The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-01-24
ROOT VERY CAUs1IC
U. 8. SCORED FOR CANAL sTkmDy
sr ARBITRATION AID
vOCATE.
A WAY TO KEEP PLEDGE.
Otherwise, Says Senator, We Would
Be Called Treacherous-
Attempt to Repeal
Free Toll. 80 1Ls-.t-

Washington, JAN 22.-"Shall we In.
form the world that the United States
is false to it's agreements, false to it,
pledged word? Shall we have it made
known the world over that 1t must
look out for the United States OF II
will get the advantage of you? That
1t is astute, cunning slippery"
A Two Hour Speech.
With this vigorous denunciation Of
the attitude of this country in the
Panama canal controversy with Great
Britain Senator Elihu Root closed a
two hour speech in the senate with an
appeal for the submission of the Pana-
ma question to arbitration of the re-
peal of that section of the canal law
that would give free passage to Ameri-
can coastwise ships.
Speaking from the experience of a
member of President Roosevelt's cabi-
net when the Panama canal zone was
purchased and when over 25 arbitra-
ton treaties were made with foreign
nations, Senator Root delivered the
most vigorous attack on the present
attitude of the United States that has
been heard since the Panama contro-
versy with Great Britain arose. .a
1t became known, following the sem
ator's address, that Senator Brande-
gee, chairman of the interoceanic ca
nal commission, will call a meeting
within few days to take up Senator
Roots amendment for the repeal of
the free toll provision.
Effort to Change Law.
Led by Senators Root and Brande-
gee, both of whom opposed the orig
ina passage of this provision, a de-
termined effort will be made at this
session of congress to change the law
before it goes into effect at the canal
SO that the cause of dispute with Great
Britain will be removed.
Senator Root declared the United
States would violate all it's pledges
and promises to the world, would be
guilty of false pretenses" in it's ad-
| vocacy of general arbitration and
would proclaim itself Indifferent to ma
tional honor and integrity if it re-
fused to submit to arbitration or to
retreat from the unjust position it had
taken.
He declared free coastwise tolls to
American ships were illegal, unless the
same concessions were made to for
eign ships. The claim that the United
States had domestic rights over the
canal because it owned the canal
zone constituted a violation of the ex-
press guarantee of the United States
to Great Britain, he said
at is not our territory except in
trust" he declared. Treaty or no
treaty, we have long asserted that the
nations of Central America had no
right to debar the world from it's right
of passage across the isthmus Upon
that we based the justice of our en-
tire action which resulted in our hav
ing the canal zone"
The United States had preached ar
bitration for years Senator Root de
clared and had besought the nations
of the world, "in season and out OF
season, to enter into arbitration agree
mentS for the settlement of all dis
putes."
"Are We FaIse?"
Are we Pharisees?" he cried
Have we been insincere and false
Have we been pretending all these
long years of declaration? Are we
ready now to admit that our country
through its presidents and congresses
have been guilty of false pretenses
of humbug, of talking to the galleries
of uttering fine words to secure ap
plause?
The instant that an interest is al
stake We propose to falsify every de
claration, every promise, by the AFRO
CANT insistence that we alone can de
termine the Interpretation of this
treaty; that we will refuse to abide
by the treaty.
And is the game worth the can
die? Is it worth our while to remain
in a position, to maintain which we
may be driven to repudiate our princi
pies, our professions and our agree
ments, for the purpose of comforting a
money benefit at the expense of the
treasury of the United States on the
most highly and absolutely protected
special industry in the United States
our cOaStWiSe ShiDping?"