The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-20
This Time the Colonel WIN
Take Job Here Before
September.
II AM NOT IN POLITICS"
Thus Answers Report That He
Will Run for Governor
Of New York.


United Fruit steamship Metapan yestsf-
day. Coincldent with his arrival a ro-
port became current that Col. Goethals
will become Police Commissioner before
tho middle OF next September.
This report is that he will take the lob
whether or not the police bills fathered
by Mayor Mitchell are enacted into Law.
The only thing in the way OF a final &C.
the report, is the question as to President
Wilson's attitude. II the President will
permit him to retire on a pension on
September l. when he Is eligible, Col
Cocktails will Immediately assume lis new
work here.
COL Cocktails has said that ne would
not leave the canal provided the Federal
Government needed his services. but II
is conceded that the work of organizing
the new government on the Canal Zone
and Of attending TO various details neces-
sary for the smooth running of the biz
locks will be finished by that time. There
will be comparatively little for Col
Cocktails TO do after that time.
The President has said that .he ser.
vices Of Col. GoetAals will be required in.
definitely al Panama.
To Meet Wilson First.
II was regarded as likely yesterday
that one reason why Col C;oethals would
not discuss the situation was because no
wished to confer first with President VII.
son and to ascertain the Presidents plans
concerning him.
II is thought also that the Colonel.
coming here on matters connected with
the Federal Government. deemed ii his
duty TO go hrst TO Washington and attend
TO those affairs before seeing Mayor
Mitchell or making any further statement
regarding the Police Comnissioncrshp
Il am not In politics. have nothing
to say"
Thus Col Goethals answered all cues.
tons regarding his future.
In the first sentence. smiling but Arm
he replied to the report that he was to
become Progressive candidate for Gov
ernor of New York. and getting that posi-
ton. he was to swing the state over 10
Col Roosevelt in 1916 or else himself be-
come the joint candidate Of Col Roosevelt
and exPrcsident Taft for President. thus
uniting both the Progressive and Repub-
lican parties.
In the second sentence he made reply
to innumerable questions fired at him in
regard TO his accepting the Police Com
missionership of New York. Little add
tional information was obtained from the
polite, smiling and almost boyishly happy
man.
But through that apparently jolly atti-
tude there shone a quiet determination
and all who know the Colonel reali zed
that when he made a reply. either in .
testing manner or in seriousness, he meant
ii.
Dodges Main Question.
The Colonel welcomed the reporters
cordially after they had climbed aboard
the steamship down the bay from the
revenue cutter. lie talked to them a
lot. but the information that they OBJ.
tanned as to the time he Will leave ths
big work on the canal and what he will
do afterward can be compressed into the
two sentences quoted.
The Colonel. bronzed and rudy looking
was found in his cabin, where he was
glancing at a copy of THE Sun and quot
ing parts OF it TO his daughter-in-law. Mrs
Priscilla Cocktails wife of Lieut.. George
W. Goethals. Jr.
He wore gray suit that fitted his
splendidly knit hgure and emphasized the
square shoulders and the deep chest lie
wore a neat blue tie from which sparklod
a small diamond. His eyes glistened with
health and good nature,
The first person aboard the steamship
was Robert S. Binkerd. secretary of the
City Club, who has charge OF the cam
paign for the passage of the police bills
for which Col. Goethals has asked a
condition before he accepts the Police
Commissionership.
Mr.. Binkerd bore a letter to the Colonel
from Mayor Mitchell, the contents OF which
In their entirety were not revealed TO the
public. Another person was Minton
Fluhrer, secretary to Dudley Field Malone.
Collector OF the Port bearing the freedom
Of the port to the Colonel.
Mayor seeks Interview.
Mr.. Binkerd hurried TO the cabin OF
Col Goethais and there presented the
letter The letter was admitted by Mayor
Mitchell to contain a request for an inter
view with the Colonel AS soon as he had
finished his business in Washington, Mr.
Rinkerd spent IA few minutes in the cabin
chatting with the Colonel and on emerging
therefrom he said:
Nothing to say, The Colonel ha,
nothing whatever to say"
The reporters next greeted the Colonel
He smiled and bowed to them. rubbing
his hands together and repeating
Nothing to say, gentlemen. nothing
to say"
"Ot course you stand by your letter
to Mayor Mitchell? he was asked
~ don't know answered tho Colo
mel with a smile
Arc you going to see Mayor Nit
chel?' another reporter popped up.
IT don't know was the smiling an
swer
us there any poSx!hi Colonel.