Evening star., 1914-04-06
PRESIDENT FEELS
SECURE ON TOLLS
Expresses Confidence That
Country Generally Is Behind
Him on Question.
FRIENDS ASSURE HIM
HE is IN THE RIGHT
Nj. Wilson and Most Public Men
Believe Masses Are Little
Concerned, However.

President Wilson expresses the most
sanguine confidence to visitors who talk
with him that the country generally is
behind him on the tolls question All of
his correspondence. some of it from
friends who are going from one place to
another, represents that the people who
are thinking at all are with Mr. Wilson
The Presidents opinion as well as that
of most public men. is that the masses
of the people little concerned about
the matter. as it does not vitality touch
them. and that whatever opinion exists
is among these who invariably take
something of a hand in politics and those
whose racial or other prcjudices arc in
rolved As :: live national problem tolls
is not seriously regarded by the experts
who desire to keep in close touch with
the people.
The President does not believe the
question will figure as widespread
issue in the elections next fall. He be
lfeveS that prosperity will be swinging
along by that time; that the people will
be satisfied. and that they will care for
little except holding on to the good times
in prospect.
Mayor Newton D. Baker of Cleveland
Ohio, who dropped in at the White House
to pay his respects to President Wilson
said the sentiment in his city and sec
ton of the state was decidedly in favor
of the repeal. He is supporting the
Presidents position. He remarked that
the Chamber of Commerce of Cleveland,
having at least 1000 members, republic
ans and democrats alike, went on record
for the repeal before President Wilson's
attitude was made known, and that
Cleveland showed a pronounced senti-
ment of support for the President.
Reticent on Freight Rates.
The President today declined to publicly
express himself about the proposed in
crease Of freight rates. as he does not
wish to be placed in the position of in
fuencing the interstate commerce COM
mission, but he did not denounce or deny
any of the stories printed that he pri-
vately hopes to the request of the
railroads given favorable consideration
by the commission.
Everything continues to point to the
fact that the President and his advisers
believe that with the restoration of con-
f1dence in the business world through a
decision of the commission that will be
a fair chance to struggle for business
prosperous conditions will fly through the
front doors of the homes of the land and
that canal tolls and other perplexing
problems worrying the politicians will be
SO far forgotten that the democrats will
have an easy walk-over next November
Evidences are said to be multiplying
that democratic senator's who have been
Inclined to listen to the criticisms of a
radical element on several questions re-
Gently are beginning to come to the con-
clusion that as to tolls and many other
things now before Congress, the real
basis of the opposition to the views sef
the President is an organized attempt 4 o
discredit the administration SO that the
defeat of the democrats in. November
will be easier That is the view that pre-
walls more openly each day among visit
ors to the White House. If the fight is
to be along those lines the contest prom
ises to take on more of a partisan cast
before the final vote in the Senate
Sentiment. With the President.
Democratic senators at the White House
toda W; ;unhesitatingly asserted that the
sentiment of the country, as it has de-
sve1oped, is with President Wilson. The
| people of Oklahoma believe that the Unit
ed States having spent millions to build
the ,canal, the government is entitled to
charge tolls, and should not create a ship
I'trust or other monopoly by giving free
litransit to any Ships said Senator Gore
Il am perfectly safe in saying that the
people of Oklahoma are almost unani-
| mously with the President
|, Senator Salisbury of Delaware was
lequally positive as to the situation in his
Estate. Where there has been agitation
| for the sole and direct purpose of max
| ing trouble for the President, there may
| be- Opposition. said Senator salisbury,
/ but the masses of the people, those who
| do the real voting at election time are
| not giving any thought to the subject
and will not do SO. They are more deep
| ly concerned about other things. They
believe in the President and his admin
istration.'
/ Democratic senators and representa-
,tives who have taken the trouble to
sound opinion report that they are not
lin the least disturbed about what the
Icountry will do at election time. and that
| all reports declare the people are with
President Wilson and his administration.
Predicament of Senator Thomas.
l. Senator Thomas of Colorado who has
no. committed himself on the tolls ques-
| ton, but who visited the President to-
tday, said: IF 1 am to judge by the cor
| respondence i get from home I would
mot know just what the sentiment is on
tolls About half of my correspondents
lwarn me that if l do not support the
President l. will be defeated, and an
| other half that if I support him l will be
| defeated. i think l will weigh all the
letters some day and see which side
| weighs the most"
! Senator Simmons of North Carolina
after an absence Of some days in his
state called on the President today to
/ discuss patronage problems Regarding
| sentiment there he said:
| Many people called on me when
was at home, and / found a practically
| unanimous sentiment in behalf of sup
porting the President. Besides. the peo-
pie do not see why coastwise shipping
( which needs no help. should be favored
with free access to. the canal