Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-21

| Messrs. Stevens and Goethals, ana
wages rose sharply as well.
Persistent and vigorous complaints
from Mr. Wallace about the hindrances
of governmental methods Of doing
business found q receptive ear In Pres
ident Roosevelt The executive was
Just as euger to make the dirt fly as
Mr.. Wallace and readily agreed that
commission Of seven members was
an awkward and Ill working manage
ment for the peculiar conditions of the
Job at Panama. Accordingly drastic
action was decreed.
Secretary Taft on March 20. 1905,
asked the entire commission to resign.
Mr.. Wallace was In Washington. and
the president and Secretary Taft fol-
lowed his suggestions almost to the let
ter. including the one that the chief
engineer be made q member Of the
commission.
On April l. 1905. the second isthmian
canal commission to be appointed by
President Roosevelt was announced.
Heading 1t was new figure in canal
affairs. Theodore P. Shonts. who play
ed decisive part In the enterprise for
the ensuing two years. The personnel
Of the new commission was:
Theodore p. Shonts. chairman:
Charles E. Magoon. governor Of the
canal zone: John F. Wallace. chief en-
gineer: Mordecai T. Endicott, Peter c.
Hains, Oswald II. Ernst and Benjamin
NJ. Harrod.
There was the same number Of com.
missioners. but the first three were
named an executive committee which
virtually should exercise the powers Of
the entire body. Thus power was tax
en- from seven and concentrated in
three members. Mr.. Shonts was to be
In charge Of the Washington office and
Messrs. Wallace and Magoon on the
isthmus.
Again following Mr.. Wallace's sug-
gestion, the directory Of the Panama
railroad was reorganized, the United
States on April Is. 1905. for the first
time electing the members. Mr.. Shonts
was made president and Mr.. Wallace
vice president and general manager
This would further concentrate con.
troll in the chief engineer over vital
factor in canal construction.
These changes and other matters kept
Mr.. Wallace in Washington from
March 20 to May "a, about two months.
The employees in the canal zone natu.
rally caught something Of the spirit Of
unrest which attended the reorganlza-
ton of the commission, and, Of course.
The hostile press was playing up every.
thing that could embarrass the admin.
istration and damn the project. Then
the yellow fever epidemic broke out In
April, 1905. to add terrible phase to
life on the isthmus.
Having secured every change he de-
sired. Mr.. Wallace left Washington
with expressions Of cordial apprecia.
ton to the president and his secretary.
He arrived ut Colon on June 2, and the
White House believed that crisis In
the career Of the project had been
passed successfully. They looked for
ward to smooth sailing with every con-
fidence.
Their surprise and chagrin, there
fore, were immeasurable when Mr.. Wal
lace cabled Secretary Taft on June 8
asking that he be recalled to Washing
ton for a conference. He intimated
that the conference might result In his
resignation as chief engineer. After
disheartened interview with the pres
ldent Secretary Taft cabled him to re
turn
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Taft then decided upon drastic course
toward Mr.. Wallace as means Of re-
viving the morale Of the canal work
ers and also Of bringing the American
people sharply to a realization that the
canal project was in peril through o
display of weakness In the face Of dan.
ger that would make our experiment
in Panama an international disgrace.
Secretary Taft met Mr.. Wallace at
1.-THE Manhattan hotel in New York on
June 25. Secretary Taft listened to
his reason for resigning. which In the
main was that he had under consider
alton a position that would carry with
1t remuneration Of approximately
s65.0OO year.
Secretary Taft did not conceal his
disappointment in Mr. Wallace's
course. He began By reviewing how
the government had taken him from
a position paying $4,000 a year to
make him chief engineer OF the canai
nt $4,000 a year; how the formida
BILE obstacles to be met and the su
preme necessity Of canal to the na'
ton made 1t n patriotic work for any
American and an honor to he placed at
the head of the greatest enterprise OF
the age.
"For mere lucre." Mr.. Taft con-
tinued, "you change your position
overnight without thought OF the en-
barrasslng position in which you place
your government by this action"
Secretary Taft then reviewed how
the commission had just been reorgan-
lied to meet Mr.. Wallaces wishes and
every change had been approved by
the chief engineer. He closed by de-
manding the immediate resignation or
Mr.. Wallace. This came the next day
and was made public Oh June 2S. with
Secretary rufts hot rebuke. which In
the canal zone had most salutary
effect. 1t put an entirely new COM
plexiou on their work to be told that
the nation expected every man to 10
his duty; that they were not down
there for the money they could make.
nor were they expected to leave be-
cause Of the hardships they would
meet, but that the object Of their ex-
lie wns to give the nation something
vital to its welfare The desertons
begnn to diminish at once. and the an
nouncement on June 80 that John +.
Stevens had been appointed chief en-
ginccr further strengthened the morale
of the canal organization.
CHAPTER VIII.
81 rt ti,dar Stavena