Intrigue To Oust Goethals Alleged.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 30, 1912:
Writer in Paris Daily Mail Says He Is Unpopular with the Powers In Washington.
"GUMSHOE MAN" AT WORK
Man Who Spied on Goethals Believed to Have Been His Guest — Jealousies Among the Officials.
By Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph to The New York Times.
    PARIS, July 29.— The following curious letter from "a responsible correspondent in Panama," whose name must not be divulged, was received today by the Paris Daily Mail:
    "At one time there was some talk of building huge barracks near the town of Empire, almost in the middle of the Canal Zone, for the use of United States cavalry, infantry, and artillery, but these arrangements were modified by eliminating the cavalry altogether, cutting down the number of infantry regiments, and greatly increasing the brigades of coast artillery at either end of the new waterway.
    "Now it is proposed to have an aeroplane corps on, the Isthmus, well equipped in every possible way. Experienced aviators, however, say that such an establishment would prove of little service in an hour of need, for the Panamanian winds are like the Panamanian people, far from reliable.
    "Be all this as it may, there is still some prospect of a goodly number of soldiers being permanently quartered at Empire, which is a point from which reinforcements could speedily be obtained for service at Colon or Panama.
    "The idea of allowing the jungle to grow again on either bank of the canal when it is open for navigation does not find much favor outside the originator of the notion, Col. Goethals, and, as that gentleman is far from being liked by the powers that be in Washington, no man knoweth when he may cease to reign on the Isthmus. This statement may be contradicted, but nevertheless it is true.
    "The 'gumshoe man' or sleuth is at work in all directions. He is to be found on the steam shovels, on the locomotives, in the workshops, in the offices, in the villages, towns, and cities, and, of late, in the very commission itself. What he has found among the members of the last named is not exactly known, beyond the fact that there is an active campaign going on for the removal or Col. Goethals.
    "The Colonel is very sore about the matter, for it was sprung upon him like a mine. He is of the opinion that his 'gumshoe man' or spy came in the person of a tourist or distinguished official who partook of his hospitality. This idea is probably a correct one, for all the Colonel's queer little ways appear to be known in Washington.
    "Whatever Col. Goethals's faults may be, he is very popular among all classes of workmen along the whole length of the canal works, irrespective of color or creed. He has a very difficult task indeed to perform, and if he were removed it would be very difficult indeed to find a successor to equal his energy, tact, and good judgment.
    "As in other parts of the world, there are petty jealousies among those at the head of affairs on the Isthmus, all the more emphasized by the fact that Col. Goethals insists on being the capital 'I' in every department of the Canal Zone.
    "Some excellent stories are told of the various ways in which high officials show contempt for each other, and the diplomatic methods adopted by all and sundry to avoid giving outward signs of being displeased at what is being done. Every now and again several of them travel in the same train, in which case they put themselves to all sorts of inconveniences to avoid coming into contact with one another. These are matters which must not be touched upon too fully, for, although it is not generally known, there is a rigid and peculiar press censorship on the Isthmus. It is practically an official gag to prevent any news from being circulated about the progress of the Panama Canal beyond what is read and passed by the officials in the Administrative Department.
    "It is this fact, and this alone, which prevents an amusing and astounding incident which happened aboard the mail steamer between Colon and New York from being told here at length. Some day the truth about the American construction of the Panama Canal will probably find its way into the columns of the newspaper press.
    "Officials working for the Isthmian Canal Commission are being encouraged to act as newspaper correspondents for journals in various parts of the world, thus making it difficult for ordinary journalists to gain a footing in the Republic of Panama."