THE SUNDAY OHEGOXIAX, F O TtT"L AXD , APRITi 13, 1915.
Versonality of Ensineer to
Whose Constructive Genius
Manama Canal is a Monument
BY JOSEPH BUCKUN BISHOP.
. OFor nine years secretary of the Isthmian
Canal Commission and for seven years of
that period In Intimate association with
General Ooethais.)
Editorial Note. This article by Mr.
Bishop, which reveals In a striking
manner the remarkable presonality of
the modest United States Army en
gineer who built Uncle Sam's great
world waterway, will be followed next
week by the first installment of "Gen
eral Ooethais" Own Story of the Build
inn of the Panama Canal." General
Goethals' account of this stupendous
work will appear exclusively In this
paper. This is a story that no reader
who takes pride in Uncle Sam's
achievement on the Isthmus can afford
to miss.
ISAAC DISRAELI, In that most de
lightful of books, "Curiosities of
Literature," makes this observation,
which is as true today as it was when
written a century ago:
"How superficial is that cry of some
Impertinent pretended grenluses of
these times who affect to exclaim:
'Give me no anecdotes of an author,
but give me his works.' I have often
found the anecdotes more interesting
than his works."
In conversation a few years ago with
John Hay I cited this utterance in
support of something that he was say
ing to the same effect, whereupon he
added (I quote from memory): "Real
history is not to be found In books,
but In the personal anecdotes and pri
vate letters of those who make history.
These reveal the men themselves and
the motives that actuate them and
give us also their estimate of those
who axe associated with them. No
one should ever destroy a private letter
that contains light on public men, or
willingly let die an illuminating anec
dote disclosing their individuality."
In what I am about to write con
cerning: the personality of General
Goethals I shall follow mainly the idea
thus outlined. I shall endeavor to
portray him as he revealed himself to
me during seven years of intimate as
sociation, in which he honored me with
his confidence and admitted me to the
Inestimable privilege of his personal
friendship.
Throughout that period I was a con
stant observer of his official acts, of
the methods by which he met and
solved the problems which pressed
upon him incessantly for considera
tion, thus becoming familiar with the
Intellectual and moral qualities which
form the basis of what is called char
acter and which constitute the per
sonality of a man. That General
Goethals has a distinct personality no
one who knows him or has followed
. his career will deny. That it is a
strong personality, as well, every one
who has been in the Canal service will
testify without hesitation or quallfca
tion. .
It la customary to regard the con
struction of the Panama Canal as an
engineering achievement, but it is in
equal, if not in larger, degree an
achievement in administration. The
engineering problems were compara
tively simple, being those of magni
tude, the solution of which followed
clearly defined and well-established
scientific lines. The problems in ad
ministration were new and there were
no precedents in American experience
from which to obtain light for guid
ance. What was needed, In fact, for the
accomplishment of the gigantic work
which the 'United States Government
had undertaken on the Isthmus of Pan
ama was a man at the head who was
both a great engineer and a great ad
ministrator. This rare combination
for few engineers possess large ad
ministrative ability was found in
Colonel Goethals. He revealed himself
almost at once as that rare product of
nature, the born leader of men. Front
the outset he took his place in a class
by himself, and he held it, without
dispute or question, till his task was
completed.
Colonel Goethals entered upon his
duties on the Isthmus under very deli
cate conditions. The force was com
posed entirely of civilians and had been
collected and controlled by civilians.
The change from civil to military di
rection had caused much uneasiness
and this had been aggravated by per
sistent rumors to the effect that mili
tarism in extreme form would mark
the new regime. Had Colonel Goethals
been a soldler of the martinet type,
complete demoralization would have
followed closely upon his advent. Hap
pily he was far from being anything
of the kind.
Soon after his arrival he appeared
In ordinary civilian dress before an
assembly of the American members of
the force, many of whom had expected
to see him in military uniform and in
a. brief speech he dispelled at once
in a large degree the uneasiness and
alarm which had been created. He de
clared that there would be no more mili
tarism in the future than there had
been in the past and that no man who
did his duty would have cause to com
plain because of It. This assurance
he lived up to absolutely and no com
plaint of militarism was ever heard, be
cause nothing of the kind was visible.
