The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-24
offers to Resign on July 20.

Goethals letter written July 90, Of
fering to resign, follows:
MY Dear Mr.. President:
II beg to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter Ct July 10 and wish to express
my appreciation of the considerable man
ner in which you have stated the eonclu-
sion which you have reached
In the project of the emergency con-
struction of small ships dated March 20,
it was stated that to secure the speed of
production, which is an Important, we feel
that the task OF securing and equipplng
one man Centralized control is essential
for rapid and efficient work
at was on this understanding on my
part that l undertook the work at your
This understanding was subsequently
matter with the shipping board, but at
the hearings before the subcommittee of
United States senate, where it stated
that l was to have absolute am complete
everything the board could do, would be
done and that IL would act on my sugges-
ton and initiative Those assurances
were placed much more clearly before the
members of the sub committee on apprO-
priations of the house of representatives,
The necessity for shipping makes it i'm
perative that results be secured as rapidly
as possible. 1t is results, by whomsoever
obtained, which count after all and moth
ing should be allowed to interfere with the
accomplishment of this end. l have en-
deavored to establish harmonious relations
with the Sn1pplnS BOARD, DuI regret TO
state have not succeeded and it seems i'm
possible to secure the union Of purpose
essential to the success of the work. Be
lieying that a Capitalization of authority
in one man is necessary to carry out the
ship building program rapidly and sue
cessfully, after mature consideration on
the whole subject, / am satisfied that l
cannot secure efficient results under the
conditions of your letter.
II am convinced, therefore, that the best
interests of the public welfare would be
served if l were replaced by some one on
whom full authority can be conferred and
whose personality will not be stumbling
solution will commend itself to you and
in order that the work may be delayed as
little possible, by change, il you deem
it wise l shall be glad to continue in
charge until my successor can be selected
and remain with him until he has a thoro
been built up and has been able to ia
milarize himself with the work that has
already been undertaken.
you may be assured of my loyal ac-
quiescence in the direction given in your
letter and all future orders.
"GEoRGE w. COCKTAILS"
The New Members.
Edwin N. Hurley, until recently.
was chairman of the federal trade
commission, when he resigned to take
charge of business interests in Illinois.
cambridge Colby. a Progressive. is
a prominent business man of New
ofk ana was active IN Denalr or VIII
sons candidacy in the last election. J.
Admiral Caps is a well known ma
val constructor. He was born at Forts
mouth, Va, in 1864, graduated from
the United States naval academy and
has been chief of the bureau of con-
struction in the navy for many years.
| He represented the United Sites at
the international maritime conference
in London in 1913 and during the last
two years has done extensive work in
naval architecture and marine engi-
| leering