The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-12-30
FORMER MILLIONAIRE CON
TRACTOR AND POLITICAL
POWER DOWN AND OUT.
ONCE OPERATED IN GEORGIA
Plant Taken Over During War and
Business Ruined. Almost Secured
The Contract to Build the Panama
Canal for Government.

ne DIT " Oblld lAAS
Canal for Government.
WASHINGTON, d. Cone OF
the chapters in a life-history dramatic
enough, in its ups and downs and con-
trasts, to rival the careers of fiction
has been consuming a large amount
OF the time of the house of representa-
tives at the present session over a
bill reported from the committee on
claims TO pay William J. Oliver, OF
Knoxville, Tenn, $4,000 for dam
ages he is held to have sustained as
a result of the seizure and operation
OF his munitions plant by the govern
ment during the world war.
No action has yet been taken on
the bill and it would be unwise to haz-
ard a prediction as to what will hap
pen about it. The full story OF Oil
ver's lie does not come out in the dis
cussion. because much OF it would not
be pertinent. Naturally, the house de-
bate has centered around the merits OF
the proposal to award him compensa-
ton for d specific alleged wrong.
Physical Wreck, Almost Penniless.
To those who remember the Will
liam !. Oliver OF the days, not so long
ago. when he was building railroads
in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee
and other southern states, and when
he was developing the kaolin beds OF
South Carolina and engaging in vari-
Oh /,
ed his enormous force as a manager
(some say driver) OF labor in the mass,
the statement that he is now a physl-
cal wreck and almost a pauper will
come with a shock of surprise. The
facts about his present condition have
been explained to the house i'll con-
nection with his claim for damages.
Back in the Roosevelt days Oliver
was not only big figure in industry
and finance in his section and state,
but he had very great influence in pol
itics and was for quite a while repub-
lican national committeeman for len
nesSee.
Towards the close OF President
Roosevelt's occupancy OF the white
house this man who is now utterly
down and out" came within an ace
OF securing the contract to build the
Panama canal Oliver had made such
an impression upon the then secretary
OF war that the latter had recommend
ed giving him the contract, with the
condition that he should put up a
S10000000 bond; and this Oliver was
getting ready to do when the admin
istration OF Mr.. Taft came in and de-
cided to have the canal work done by
the government engineers themselves
instead of by private contract The
adoption Of this policy by President
TAFT was bitterly resented by Oliver,
who from that time labored with
might and main to encompass the
"fat" executives downfall and did ev-
erything in his power to boost the
Roosevelt movement which split the
G. O. P. so hopelessly in 1912.
Has Claim of $1,5oO,ooo.
The circumstances which have
brought Oliver before congress
with claim OF nearly $l,5OO,OOO
which the house committee has reduc-
ed to $4,000 as the only portion OF
which the national lawmakers coulo
properly handle by legislation, are sui
ficiently exciting. 1t seems that the
Oliver Manufacturing Company, Of
Knoxville which the claims commit
tee describes as having at that time
one Of the best equipped and up-to-
date plants in the country, had con
tract in 1918 for the manufacture o.
shells for the United States govern
ment. The concern, said to have beer
worth about $2,000,000, was managed
and practically owned by William J
Oliver. 1t was making large profits
on the contract for munitions. Or
the fourth Of October, 1913, according
to the hearings in the case, the Unit
ed States government, without warn
ing. threw a Gordon of cavalry arOunC
the plant, stationed guards with re
volvers at every entrance and exit, Gu
the telephone wires seized all the pa
rers and records Cncluding, it is said
$4,000 in Liberty bonds), arrested OH
yer and nine of his assistants WithOu
allowing them any opportunity t.
make a list OF the papers taken or t.
consult with attorneys, and proceed
ed to operate the plant under the wa
power conferred by congress on tn
government Oliver and his associate
arrested with him were indicted in thu
federal court on the charge of having
conspired to defraud the government
by making defective shells.