During his. entire service - Colonel
Goethals was never seen in uniform.
-This was not only a surprise to the
members of the force, but to his mili
tary associates as well. Left to them
selves, most of the latter would have
worn uniform on galla and public oc
casions, if not while on regular duty,
and for a time some of them did, but
his example was too forcible to be ig
nored and gradually it was followed
by all.
A Secretary of War who visited the
Isthmus to inspect the Canal work ex
pressed great surprise because the
Colonel was in civilian dress, saying:
"I expected to find you in uniform."
"I never wear it," said the Colonel. "I
think I shall order you to," said the
Secretary. With a bland smile the
Colonel said: "That won't do any good;
I have none on ihe Isthmus."
It would, be difficult to overestimate
the beneficial effect of this simple pro
ceeding. It was so simple that many
other persons than a Secretary of War
wero not able to perceive its supreme
Importance. It set a standard of work
- that was above all tests save that of
efficiency, and in his choice of sub-
i ordinates the Colonel Jived up unvary
ingly to that standard. The civilian
who was faithful and competent needed
no uniform to strengthen his position
and the army man who was unfaith
ful or incompetent learned soon that
his uniform was no protection from
censure or transfer to other duty.
Foreman Who Became Richt-Hand Man
One of the roost conspicuous ex
amples of the Colonel's unmilitary
policy was the selection of a civilian,
Sydney B. Williamson, as head of one
of the three great divisions of canal
work. At the head of the Atlantic and
"Culebra divisions he placed two Army
members of the Canal Corn miss ion
Colonel Sibert and Colonel Galllard
but in selecting a head for the Pacific
division he passed by all Army officers
in the force and appointed Mr. William
son. Here, again, he followed a course
which it is doubtful if any other Army
officer in his position would have had
either the courage or the foresight to
take. I use the words courage and
foresight advisedly, for the act dis
played both. It was fully justified by
results. Mr. Williamson, by his' energy
and ability, set a pace for work which
compelled the Army officers In charge
of similar operations in the Atlantic
division to do their utmost to keep up
with him, both in quality and quantity
and also in economy. There was thus
created a spirit of rivalry between the
two divisions which was of almost in
calculable advantage to the progress of
the work.
I once asked Colonel Goethals why
he selected Mr. Williamson for a posi
tion of such Importance what his rea
sons were for thinking him equal to
the task. His reasons, as given to me
in reply, throw such clear light upon
his methods of Judging men and se
lecting agents that they are worth
citing here.
While he was in charge of 'work on
the Mussel Shoals Canal, in 1889, Major
Goethals, as his rank was then, had
directed a foreman to sink & test pit
in order to find rock foundation for a
lock. He had told the foreman that
he would have to pass through a layer
of quick sand, and had warned him to
take precautions against a cave-in. The
foreman failed to follow directions and
a cave-in was the result. The Major
discharged him, and Williamson, who
was employed at some distance on an
other job, was recommended for the
place.
The Major sent for him and put him
in charge. Going to the spot on the
following day, he found Williamson
down In the pit with a gang of negroes
shoveling sand into 'buckets to vbe
hauled up. Later he had Williamson
dine with him, and said to him that he
did not think he should have gone
down into the pit to work side by side
with his men; that the place for a
foreman was outside and in command
of his gang. Williamson said: "You
want to get down to rock, don't you?"
"Yes." "Well, those negroes were so
scared by the cave-in that they re
fused to go into -the pit unless I went
with them."
When the job was finished satisfac
torily, Major Goethals told Williamson,
in reply to his request for employment,
that he would like to retain him in his
employ, but he had nothing to offer
him except the position of assistant
lockmaster, which paid only 140 a
month, and he supposed that was not
worth his while. "I wasn't asking for
money but for a position." said
.Williamson. "When a man has a wife
and child to support he takes what
ever is offered him and holds It till he
can get something better."
