
as to what will now happen to Col W. V.
Judson, Engineer Commissioner of the
District
Col JudSOn'S transfer to the Panama
Canal Zone as vice governor under Goe-
thals or to some other position of i'm
portance there has been heretofore sug-
gested as possible in connection with the
nomination of Col. Goethals to be civil
head Of the zone. With all this off the
question arises as to what assignment will
be given to Col. Judson. whose four years
as Engineer Commissioner will end March
10.
The plan tentatively formed was to
traisfer Maj. Chester Harding, one of the
engineers now at work on the canal I'M
der GOethals, to Washington as Engineer
Commissioner. Maj. Harding having been
assistant engineer commissioner here
perience in District matters. 1t is still
possible to carry the scheme into effect
so far as Maj Harding Is concerned, some
other engineer being substituted in his
place at Panama. As to Col. Judson. he,
too. could be sent to the canal in an
engineer capacity, but that Is the only
position open to him there at this time,
and 1t was learned today that Maj. Hard
Ing Is most likely to stay where he Is.
Col. Goethals speaks in the highest
terms of Maj. Harding. declaring that
ne Is one of the ablest and most capable
engineers on the canal. Whether Nal.
Harding will now come to Washington
will depend much upon Col. Cocktails
recommendations to the President and
Mr.. Tafts personal desires in the mat
ter. Engineer officers of the army are,
of course, subject to orders from the
President.
Col. Goethals Is Pleased.
Col GoethalS was said today to be
greatly pleased that he will not have to
undertake the onerous duties Of civil gov
ernor of the zone. He Is satisfied to be
left alone to finish the canal as chief en-
gineer and to apply himself to that work
alone. He was never in sympathy with
the desires Of the President as to the
civil governorship, but was willing to
acquiesce as any good soldier Is when his
superior officer has plans of his own.
Col. Goethals has been given to under
stand by the democrats Of the Senate
feeling against him; that the democratic
plan is to eventually honor him for his
work on the canal, but that they pro-
pose to work out the establishment of
civil government in their own way. This
is known to be true. Col Goethals having
strong backing among democratic sena-
tors and representatives.
Senator Brandegee. who is chairman of
the Senate committee on fnteroceanic
canals. today reported to President Taft
that the democrats Of the Senate would
not confirm Goethals as governor and
that 1t would be useless to send lin his
name. Senator Brandegee was yesterday
asked by the President to ascertain the
status of the democrats toward the NOM
1nation. and the report today of the Con-
necticut senator left no doubt as to what
the situation is. But for his kindly per-
sonal feeling to Col. Goethals the Presi-
how and let the responsibility of failure
to confirm rest upon the democrats.
Jealousies on the Canal.
The civil governorship fight brought
to light today that, there are many
jealousies- among the engineer army Of
fcers on the canal, and that this has
much to do with the democratic atti-
tude. That. together with the desire
of the democrats to be able to control
all the patronage on the Canal Zone. is
the real backbone of the difficulties that
have arisen in connection with the gov
ernorship. The canal is one Of the
latest pie counters in the world, al
though the public knows little about it,
President Roosevelt managed to stow
away several hundred Rough Riders and
other friends on the work there, and the
Taft administration has not neglected
some OF the opportunities il had, although
the President has taken mighty little ad-
vantage of the chances. preferring to
have the canal built on a non-political
basis. The President has consistently, it
was said today, stood in the way of MAX
ing the canal work a dumping ground for
political workers who wanted to be cared
for somewhere.
The democrats. with the governor
will naturally see that democratic job
seekers take the place of republicans
when the wedding out starts. as it must
as the canal nears completion The
the canal are laborers-Jamaican
Spanish. Italian. etc. but there are
thousands of good clerkships and other
jobs held by Americans. The laborers
will be dispensed with in big numbers
as the canal gets nearer to being ready
for turning in the water, but even
when completed there will be small
regiment Of employees at good salaries.
The new civil government will control
most of these.
Democrats Split on Question.
That the democrats of the Senate are
by no means united in opposition to the
confirmation at once Of Col. Goethals
Governor of the Canal Zone is indicated
today by expressions of opinion of several
prominent senators Of that party.
Those who say they would vote for the
immediate confirmation of the appoint
ment argue that Col. Goethals is entitled
to the governorship by all right, and they.
would take no step or position that would
tend to discredit his work in the con-
struction of the big ditch across the 18TH
mus of Panama.
Senator O'Gorman Of New York. one Of
the most influential members Of the SEN
ate committee on interoceanic canals.
which had charge Of the Panama canal
bill providing for the substitution of civil
government for the present construction
organization on the isthmus. today de-
clared himself favorable to confirmation
Of Col Goethais as governor. If President
Taft sends in the nomination.
Il know of no man in the country more
worthy of the appointment" Mr.. O'Gor-
man explained. Il know OF no man
more capable and fitted for the place.
see no reason why he should not be APP
pointed and appointed soon.
Hoke Smith Voices Opposition.
Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia has ex-
pressed the democratic opposition to con-
firmatiOn.
THE bill authorizing the President to