Evening journal., 1914-04-10
FRIDAY APE. 1o. IeI4.
cANAL REPEATER AND SENTIMENT.


r n connection with the canal toll exemption repeal
agitation It is interesting to note that Former
United States Senator Harry A. Richardson, Of Dover
stands pat in opposition to the repeal In an interview
he says:
When the canal bill was enacted two years ago
voted with the majority for the exemption Of American
coastwse vessels from the payment Of tolls stand
now where stood then The subject was fully discuss
when the bill up for passage In the Senate Al
though Senator Root whose ability is unquestoned was
against exemption, there ample authority that the
terms of the HayPauncefote treaty were not violated
by exempting our vessels from paying tolls.
In view Of the Senator Salisbury succeeded
Mr. Richardson as Senator, the following in the news
columns Of the Washington star, will interest Della
wareans.
senator salisbury Of Delaware was equally positive
as to the situation his State where there has been
agitation for the sole and direct purpose of making
trouble the President there may be opposition said
Senator Salisbury but the masses Of the people those
who do real voting at election time are not giving
any thought to the subject and will not do They
arc more deeply concerned about other things. They
believe in the President and his administration
And yet Senator Salisbury cannot be ignorant of the
fact that there exists in this State, in all the other
States radical difference OF opinion the tolls ex-
empton question. Party lines down here the same
as they are in Washington and elsewhere. Senator
Thomas of Colorado, perhaps expressed the situation
fairly we'll when he said:
If we're TO Judge by the correspondence get from
home ! would not know just what the sentiment is
on tolls. About half OF my correspondents warn me
NJ
and another half that II support him will be de-
feated. think will weigh all the letters some day
and see which side weighs the most
We think It would be utterly impossible for any mem
Der the Senate to vote either side of the repeal
question thereby please all of his constituents
or even all Of his party friends AS we have said be-
fore. 1t has ceased to be party question.
Senator Salisbury and other administration Demo-
Gratis seemingly would like attribute to other
than antcanal toll repeater sentiment the tremendous
Republican victory and the staggering Democratic de-
feat the Seventh New Jersey Congressional district
on last Tuesday Some Of them say the great reversal
was due the Underwood tariff II that be true, and
n It be indicative of national sentiment the Demo
cratic tariff then God pity the Democracy when the
great American electorate marches TO the polls next
November But it is altogether true with respect
to that New Jersey contest. While there is no dues-
ton that the Underwood tariff was discussed there,
one Of the chief raised by Drukker, the Re
publican candidate who by such handsome mar
gin. was President Wilson'S proposed repeal of the
canal toll exemption clause in favor of American
coastwise ships Mr. Drukker forced the front
as issue and the result would 70 indicate that
the Presidents policy in regard to this subject. no
less than the arin, a considerable factor in his
In any event there is doubt that all over
the country, as well in our own State, there is
lively interest in this question, and believe that
Senator saulsburys statement as published in the
Washington Star does represent the true senti-
ment Of people AS pointed out repeatedly in
these columns there exists great difference of opinion
IN regard to the merits of the question, and have
doubt that the hearings before the Senate Commte,
On Interoceanc Canals will be read with close atten-
ton and that to the debate in the SEN
ate the lines will be definitely drawn in that body
Tor or against the measure.