Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-24

cleared of the debates that have un-
fortunately darkened it.
| With deep appreciation, therefore, of
your generous attitude and with genuine
! aonlratlon OF what you have been able
IN short time to accomplish, / accept
T, your resignation. and feel that in doing
Judgment as well as my own. 1 hope
that you will feel the same undoubting g
confidence that I feel that the people
/ OF the country, for whom you have
rendered great services. will Judge you
Justly and generously in this as in other
tnlngs, and that all personal misunder-
standings and misjudgments that may
nave been created will pass in a short
| time entirely away"
Denman Praises Appointees.
| Confronted with the facts of the an
nouncement of the President in cutting
the knot Of the shipping board tangle, Mr..
Denman admitted that he had been pre-
Vlousiy ADVISED. He said that he had re-
signed to take effect Immediately.
1T the decision of the President"
he said. "and measure of war emergency.
| Will back the President in everythins, he
does" ''e
The three men appointed b. the Presi-
| dent Mr.. Denman spoke of in the highest
terms. They are all good men," he said.
Mr. Denman had apparently taken
able exception Of Mr.. Brent, his stanch
supporter on the board, into his con-
f1dence. The board went into session
at 10 o'clock in the morning and did
not rise until about 1890 o'clock.
The retiring chairman would not tell
of his future plans.
Gen. Goethals' letter to President Will
son asking that he be relieved was
made public with the announcement of
acceptance OF his resignation. In 1t the
general declared he believed the best
interests of the public would be served
II he were replaced by some one on
whom full authority might be centered
and whose personality would not be a
stumbling block.
Gen. Goethals called the Presidents
attention to the fact that he under
took the work with the distinct under
standing that he was to have absolute
authority for the administration in
ship construction. and that the board
would act on his suggestion and initia-
tive. This understanding, he said was
confirmed when he took up the matter
with the shipping board and also at
hearings before the Senate committee
on appropriations.
THE necessity for shipping makes it
! Imperative, read the generals letter.
that results be secured as rapidly as
possible. l have endeavored to ,estab-
lish harmonious relations with the ship
| ping board. but regret to state I have
/ to secure the unison of purpose essen
| tial to the success Of the work
/ Believing that a Capitalization of
| authority in one man is necessary to
| carry out the shipbuilding program randi
! ly and successfully after mature consid
/ Grafton of the whole subject, / am sat
! isfied that l cannot secure efficient re-
! suits under the conditions Of your let
, ter.
Il am convinced. therefore, that the
| best interests of the public welfare
would be served II l were replaced by
] some one on whom full authority can
be centered and whose personality will
1 not be a stumbling block"
The Presidents letter referred to by
| Gen. Goethals was written a week ago
and explained to Gen. Goethals that he
was not in supreme authority and that
| he must defer in a measure to the
wishes Of the shipping board.