, When Colonel Goethals was placed
In charge of canal construction, Will
iamson applied for service under him,
and the Colonel, mindful of his capacity
and character, assigned him to the im
portant position which he filled with
great credit to himself and with signal
benefit to the entire work.
While giving no outward show of his
military profession. Colonel Goethals
quietly and firmly put into operation
the fundamental rules of military dis
cipline, the chief of which was 6trict'
obedience to orders. Ha had been in
control but a few days when a super
intendent in charge of a branch of
canal work called at his office and re
quested to see him. He was admitted
at once, and the following conversa
tion ensued:
"I received your- letter. Colonel." "My
letter? I have written you no letter."
"Yes, a letter about that work down
there." ' "Oh, you mean your orders?"
"Well, yes; I thought I'd come in and
talk it over with yqu." "I shall be
glad to hear your views; but, bear in
mind, you have only to carry out my
orders. I take responsibility for the
work itself." A few incidents of this
kind sufficed to spread the Information
throughout the force that the work was
not to be carried forward by town
meeting debate, but in strict obedience
to the orders of the man at the head.
An Illuminating example of the bene
ficial effects of this system was
brought to my personal attention about
four months after the Colonel had
taken charge. I ywent to the Isthmus
In August, 1907, after two years' serv
ice as secretary of the Canal Commis
sion at Washington. Secretary Taft
had given directions that a house be
constructed for my use, and Colonel
Goethals had ordered the head of the
building department to erect it within
three months. Six weeks of that
period had expired and only the foun
dations had been placed.
I called the Colonel's attention to
the matter, and he went with me to the
site -of the building. Calling the fore
man of the work to him, he said: "You
are in charge of this Job?" When the
foreman replied that he was, , the
Colonel said: "You understand that
this house is to be finished and ready
for Mr. Bishop on the 15th of Novem
ber?" The foreman, accustomed to the
easy-going methods which had pre
vailed hitherto, replied: "We'll do our
best. Colonel." "Then you do not
understand," came the quick response
in the quiet, firm voice that the
Colonel used throughout the Interview.
"This house is to be done and ready
for Mr. Bishop on the 15th of Novem
ber." Turning about, the Colonel
walked away.
The foreman, realizing that some
thing quite unusual and important had
happened to him, followed quickly, hat
in hand, and said: "It will be done.
Colonel." And It was. The house was
finished and turned over to me, com-
plete in every detail, on November 14.
1 1 1 : '
It was a two-story structure, contain
ing a dozen or more rooms, and it had
been built in 36 working days. The
regular period of construction for
houses of similar type, previous to that
time, had varied from four to six
months.
"He' a Pastmaster of Hla Business.'
The effect of this quiet but inflexi
ble control upon the force, and conse
quently upon the progress of the work,
was little short of marvelous. It was
soon realized that if the Colonel insist
ed upon exercising absolute power, he
assumed also full responsibility. It
was also realized that ha was master
of his business, and that all his orders
were based upon full and accurate
knowledge. Thus it came about that
the wisdom of his acts was universally
admitted, and discussion about . them
practically ceased. With discussion and
faultfinding there vanished from the
force the chief sources of discontent.
Then, too, the Colonel was "on the
Job" every minute. He showed on
every occasion exact and intimate
knowledge of every phase of the work.
for there was no part of it that es-
caped his pereonal attention. He spent knowledge of the capabilities and con
part, often the whole, of the day In the duct of all the subordinate officers In
field and his evenings in his office. No the organization. This knowledge of
man In the force worked longer hours detail wu an aid to wise administra
than he, and no oos of them had the t-ion, the value of which could not be
miniFte and comprehensive knowledge overestimated.
which he not only possessed but had at His Intimate and universal knowl-
hls command at all times. His ability
to master and retain detailed informa
tion was at once the marvel and the
despair of every one associated with
him.
