Part 5 (2/2)

We know what the American Red Cross does for our soldiers, and whenever we see its emblem we should think of Clara Barton, as a ”n.o.ble type of good, heroic womanhood; one who was kind, humane, and helpful to all peoples, one who longed for the time when suffering and horror should pa.s.s away.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: GEORGE W. GOETHALS Builder of the Panama Ca.n.a.l]

GEORGE W. GOETHALS

The men who worked on the Panama Ca.n.a.l used to sing this little song of their own composing:

”See Colonel Goethals, Tell Colonel Goethals, It's the only right and proper thing to do.

Just write a letter, or even better, Arrange a little Sunday interview.”

Colonel George W. Goethals was the chief engineer of the ca.n.a.l, and when he arrived in Panama he found that many of the men were discontented. They felt they were not treated fairly. Now there were sixty-five thousand persons employed there, and Colonel Goethals knew that if they were not kept well and in good spirits the great work would never be completed. So he said he would be in his office every Sunday morning at seven o'clock. Then, any man or woman who had a complaint could come and tell him about it. He was so wise, and decided the cases with such fairness that the men came to believe in their new chief and were anxious to serve him.

It was when Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States that Colonel Goethals was sent to Panama. President Roosevelt was anxious to have our dream of a ca.n.a.l across the Isthmus of Panama come true, but many persons in our country as well as in other parts of the world told him it was foolish to spend money on such an uncertain undertaking. They said the great slides of gravel and sand along the sides of the ca.n.a.l could never be stopped. They said the locks would never work. President Roosevelt paid no attention to these comments, but selected Colonel Goethals because he was sure he could build the ca.n.a.l.

Colonel Goethals cared as little as President Roosevelt for the opinion that the task was impossible. In fact, he told the President: ”Say nothing to such doubting persons. By and by we will answer them with the ca.n.a.l.”

We know that he did give such an answer. He built the ca.n.a.l right through the red s.h.i.+fting hills of sand that threatened to slide down and choke his work. He cut away a jungle so the banks of the ca.n.a.l could be kept free and open. But best of all, he taught order to the men who worked under him, and they found out that he believed in them, he believed in the work that he was doing, and he believed in the Government of the United States. No wonder they made a song about him and praised his splendid leaders.h.i.+p.

As his t.i.tle tells us, Colonel Goethals belongs to the regular army.

Until he was appointed as the chief engineer of the Panama Ca.n.a.l, no military man had been in charge there. The men working on the ca.n.a.l were performing civil duties, and in no way resembled soldiers. When they heard a regular army officer was coming down, they did not like the idea of having to obey just as if they were soldiers. Many of the foremen and officials told their men they would have to spend their time saluting Colonel Goethals and standing at attention with their little fingers against the seams of their trousers.

During the first days of his stay in Panama, a banquet was given in honor of Colonel Goethals, for the men felt they must entertain their new chief, though they were not friendly to him.

At this banquet, they cheered the former engineer, John G. Stevens, and did not applaud Colonel Goethals when he appeared. However he was exceedingly polite and did not notice their bad manners. The men had expected to see him wear a full dress uniform, and you can imagine how surprised they were when they saw him dressed in citizens' clothes.

Never once while he was in Panama did Colonel Goethals appear in uniform.

After the banquet there was a program of speeches. Each speaker made cutting remarks about the new military control, but the Colonel did not seem to notice their insults. At last it was his time to speak. He said only a few words, but they changed the minds of his hearers. He told them they were all there to build the ca.n.a.l. They were working for their government, the United States of America. He wanted no salutes, but he wanted work. This pleased the men and they were ashamed of their impoliteness.

The Colonel's first act was to organize the workmen into three divisions, the Atlantic, the Central, and the Pacific.

He put each under a superintendent. Then he stirred up contests between these divisions. He would tell the men on the Pacific division how rapidly the men on the Atlantic division were digging or putting in concrete. Of course, each division wanted to make the best showing, and the men were always eager to get the Ca.n.a.l Record, a small weekly newspaper, so they could read the scores of the different divisions.

These scores grew to be more exciting than those of ball games, and the men worked hard and well.

They liked Colonel Goethals and whenever he went by they saluted him; not with the army salute which they had scorned, but by waving their hands, lifting their caps, and greeting him with a smile on their lips and in their eyes.

They felt free to talk to him because they knew he was their friend.

Shortly after he started his Sunday morning office hours, some of the lowest paid men told him that their bosses swore at them all day and used the worst kind of language. At once he sent the following order out all over the Ca.n.a.l Zone.

PROFANE LANGUAGE

Culebra, C. Z. Aug. 4, 1911

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