The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-01-10
TAFT FOR CANAL
TOLL ARBITRATION
Hopes Question viii Be Settled
Before Term Ends.
PRESIDES AT OWN WAKE
President Attacks Foes For PoIitioa
Demise" and Gives Modest Praise
TO His Achievements While
in Office.

New York, Jan. while hoping
that the pending controversy between
the United States and Great Britain
over the Panama canal tolls would be
settled before he retires from office
President Taft here on Saturday de
clared himself unequivocally in favor
of arbitrating the question if present
negotiations should fail to bring about
a settlement
The presidents first public decIara
ton of his attitude On the question was
made at luncheon given in his honor
Dy the international Peace Forum
Later, at the Republican ''reorganiza-
ton" dinner, he presided at what he
styled his own political wake" He
made the funeral Grafton over his po-
litical corpse, asked modest praise for
his deeds during the time he lived at
the White House, recited at length the
causes which led up to his demise"
and attacked the enemies he held re
sponsible for his taking off. In the
course of this speech the president
made his first public reference to Col
onel Roosevelt since the campaign,
saying that probably 100000 Repub-
Hcans voted for Wilson ito avert the
danger Of Roosevelt's election"
The presidents remarks on the Pa
mama question apparently were
prompted. by declaration in speech
by Henry Clews, banker, asserting
that for President Taft's administra-
lion ito concede the right to arbitrate
the difference would be a splendid
achievement" but holding that 1--WE are
in the wrong and would most likely be
defeated if it should go to The Hague
for decision"
Referring to the Panama canal
treaty the president, who had said at
the outset of his remarks that he rose
with mingled feelings of sorrow and
pleasure" continued:
My friend Mr. Clews differs with
me and with the administration in the
construction of that treaty. That is
all right. | suppose questions before
have arisen as to construction Of con-
tracts in which good, honest people
have been on both sides. Now that
presents to me a very significant and
useful example with respect to arbi-
tration. A good many people are say
ing: Don't arbitrate, because you are
going to lose. This is our own canal,
and while England is making point
of it, England would not fight about
it, and therefore why give up when
you are not likely to get an arbitration
that will be satisfactory to you and
your view Of the construction?
Now then-even if this view were
correct as to probability Of result.
which / need not admits just the
time when am in favor of an arbitra-
ton. / mean that / had not gone
about the country urging arbitration
for the purpose of using that as plat
form subject to attract the attention
and approval of the audience
Il hope I was more conscientious in
advocating what l did advocate
throughout the country under that
head, and when l said that we never
would have an arbitration that would
be effective until we entered into an
obligation that brought US into arbi-
tration when we did not think we
would win. That is the time that
tests your faith in that method Of set
Element"
Mr.. Taft warmly denounced the SEN
ate in connection with the defeat of
the proposed arbitration treaties with
Great Britain and France.