I remember distinctly the exhibition
which he made of this faculty before
the committee on appropriations of the
House of Representatives on their first
visit to the Isthmus in 1908. At its
first session he took the stand and the
members of the committee. eacn
equipped with pad and -pencil, began a
cross-fire of questions at him, most of
them betraying a simple ignorance that
was quite impressive.
The Colonel endured, it for a few
minutes and then he suggested defer
entially to the chairman that perhaps
they could get on more rapidly if he
were to outline the condition of the
work as it existed. The suggestion
was adopted and the Colonel, in a quiet,
deliberate manner, began a narrative
of what was proposed and what had
been done. As he proceeded on by
one the pencils were laid down, the
pads were pushed aside, and the mem-
bers leaned forward in absorbed atten-
tion. When he finished, after about 30
minutes of speaking, the chairman
moved over to where I was sitting and
said in a low tone:
"Good Lord, we've got to give that
m.. -h o t h.'.Sk3 for he's past mas-
ter of his business!"
Like demonstration was made at
everv subseauent visit of a Congres-
sional committee. It was the custom
of the Colonel to sit by the stde of the
division engineer or department oxu-
cial who was testifying. Invariably,
when a question was asked concerning
some detail that' the witness was un-
able to answer, the Colonel answered
it for him. showing that he was mora
familiar with the details of the division
or department than the head of it him-
ser
Colonel Goethals had a way of his
own in dealing with Congressmen,
which "caused them to handle him, with
eare after a few experiences with it.
He waa invariably courteous, but when
pushed to the limit he was able to "get ie replied that he agreed in that view our meeting?
even"' with them in a manner that they and added that a foreman who thought Colonel Goethals Yes, I have been
did not soon forget. During the visit such treatment the only way by which advised of a demand from a mob.
of one large delegation its members to direct his gang thereby confessed Leader When will we get our an-
made a tour of Inspection of the vari- his incompetence, and a few days later swer?
ous types of commission houses, arriv- he issued the following: Colonel oGethals You have it now.
ing finally at the one occupied by the - Culebra, C. Z (Circular No. 400.) Leader We- have it? I have not re
chairman and chief engineer. The use of profane or abusive language ceived it.
"Let's g-o upstairs and ess how he by foremen or others in authority, when Colonel Goethals Yes. You said If
lives," said one of them. addressing subordinates, will not be the man was not out of the peniten-
After going tnrougn tne rooms an
other member said to the Colonel:
"Pretty fine houset What did it cost?"
"It was built by my predecessor, Mr.
Stevens," replied the Colonel, stating
its cost.
"You apportion vthe quality of the
house to the salary the man receives?"
was the next question.
"Yes." replied the Colonel.
"Then, If we Were down here work-
ing for the Canal, we would each get a
house half aa good as this, the house
of a IT500 man?" said the Congressman.
i'Oh. no." retorted the Colonel with a
beaming grin, "if you were down here
working on the Canal you would not
be getting $7500."
The Colonel's smile is famous on the
Isthmus, being put in use usually to
temper tho wind of disapproval to the
unhappy victim of it. It Is thoroughly
frank and even beatific in character,
but under cover of It he utters tho moat
deadly Jests those that are oasea
on truth. It may be said of
it that.
"
like the bass drum in a country band,
it covers a multitude of sins.
The pre-aminent gifts of Colonel
Goethals as an administrator have been
uoetnais as an aominisiraior nave ueuu
demonstrated in many ways, but most
dence and Inspire the loyalty and en
thusiasm of tho rank and file of tho
force.
