Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-09
Republican Senator Makes
a Vigorous Plea for Ex-
emptiOn Repeal.
HOOTS TRUCKING CRY
Cites Declaration of Independ-
ence in Support of Respect
for Other Nations.

Washington. D. c, April 9.-PubliC
heafings we're begun today before the
senate canals committee on repeal o
Panama tolls exemption Senators
who have introduced bills and resolu
tons were 10 have their subjects
heard. From q seat in the house gal
lery Andrew Carnegie applauded Z
vigorous speech by Representative
Vollmer OF Iowa, the newest member
supporting Panama tolls exemption
repeal Carnegie later visited the
White House
Carnegie chatted a few minutes
with the president He said the visit
vas merely TO pay his respects Con
esrnfng the tolls controversy Carne-
gle said: Our country will be dis
honored If we do not uphold our
treaty" Carnegie predicted the re-
peal bill would pass the senate. and
jokingly suggested: only prayer
vfl help some OF those democrats in
the senate. the way they are behav-
lng now"
Washington. ID. c, April s-Sena-
tor Lodge. ranking republican mem
Der OF the foreign relations committee.
addressed the senate today in support
o. President Wilson's Panama canal
;slis pUiicy. He maintained vigorous
. the legal right OF the United States
10 exempt its shipping. foreign as well
as eoastwise. from tolls, but declared
that "a decent respect TO the opinions
Of mankind" and the "distrust and in
some cases dislike With which the
United States is regarded abroad, de-
mand prompt repeal of the exemption
Cause Of the canal act
Whether We shall insist upon Civ
ing TO our ships two or three million of
dollars in a disputed way is, in my con-
esptiOl. very small question COM
pared 10 the larger issues which are
here involved" said the senator.
When the year 1909 opened. the Unit
ed States occupied a higher and strong
er position among the nations of the
earth than at any period in our his
tory. Never before had We possessed
such an influence in international af-
iairs, and that influence had been used
beaefcently and for the worlds peace
n two conspicuous instances-at
Portsmouth and at A.geciras- Never
before had our relations with the yari-
Gus states OF Central and South Amer
lea ben SO good. II seemed as if the
shadow OF suspicion which. owing TO
our dominant and at times domineer-
ing power. had darkened and chilled
Our relations with the peoples OF Latin
America had al last been lifted. This
great position and this commanding
influence have been largely lost.
Retraeins Some Of Steps.
! am not in the councils Of the pres
dent Of the United States. but ! be- |
heve that during the past year the /
Present position Of the United States /
70 Us foreign relations has become /
very apparent 10 him. as II has to 9th
ef responsible and refiecting men. and |
WITH this appreciation OF our present |
position has come the earnest wish 10
ie'raee some Of our steps. at least. and
Q regain. 30 far as possible. the high
pane which We formerly occupied. II
would be an obvious impropriety to
'oint out the specific conditions OF our
lfesent relations with the various ma
ions. both in the old world and the
-ew; u is enough TO note the fact that
! = are regarded by other nations with
iistrust and In some cases with dis
IKE Rightly or wrongly. they have
one 20 believe that We are not 10 be
r1sted; that We make our interna-
lons! relations the sport OF politics
I'd treat them as II they were in no
Use different from questions Of do
lestc legislation. This has not been
. accord with our history or our posi-
on. Only once have we abrOgated a
-eaiy. and then actual. II not de-
iared. war existed. We have scrupu-
'1siy observed our international
sreemeEts. and where differences have
1sen We have settled them not with
.e high hand OF power. but by nego- ,
Aiion and arbitration.
Respect For Others Opinions. 1
] suppose that al this moment in
e midst Of the adroitly stimulated :
issions raised against the presidents {
that We should repeal {
s toI exemption it will be thought ]
~ poor spirited and even truck '
ig-I believe that Is the accepted q
'rd-tO suggest that in deciding this {
.esuon We should take into consider q
ION the opinions OF other nations L
sFertheless. consider this a very '
portant element in any decision 4
neh may reach. and / am encour- c
ed 20 believe that I am riglt In so Il