New-York tribune., 1917-07-23
White and Donald Are Dis
gusted by Goethals-
Denman Row
Building Plan
Is Still Held Up
President May Pick New
Men Who Will Agree
on Policy


Washington, July 22.-Resignations
Of two Of the five members Of the Ship
ping Board-Captain John B. White, OF
Kansas City, and John A. Donald. OF
New York-are in the Presidents
hands. They have been held up tempo
rarily, 1t was learned tonight, at the
request of the President, who hopes
that he can work out a solution TO the
Goethals- Denman fight which will re.
suit in harmony and shipbuilding, in.
stead of endless delay and legal argu-
ments, while U-boats are sinking ships.
The resignation Of Captain White is
of peculiar interest, because his has
been the deciding vote on the Shipping
Board in all the Denman -Goethals con-
troversies so far.
II will be recalled that General
Goethals, when notified that he was to
have charge Of the shipbuilding, while
the Shipping Board was 20 take over
the operating phases of the business,
laid down a businesslike programme
week before last in letter to Chair
man Denman. General Goethsls an
nounced that he would begin this pro-
gramme on last Monday. Mr.. Denman
promptly called a meeting OF the board
10 pass on its details. To-day the pro-
grsmme is still unapproved.
An Entire Week Lost
All week Denman has been acting as
legal prosecutor. with General
Goethals in the prisoners dock for the
instruction of the board, while not one
detail of the programme has been
started or one contract for a ship pro-
posed in il let.
In that week, which has been lost so
far as proceeding with the shipbuilding
programme is concerned, it Is estimated
that the submarines have destroyed not
less than 10000 tons Of the worlds
shipping-which might easily cause the
loss of an important battle through
lack of sufficient munitions or supplies
some time hence when the American
troops are in the trenches.
Lack Of that shipping, il is pointed
out, might easily cause lack Of shells
in the artillery supporting the Ameri-
can infantry, with result like that
which overlook the princess Pstricia's
Own"
Early in this week Of technical hair
splitting, a motion was made on tho
board to permit General Goethals to 60
ahead with his prograsnme and discuss
details later.
The vote on this motion The Tribune
is able TO give now for the first time.
II was:
For speed: John A. Donald and R. B.
Stevens.
For more technical discussion: WILL
lam A. Denman chairman, Theodore
Brent and John B. White.
Went Over to Dcnman
This was the first occasion on which
Captain White went fat-footedly over
to the Denman side. He was or ginslly
strong for General Goethals, but ap-
parently had not been able TO stand
the courting Of Mr.. Denmsn, admitted
to be a pretty good politician, while
General GoethGls is blunt and frank.
The resignation of Captain White
therefore gives the President an oppor-
trnity TO settle the Goethals- -Denman
controversy by appointing a man in
his place who is strongly pledged one
way or the other.
The Donald resignation is Of another
sort. Captain White is believed to be
much disgusted with the whole busi-
ness. He is a successful business man
end has been distressed at the poor
progress made by the board in getting
anything done. He is said to have
spoken out at meeting" several times
during the week, demonstrating against
the courtroom" atmosphere which was
forced into the discussion. Neverthe-
less, his last action on the board was
in favor Of Mr.. Denman's policy Of
hairsplitting.
Mr.. Donald is also disgusted, but IL is
purely because Of the apparent inten-
ton to hamstring the Goethals pro-
gramme. II the President should de-
eide tomorrow that General Goethals
should go ahead without being ham
pered, Mr.. Donald probably would with
diaw his resignation. Unless the row
is speedily decided it is thought he will
insist on his resignation being ac-
cepted.