In his dealings with men his chief
conspicuously In two directions first, "is train, in defiance of signals, to run tnere win do no ainns m n- wm . 7 7. , Z uumor cui. ana un-
In XI Tea! y mLVI cr to' th ot another train, and go out on tho first steamer and he will yesterday afternoon. All the tool, and fa,g, nd bo ha. the quit, unusual
mm.twITndISntai o.UU and. In tho collision the conductor or me never come back. the men were taken on I o h. new aollity to enjoy a joke at hi. own ex-
m . v.,,,... . - , , utior train w. km. n. - i..ader Suniioia one of us should be Place. I had arranged with tho chief pens.. Ho wa. hugely amused by a
Hticuna, 1 11 uiH auiiiiy vv win m eguu- ... - - - - -
weapons are frankness, simplicity and Canal one, and the verdict was con
fairness as absolute as he can make 1L firmed on February 21.
In his first speech, by saying that any
one in the force could go to him at any
:
tZonsiruclr'on ZscffA
irz-ron or (ana
7
time he paved the way for what be
came later his famous Sunday-morning
court, with its doors wide open to all
comers. This institution was itself) a
master-stroke in administration. It
not only won for him the' confidence
and loyal devotion of the' force, but it
gave him intimate knowledge of every
thing that went on. in that force,
knowledge of what made for discontent
and what made for contentment, and.
what was of far greater importance,
edge became a cause of wonder and. at
times, of dread. An employe who
thought he had not received fair treat
ment decided to call on the Colonel and
state hie case. He described the inter
view as follows: '"What is your griev
ance?' asked the Colonel as soon as I
got into his room. I stated it, and
when I had finished he pushed a but
ton and told the clerk who answered to
bring my record. The clerk brought in
a lot of papers with a slip and the
Colonel read it off to me. I was mighty
glad I had told him no lies, for every
thing I had done was there. He talked
the whole thing over wtih me and
when we got through I saw I had no
grievance. Oh, he's square, I tell you.
He talks the thing right out with you
and doesn't dodge."
Aa Order Against Swearing.
Two Canal workers were overheard
talking on a railway train. One was
praising the Colonel, with whom he
had had an interview at one of the
sessions of the Sunday-morning court,
The other listened until the narrative
was ended, when he said: "Well. I have
never met the Colonel personally
never said a word to him or he to me
I don't give a damn for him but he's
all right!"
It wa part of" my duties to lnvesti-
gate through a special inspector 'all
complaints made by the common la-
borers, especially Spaniards and other
Europeans, concerning their treatment
gang loremen and others in author-
ity over them. By far the greater
number of these complaints were of the
yruiano aim aousive language
by the gang foremen. Sometimes
tnl treatment led to small strikes, the
men refusing to work longer under an
offending foreman, and at other times
t w made the basis for a request to
transferred to some other boss.
reported. tne matter to the Colonel,
saying I thought it desirable that some-
thing be done to remedy it, since it was
a cause of discontent, and, consequently,
of reduced efficiency, as a dissatisfied
and surly force would not give its best
efforts, but pust as little as possible.
tolerated. GEO. W. GOETHALS.
Chairman and Chief Engineer. would all quit. Ky calling up the pen
This circular was reproduced in ths itentlary. you will learn that he Is still
newspapers of the United States, -and there. That's your answer. It is now
was headed, in one instance that came
to my notice, "Sunday School Methods
on tho Canal," It was nothing of the
sort, for it was not an order in the
interest of morals, but in the interest
of efficiency. Its effect was in-
atantaneous. Complaints ceased at
once ,6veral foremen were reduced to
inarticulate condition for a time,
but ther WM nQ ,n3tanc, of v,oUUon
of th MlcU TnU vaa eM of tho many
ln.tance. of tne CoioneJ., minut at-
tentlon to very detail of administra-
tlon. the aim always being the same
fuoi,ncy
' .
Z . Cttl,ed'
"he roo came when the open. Just
treatment of all stood Colonel Ooethais
ln "ood "toad. In February. 1911, a
"
oi an me railway employes or
. . "
mo. janat commission and Panama
Railroad, which, if successful, would
have paralyzed all excavation work. A
locomotive engineer on the Panama
m , v.. -
Railroad, in August. 1810, had allowed
on a charge of involuntary man-
slaughter, convicted and sentenced to
a year in the penitentiary. An appeal
was taken to the Supreme Court of the
Colonel Goethals was at the time on
his way back to the Isthmus from tho
S.'p!V ;?
