The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-01-04
IS PROUD OF CANAL
TAFT REGARDS IT LARGELY AS
THE ACHIEVEMENT OF HIS
ADMINISTRATION.
WHO PUT IN THE SOLDIERS?
Question for Future Historians to An.
swer-SpIendid Work Of GoethaIs.
Gorgas, GailIard and Sibert viii
Be Rewarded.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-President Taft's Jour
ney TO the Panama Canal Zone consti
tutes what will probably be the last
extended trip which he will make
"n'ie president Of the United States
some persons have wondered why Mr.
lalt cared just at this time to go to
the lsthmus Of Panama and have won
oered II 1t might not be that his trip
was planned largely for the purpose
vi taxing rest and having a little en-
!oyment prior to his separation from
the highest Office in the land
Inc real reason why he is going to
the lsthmus of Panama is that he
wants TO assure himself personally as
well as he can that "AlTs well with
tne lsthmus" and that the project is
70 De left to his successor in office
WIN every assurance that the present
administration has done its duty by it.
MI. Taft 1t is known feels an intense
personal interest in the work on the
fanama canal He regards it in a
large measure as being the work Of
MS administration, although his SO
regarding 1t does not prevent him, 1t
Is said. from acknowledging that the
preliminary plans which made it pos
s1ole were laid by a previous admins.
tration.
The presidents personal interest in
the canal dates back to the time when
ne was secretary of war, and when
civilian engineer after civilian engi-
neer was appointed to the work of
building. only to resign one after an
other. 1t will be remembered that one
or these engineers received a per
sonal verbal castigation from William
Howard Taft that he probably holds
In ear-tingling memory today.
Who Put the Soldiers In7
The canal. 1t seems to be assured.
Ia going to be a success and the ques-
tion which the future historian after
proper investigation must answer is
Who was responsible for taking the
digging operations out OF the hands
of civilians and putting 1t into the
hands Of the soldiers, Theodore Roose-
welt or William H. Taft?
Col. George W. Goetha,s virtually
has promised that water shall be turn.
ed into the canal throughout its en-
tire length in April next. This It is
believed will be the beginning Of the
end OF successful accomplishment
After 1t was decided to put a soldier
In charge. 1t was Secretary Of War
Taft who suggested to Theodore
Roosevelt that Colonel Goethals be
given control of the work on the 18TH
mus. but the question which no one
has answered yet definitely is whether
1t was Mr.. Taft who insisted that the
civilian, should get out and the SOL
der should get in, or whether it was
the suggestion Of his chief. Theodore
Roosevelt
Rewards for the Builders.
No one knows yet definitely what
reward Is to be given Colonel Cocktails
for his great engineering triumph. It
Is possible that he will be put in
charge Of the great canal commission
which will be responsible for the Cd
erations Of the canal and for its main
tenance. Again It Is possible that he
may be made a full general of the
army. rank which has been held BY
only four men in the history of the
government, Washington. Grant, Sher
man and Sheridan. The most likely
reward perhaps Is that Colonel Goeth-
ais will be made chief Of engineers
OF the United States army. a position
which he will hold until the time of
his retirement at the age of sixty.four
years. which will give him nine years
yet of active service.
Among the others to be rewarded
for their work on the isthmus will be
Col William c. Gorgas. who made the
zone fnhabitable from a sanitary
David B. Gaillard and
William L. Sibert. lieutenant colonies
Of engineers. who have been charged
with the immediate supervision Of the
work on the Gatun dam and at the
Culebra cut. Gaillard and Sibert were
chosen as associates in the canal work
by Colonel Goethals.
In just what form congress will
show its appreciation of the work of
Gaillard and Sibert Is not known, but
1t is possible they may be promoted
to the rank Of brigadier general when
in that rank shall occur.
Tariff Revision Prospects.
Before very long Representative
chairman of the house
on ways and means,
and his Democratic colleagues of
that body. probably will have a full
of the views Of Presi-
dent-elect Woodrow Wilson on the
subject Of tariff revision. Mr.. Un.
derwood will confer with Mr.. Wilson
and will In turn impart the informa-
Telephone Detective.
There is a city editor whose pet
aversion is the late reporter. says
IT,. Maui Vork procs uemher NJ