Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-04-08


have been divided in opinion as to the
wisdom OF doing away with the clause
of the law which allowed American
coastwise sailing ships 70 pass free Of
tolls through the Panama canal The
fight in the senate and house has been
worth seeing. for during the dehstes
on the floor and In the discussions in
cloakroom and corridor men who hold
| themselves good Americans have been
charged with desire to cringe before
the thrones of Europe and to hold that
whatever the foreigner wants the
American should yield.
OF course the charge Of lack OF
Americanism is ridiculous on It's face,
but the bitterness that has come into
this repeal matter has been such that
ordinarily well poised men lost their
courtesy and let their tempers get
the better of them. President Wilson
in his message to congress told the
members that in his opinion the law
exempting the American coasters from
tolls was a direct violation OF the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty with Great
Britain and he virtually said that this
country could not afford to be charged
with breach of faith.
Caused Some Bitterness.
1t is rather a hard thing to say
perhaps. but seemingly it was pleas
ant day for the senators and house
members who were opposed to the
president in this matter when Walter
H. Page. our ambassador to Great
Britain, accepted an invitation to
speak before the members of the
chamber of commerce of London. Mr..
Page, of course 1t will be remembered,
was reported to have said things
which gave the friends of toll exemp-
ton chance to say that he was I'M
American and that this country was
kowtowing to Great Britain. Mr..
Page made his explanations and the
president accepted his word that moth
Ing that he said was out of the way
nor counter to the continuance of COM
plete international amity. A good
many members OF congress. however.
refused to accept Mr.. Pages explana-
ton and the bitterness of the repeal
hSul mas continued.
Liquor Question Big Issue.
Senator Sheppard of Texas says:
THE two nationwide issues of over
sbadowing interest are federal prohi-
bition of the manufacture and sale OF
Intoxicating liquor and woman suf-
frage. People may try to minimize
the importance of these two questions.
but they are here and they are going
to stay here until answered one way
or the other"
There are resolutions for an amend
ment to the Constitution OF the United
sale of alcoholic liquors now I'M
der consideration in the judiciary com
mittees OF the senate and the house.
If the resolutions ever are reported
into open house and senate so that
senators and representative must go
on record. it is predicted that they
would get at least a majority Of the
votes. although, of course. a two-thirds
majority is necessary to submit TO the
states the proposed amendment to the
great document If congress should
adopt the resolution then the ques-
ton of drink or no drink would be
put up squarely to the states of the
Union.
1t has become evident from the
writing of recent editorials in the jour
nails devoted to the interests Of liquor
making and liquor selling that a
change has come recently in the tone,
manner and method of pronounce
ments of the editors. 1t would seem
that the makers and sellers of intoxi-
eating drinks think today that the
prohibition cause has been strength
ened considerably within the last ten
years.
Cut Loose From Past Methods.
The representatives Of the liquor In
terests today are asking the manufac-
turers and dealers to cut loose from
the methods OF the past. when their
own organs declare they were in the
habit of seeking support from political
elements in a community which in
way we're generally considered to be
antagonistic to plans for general re-
lOA lOudy lHS REPRESENTATIVES, Vi
the liquor dealers take the position
that their business is a legitimate one,
and that it must be treated as are 9TH
er legitimate business interests.
As things are. however, it seems to
the Washington senators and repre-
sentatives that the prohibition cause
Is making progress all over the coun-
try, and that sooner or later the con-
gress of the United States in open
house" must meet the question of
whether or not to submit an amend
ment declaring liquor selling illegal.
Some years ago nearly all the sena-
tors and representatives could have
voted against a resolution seeking a
prohibition amendment without rum
ming any risks Of defeat in their
states and districts.
A vote against p constitutional
amendment today, however. probably
would be fatal in a political sense TO
a majority of the men In the lower
house of congress. This may explain
why it is that it is so hard for the
friends of a prohibition amendment to
inluce the committees to report the
resolution to the two houses.
Lakes. At present the total annual
WELD for fha xhole rounfrv 10 Ices