':' s i . ' 'V '..?
I I I - 1
fl 7 ' I t 4 I t , - 1
- TTzsrcf or C?OGff?ate Cana Comrm'&jrori . Sn
i ' :: ''r:,
r: ...'. ...... -
vv.
V
- :C
United States. A mass meeting of
transportation men was held on Sunday,
February 25, at which, under the lead
of some hot-heads, resolutions wer
adopted denouncing the verdict as un
just, demanding the liberation, of the
engineer, and declaring that if the
canal authorities did not free him by
o'clock on Thursday evening follow-
ing the transportation men would leave
tho service.
A delegation from the meeting went
in a body to the office of the chief en
gineer and stated the result of the
meeting to tne acting cnairman anu
chief engineer, who persuaded them to
await the arrival of Colonel Goethals
before taking action. On Thursday
following Colonel Goethals arrived and
went at once to his office. A leader
of the protesting employes called him
up by telephone at 7:10 and asked him
if he had received the petition, when
the following conversation took place:
Colonel Goethals No. I have received
no petition.
Leader You haven't? Has not Colonel
Hodges advised you of the action of
tlary by .7. o'clock this evening you
10 minutes past 7.
Leader But, .Colonel, you don't want
to' tie up this whole work?
Colonel Goethals I am not proposing
to tie up the work you are doing that,
Leader But, Colonel, why can't you
pardon the man?
Colonel Goethals I will take no ac
tion ln response to the demand of a
mob. Furthermore, I cannot act ln
this'caso at all because you yourselves
placed It in the hands of President
Taft when ho was on tho Isthmus a
few weeks ago. He told you then that
if the Supreme Court confirmed the
verdict ho would consent to consider
tho case. It la in his hands now. .
' Leader Must the man stay ln
penitentiary until ho acts?
th
Colonel Ooethais So far as I am
""-, a ,,,.
tuui-o. '
. . i-- .-i. t .-.
to L"
you and to your associates, that every
man of you who is not at his post to-
morrow morning will be given his
- -
transportation to the Un ted Ma teaand
sick?
Colonel Goethals It is
an unfortu-
nate time to be sick.
Only one man failed to be at his post
tho next morning, and he sent a doc
tor's certificate saying he was too sick
to be there. The mail of the chairman
nd chief engineer's office was stuffed
n - - ..a--'"'. r , . .... 1 1
sr. -sr. sr-ozrr&ai, iSas-eoi &cSc?-SSi &s?gb, 5ec-
reZ&ry;Z. , Col. J J7Sccfpex'r Cot. IV. C. Gory?,
: M
XX - - ; -
Ji3s'3-tn? ZYzr&tcgrJr Ccitesy3.CuC. m' w'
with letters from signers of the resc-
luttons asking to have their names
taken off, and there was not a shadow
of a strike then and there has been
none sice.
Tke "Yellow Peril. -The
Colonel's custom of spending a
part of each day, usually the forenoon,
in visiting the work, gave htm a knowl
edge of every part of it that often
caused a rude shock to some subordi
nate official whose performance was
not quite up to the mark. No such offi
cial could foresee when the Colonel,
in his personal railway motorcar,
known because of its color as the "Yel
low Peril," might appear on the scene;
neither could he foresee what defect or
shortcoming the keen eyes of the chief
engineer might detect.
Toward the end of the task, when
completion ahead of time was assured,
a tendency to relax effort became vial-
ble in several quarters, due partly to.
lessened tension and partly to a desire
to make the Job hold out aa long as
possible. In one such instance the
Colonel appeared suddenly on the spot
and called the foreman In charge to
account for slowness. The foreman
said: "Oh, that's all right, I have lOu
days in which to complete tho Job."
"That's not tho way I work," replied
the Colonel.
