The Mena weekly star., 1917-07-26
COfTHALS RESIGNS;
 DENNAN 10 QUIT
NiIsOn Takes Steps to End Row Over Ship Building Program Hurley Heads Board-Capps
 to Get G0ethals' Job.

Washington, July 2i-President
 Wilson today asked Chairman Den
 han of the shipping board to re-
 sign and accepted the resignation
 pf General Goethals as general
 manager of the emergency fleet cor
 poration.
 Official announcement of the ac-
 eeptance of the resignations of Goe-
 thals and White was made with
 Qualification of letter from Pres
 ident Wilson to Chairman Denman
 asking for his resignation and giv-
 ling the Presidents opinion that the
 ony way to end the row which has
 delayed the ship building program
 was for both Goethals and Denman
 to be removed from the situation.
 Edward \. Hurley. a Chicago busi-
 ness man and former chairman of
 the Federal Trade Commission, will
 become chairman of the shipping
 board. Washington L. Capps, chief
 constructor of the navy, will suc-
 ceed General GoethalS as general
 manager of the emergency fleet
 corporation Bainbridge Colby of s New York will become a member of
 the shipping board in place of Capt. # John B. White whose resignation
 the President accepted today.
 Would Help President.
 Chairman Denman received the # Presidents request for his resigna- tion at noon and tendered it imme- q diately
 T want to help the President in # every way possible" he said, and never have questioned the wisdom & of his decisions
 In asking for Mir. Denmans res gnation, President Wilson suggest ed that he would be glad 10 take the same disinterested and self forgetting course that General Goe- thals has taken"
 When you have done as he has done the President wrote Mir Denman. T am sure that you may count with the utmost confidence upon the ultimate verdict of the people of the country with regard K to your magnanimous and unselfsh
 view of public duty and upon win ming in the retrospect the same ad- miration and confidence that I have learned to feel for you
 President Wilson's action came as a surprise. Officials generally had thought he would make further effort to patch up differences and divide specifically between Chair man Denman and General Goethals powers conferred on him by the shipping act
 Text of Wilson's Letter.
 The Presidents letter to Mr Den
 man read:
 T hope and believe that l am in
 terpreting your best judgment as
 well as my own when | say that our
 duty concerning the debate and mis- understandings that have arisen in connection with the ship building program ought to be settled without regard 10 our personal preference or our personal feelings altogether
 and with the single purpose of doing what will be the best to serve the public interest.
 No decision we can now arrive at could eliminate the elements of controversy that have erept into al most every question connected with the program; and 1 am convinced that the only wise course IS to De- gln afresh net upon the program, for that is already in large part III process of execution, but upon the further execution of it.
 T have found both you and Gen eral GOethals ready to serve the public at personal sacrifice. Real zing that the only manner in which the way con be completely cleared for harmonious and effective acton IS to carry our ship building plans forward from this point thru new agencies. General Goethals has put his resignation in my hands, and | have accepted it in the same spirit m which it was rendered, not as de- ciding between two men whom l respect and admire, but in order to make decision unnecessary and let the work he developed without fur ther discussion of what is past.
 Comments Goethals Course. T am taking the liberty of writ ing to tell you this in the confidence that you will be glad to take the same disinterested and self-forgett- ing course that General Goethals has taken. When you have done as he has done I am sure that you may count with the utmost confidence upon the ultimate verdict Of the people of the country with regard to your iGagnanimous and unselilsh
 Viow of public duty and upon win nlng the retrospect the same ad- miration and confidence that l have learned to feel for you.
 With much regard and very great appreciation of the large serVlces you have rendered,
 Cordially and sincerely yours, aWOODR0W VII SON.