Atlanta Georgian., 1913-10-17
CANAL IN PERIL
BY DELAY LAID
To WILSON
No Steps Taken for Operation
GoethaIs' Advice Ignored.
Workers GrumbIe.
BY WILLIAM hOSTER.
Special Gable TO The Atlanta Georgia an.

PANAMA, oct. IA crisis ia i'm
pending in the canal situation due 10
the neglect Of washington to uphold
Colonel Goethals. The canal is near
Ing completion and the locks are
ready. The flow Of water IS con-
stanty Increasing. With the Cuca-
racha slide out Of the way not more
than a month hence the waterway
Will be ready for Commercial! use.
The Adamson act provides for re-
organization Of the canal force IN
voIving a mandatory reduction Of %
per cent in pay bu. at the discretion
Of the President
News comes from Washington that
Wilson will not order Reorganization
until 1915.
This means that the organization
Of the force Of 1900, estimated as
necessary to operate the canal, will be
postponed until the great waterway
actually IS ready for use, where It
is vitalh important that the force
should be selected Immediately.
Pay Reduction Opposed.
The men must be carefully drilled
by Colonel Goethals, for there can be
no slips at the formal opening.
IneTF lS certain 10 B' Olt''SlS lStOA %
10 the reduction Of pay. Already
grumbling Is heard and a strike Is
possible. although forbidden by the
Government rules previously enforced
bv Colonel Goethals himself. This Is
made more likely II reorganization is
left until the canal opening. when the
Government would be at the mercy
Of the workers.
Moreover, Colonel Goethals an
nounCes that he will retire as soon
as the canal is ready, maybe before
1915. Thereby organization and drill
Ing Of the force to operate the canal
would have to be done by some one
other than the man best fitted for
the work.
Colonel Goethals refuses to discuss
the situation, but it is known abso-
utelv that he regards II as mos;
important that reorganization should
be effected Immediately.
Strikes Possible.
The canal is his life work. He
knows every details. He has in mind
the 1900 he would ike to select now
and get to consent to the reduced
pay. He could begin TO now to train
them to operate the canal, which will
In the end have cost the nation $500,
900 900.
II Wilson sticks to his decision the
navieS of the world would assemble
for the passage, and there would be
no we'll drilled force for the work OF
operating the canal and the great
locks. Probably there would be
strikes and bunsling, and even immi E
nent danger OF catrosphe.
The situation Is incomprehensible
to Americans here. Washington
| seems to lack interest Consequent
| ly there Is discouragement here. and
broad hints that politics is being
| played at Washington. 1t is a fact
that not a single member of the VIII
son administration has ever been
here. save Bryan on a lecture tour
wherefore no member of the admin
istration understands the situation.
Appeals for some member of the
administration TO come here have sc
| far been unheeded. 1t is believed
that If responsible agent of Wilson
came he could be made to see the
necessity Of promptness.
Goethals Being Hounded.
At the same time Colonel Goethal:
is being bounded to get through
Governor Metcalfe, Bryan's man, has
put in his finger, and this compli.
Gates the situation further. He has =
| plan for a three headed Commi ssiof
to in future rule the zone and the
| sanitary work and the operating OF
the canal This is a great mistake
! Colonel Goethals has built tht
, canal not with, but in spite Of a
commission the majority of which
was against him from the beginning
| His tremendous driving power mads
| possible the dream of ages. He is not
personally concerned with what may
| happen after the canal is finished
| but is looking to the best interests
| Of the canal and the nation after the
| waterway Is opened.