. Returning to his office he sent for
the foreman's superior officer and told
him the work must bo pushed more
rapidly. A few days later he visited
the wo.rk and saw that his order had
not been obeyed. He then issued an
order transferring the work from tho
official who had charge of it to his
personal direction, and directing that
" -
l&UUU Oil lilt Ca.!lt&l AIHO UU KUII9VII
dated with another.
The official who had been In charge
of it and who was retained under the
Colonel's personal direction called upon
him, saying that unless the transfer
order was either revoked or modified
ha should have to resign, as it over-
rul him. adding of the order that It
be obeyed because It would
causa friction between tho two forces.
" the men would refuse to be trans-
... , w ..... v..- xnat was his habitual answer to
Colonel; "I am tho best handler of frlc- Knorant or malicious criticism. When
tion on the Isthmus." The men called -ver arl !,...-. nf !t , hr.nv, t
on the Colonel and retired from the
interview content to do iransierrea.
Tne omciai again protested tne
order could not be obeyed because the
. ...
tools were not at the new location.
.
Vhen were you at tho old place?-
asked the Colonel.
.m.
. . ..-.i.i train at (ha olil nlitra "
1 had . . special train at tho old place
quartermaster to provide quarters for
them, and they, are all Installed there
now."
me orriciai, snowing visjme ogua- directly behind him. neither of thera
tion, declared that unless the order .,.i-,, t,i r .
taking the work from his supervision havins r"f"lze!fchlm- ne- a for
were revoked or modified he saw noth- man' was telling the other, who was a
ing for him to do but resign. visitor, of the great things he and
"As for resigning, said the Colonel,
tt - oni C&srl&r (Zn(r&7
Z. t. cos. ZJ. Gaia rd.
- ' A": . f.
"that is a matter for your personal de
cision, but the order will neither be
revoked nor modified."
The official resinned, and the general
comment on the incident was one of
astonishment that a man who had
served seven years under the Colonel
knew him so slightly as to think he
would revoke or modify an order he
had once issued.
The faculty of going surely and di
rectly to the vital point of a mailer
Is possessed in a remarkable decree
by Colonel Goethals. Fo also la the
gift of plain speech. While inspec ting
the work in progress under an asso
ciate official he rebuked him sharply
for disobedience of orders, saying his
conduct amounted to disloyalty. The
official unconsciously confessed Judg-
mcnt by saying: "I can be loyal to
you." "You can be loyal." retorted the
Colonel; "then you have not been!"
"i am told." continued tho official,
' that you have accused me of dialoy-
alty and have said that a man who is
di.invi win ii. .nrf .!
would." said tho Colonel, "given provo
cation." Cie-ethal's Uabltaal Aaawer to CritlcUm.
A Washington visitor met Colonel
Goethals one day In my office at An
con. The Canal was at that time sear
ing completion. "How soon are you
going to bo able to pass ships through
tho canal?" he asked. The Colonel re
plied that ho had no doubt that he
would be able to pass them in 1914.
Tho visitor, paying little heed to tho
statement, continued:
"Colonel. I come In contact In Wash
ington with many of the diplomatic
representatives of foreign governments
wlth whom
I am on quite intimate
terms. They say such things as this
to me: 'You know that the canal will
never bo open to navigation. You know
that tho Gatun dam will not hold wa
ter. You know that tho slides ln Cule
bra Cut can never be stopped. You
know that the locks can never be oper-
Ja rp,y to peopls?..
Tha Colonelt wltn an amu
tea. row. colonel, what shall l say
sed gleam in
hla eva. aald oulellv
"I wouldn't say
anythinf;
hu attention and a suggestion was
made to publish
refutation of It, he
let it go. Wo will
would say: "Oh
.,Ar ,h.m .,, ,rh .v.- ' ,
i. ,, i
"
a, ha la to Ignorant and unjust blame,
and cares so little for both that he
rarely or never reads anything that Is
i. , . .
wri ten about himself.
conversation which he overheard con-
cernlng himself on a Panama Hallway
train. Two men were talking in a seat
(Concluded on Pas 6.).