Benjamin R. Tillman to Woodrow Wilson

Title

Benjamin R. Tillman to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

Benjamin R. Tillman

Identifier

WWP21651

Date

1917 July 17

Source

Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers, 1786-1957

Text

Dear Mr. President.

Pardon me for making this suggestion. My interest in you and the subject must be my excuse for intruding. The fight between Denman and Goethals has broken out afresh, and it is disgusting the Senate, the House and every sensible man in the United States to see the Democratic Administration at war within its own ranks. We need ships badly. That goes without saying. We can not get them unless this row is settled, and you seem to be the only man who can settle it.

I do not know Denman, nor do I know Goethals, but I have followed the controversy pretty closely in the papers, and Denman to me always seemed to have the best of it. He is right now, and ought to be sustained by you for this reason.

Year before last I was on the Isthmus of Panama and saw Goethal's work. A very great and grand work it was, building the canal, but I learned a good deal about the man himself, and those he worked with in building the canal. I formed the opinion that there had been scores of millions of dollars wastefully spent, and some bad mistakes made. He was an Autocrat who would brook no differences of opinion from any one under him. He had great will power and untiring energy. His make up is dictatorial by nature; his training as an army officer has unfitted him for work with equals on any terms. He recognizes no other man as having the right to an opinion, and however wrong he may be, his will power and prestige compel every one to give him the right of way.

I know nothing about the merits of the controversy between Denman and Goethals as between iron and wooden ships. We need ALL WE CAN GET OF BOTH KINDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, and we can not get any at all as long as these two men keep up their controversy. Stop it please. To quote Hamlet: "It is time for them to leave off their damned nonsense and begin".

Another thing. I fear that Goethals who has no conception of economy no army officer I have met ever had will cost the treasury several hundred millions of dollars squandered unnecessarily. I also fear the steel trust has got its fingers in his eyes, and will dupe him into making contracts, which will be very much to the detriment of the treasury and cause a scandal.

Please examine into this matter and settle it. The country will be happy to know you have done it, and they know you will settle it RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAITH IN YOU.

By way of additional suggestion I want to remind you that Goethals could not agree with Col. Sibert; he could not agree with Col. Guillard, both of whom did great work on the Isthmus, and he can not agree with anybody who presumes to think for himself. He has been made a fool of by the way Congress has honored him, and got the "big head". For God's sake take him down a button hole or two.

Please forgive me for this bluntness and frankness of an old friend who loves you.

Sincerely,
B. R. Tillman


BRT/P

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/WWI0478.pdf

Collection

Citation

Benjamin R. Tillman, “Benjamin R. Tillman to Woodrow Wilson,” 1917 July 17, WWP21651, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.