The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-22
SUPPORTS
SMITHS POSITION
Both Take View That Canal Is
Inherent Part of Our
Coast Line.

Washington. July 9l-It remained
for Senator Smith. of South Carolina.
Yesterday 10 carry to is curthest point
the reasoning OF Senator Lodge of
Massachusetts. in favor Of free pas
SAGE for American ships through the
Panama Canal
n Is not usual FOR the southern
orator to find himself IN the camp OF
senator Lodge. but Yesterday the
scholarly New Engiander seemed to
lind pleasure in the support he re-
ce!ved In his losing fight FOR favors
TO American Shipping. Mr. Smith
quoted at some length Senator Lodges
speech of last winter. IN which in
opposing the general arbitration
treaties MIR Lodge had argued that
many important questions hitherto re-
garded as controversies were In reality
domestic AS such. said Mr Lodge
then, they We're not subject to arbitra-
ton. Nh smith applied that argument
TO the Panama Canal
we have bought the canal" ne said.
with our own money. and constructed
II at our own expense. II is as much
domestic ditch as the Eric Canal.
and IS essentially part Of our coast
line"
lie then referred to Mr. Lodges adj
mission the other day that Il we ex-
empted American ships and Great
Britain should carry the matter to
The Hague tribunal America would
certainly lose In the arbitration that
would result According 10 Mr.. Smith.
the answer TO NIr. Lodges dolorous
forecast Of this week IS his speech on
arbitration of last winter If arbitra-
ton o, the Panama Canal tolls would
lead 10 an adverse decision, do not
a-bitrate,' he said.
According TO the Senator. our po-
-
fertilization, he admitted would be
the rest.
To the amusement OF the Senate.
Mr Lodge arose at this point and IN
stead OF repudiatlnr Nj Smiths de-
due:.s-,s. assented to them. He seid
that since his speech OF few days
ago. he had looked into the status
o. the Panama Canal and was inclined
now TO take NJ. Smiths position that
the canal would constitute an inner
ent part OF our coast line. II that
proves TO be correct re said, undoubt-
edly we could refuse TO a-bitrate.
| Mr.. Lodge explained that in saying
that the American cause would GER
,ainly fail before an International
court ne did not mean to say that our
case FOR American tavo-s was weak
What he did mean 20 say vas tina;
il would be impossible to get an i'm
partial tribunal Every nation in the
world. he said would he as Interested
as Great Britain in settling the case
against tie United States That ex-
p.a!ned. he said. his reluctance TO en-
act legislation absolutely e%empt!nS
American ships from all cenal levies.
In recommending TO the Senate tho
wiser course OF levying tolls ard then
4.--- = 1us,-z 49, l.
4 sure that the case sac I'D be ono Of
domestic policy involving purely our
/ right to substitute certain American
/ ships While Mr.. Lodge still thong ht
! his plan presented fewer difficulties. he
was inclined to admit now that Mr..
! Smith was right and that TO matter
what laws We're passed the s.tt4ir would
remain an American question. alto
sether beyond the scope OF arbitration
\. II. lines. British charge d'aNa!res.
called a. the State Department again
yesterday but did not deliver the ex.
pectcd formal protest OF England
against the Panama Canal bill. 1t IS
probable that the charge learned unof-
Acally the sentiment OF the state De-
partment in this matter. Its position
appears 10 be unanimously in support
OF the contention embodied in the pend
ing bill that tire American government
'.17 81! H'SO-ot t- 't.'e l" ~ U. - -" u
ships either by relieving them from
the payment az tolls or refunding tolls
collected without violating the Hay
Paunce;ote treaty.
II is recognized however. tka, this
IS subject that might fairly b. made
a diplomatic Issue, and as the depart
ment has declined to enter into any
such negotiations so long as the sub
ject is under discussion before Con-
gross. i, is unlikely that it VIII com
nit itself to any formal statement of
its position at this time.