The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-24
Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt and
Geo. w. Perkins Have Active
Part Persuading Him to
Take Post.
DEMANDS REVISION
OF PRESENT LAWS
Canal Builder Was Dissatisfied
With Administrations Re-
straints. Mrs. Coethals Tired
of Life on Isthmus and
Wanted to Come Home.

NEW YORK. Jan. 23.-Colonei
George w. Goethais. the man who
built the Panama canal. has agreed to
be police commissioner of New York,
If the administration at Washington
will give him his retirement from the
army and il certain legislation can be
put through In New York to give him
the police department.
George w. Perkins and Mrs. Theo-
tore Roosevelt each had a hand in
getting Colonel Goethals to accept the
police commissionership. When Mayor
Mitchell was In Panama last Novem-
Der he asked Colonel Goethals to come
to New York, but he refused abso-
lutely Mrs Roosevelt. who saw
Colonel Goethals just after Mayor
Mitchell left Panama. was said today
to have been the first to change the
coloners determination to stay in the
Canal zone.
George w. Perkins went to PAN
anna as the mayors personal repre-
sentative. He left New York on
January 7th. stayed in Panama thirty
six hours and got back early this
afternoon. bearing letter from
Colonel Goethals to Mayor Mitchell.
Mrs. Roosevelt's Part
Mrs Roosevelts part in getting
Colonel Cocktails to come to New
Y ork began when she was on her way
back from her trip to South America,
where she left Caaonel Roosevelt to
carry cut his explorations In the Anna
xon country. Mrs. Roosevelt came up
the west coast of South America and
crossed the Isthmus on her way to
New York
She found Colonel Cocktails few
days after Mr.. Mitchell had returned
to New York. The ne wmayor had
opened the question of the police
comm issionership. but Colonel Gothals
had said that he wanted TO stay on
the Isthmus. The mayor started back
to New York without having lost hope
entirely. but prepared to look else
where for a police commissioner. He
tried and failed.
Then Mrs. Roosevelt returned to
New York with the news that Colonel
Goethals was weakening. Travelling
with Mrs. Roosevelt was Mrs. Goth
ais, who is tired Of life on the
Isthmus She told Mrs. Roosevelt that
she would use all her power to in
duce Colonel Goethals to leave the
tropics and come to New York. Mrs.
Goethals himself found that he was
FESTIVE under restraints placed upon
him in the administration of the
canal zone, and she believed with a
little more urging he would consent.
Perkins Sent to Panama.
The report that Colonel Goethals
was reconsidering. or, at least. in a
temper to reconsider. brought Mayor
Mitchell up standing. He cabled
Colonel Cocktails and learned that he
was open-minded on the subject.
Then MIR. Mitchell decided that is
some one, representing the admins
tration and good at persuading. were
sent to Panama he would come back
with Colonel Goethals' consent
The man who fitted Mr.. Mitchell s
purposes was George w. Perkins. Mr..
Perkins had been q party TO the
secret that Colonel Goethals was re-
considering and he agreed to under
take the job for the mayor. He lett
New York by ship on January 7th,
reaching Colon early In the morning
OF January 14th. Mrs. Perkins was
with him. They went straight to
Colonel Goethals' residence, where
they were entertained.
Mr.. Perkins found that Colonel
Goethals believed the Job Of admin
istering the police in New York was
all but impossible under the existing
laws. He said that II he were to take
charge of the police he must have the
same despotic power over them that
he has enjoyed In the administration
on the work OF the canal.