The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-13


~ what rule OF construction can the
small plank be made binding and the
larger one ignored? The secret OF the
strange power cXcrtcd by the little
plank is To be found in the fact that IL
carefully couccals the means by which
ii is to be carried out iiaad the word
subsidy or bounty been inserted in
mis- plank. 1t could not have secured
the Endorsement OF the convention, be
cpuse the contradiction between this
planN and the larger plank would have
been Immediately apparent. II the
same care had been used in the draw
drawing OF the plank on the merchant
marine would have read az follows:
We favor the exemption from toll! OF
American ships engaged IN coastwisc
trade passing through the canal, but
without imposing additional burdens
upon the people and without bounties
or subsidies from the public treasury.
''I}ut even II the platform had not
contained within itself Il ,completc, refn-
vocatcs OF free tolls the President
would have been Justified in the posi-
ton that n" took by the changed CON
ditions which confronted him y plat
form is :; pledge, and is as binding upon
an official as the command OF :; mill
tary office. is upon subordinate
But the subordinate officer IL some
times compelled TO act upon his judg
ment where change OF which The
commanding officer is not aware has
only the right OF the subordinate 10
Judge the situation for himself where
conditions have changed since the or
der was given. but it is his duty TO do
so. In the case under consideration
The President takes responsibility for
an official act which he regards as nee
cssary for his country's welfare. and
the people must decide whether or not
ne Is justified. ana those who refuse
20 act with him also assume rcsponsi-
bility, and they. TOO. must abide the
Judgment OF the public. such a change
has taken place since the baltimore
platform was adopted. Had the Demo
Gratis in convention assembled been
confronted by the condition which now
exists. and had they known what those
now know Who voted for repeal. no
such plank would ever have been placed
( in the platform. The conventions at
tcntion was not even brought 10 the
fact that a majority OF the Democrats
In the House had voted against tn.
free tolls measure, and that IL had, in
fact been passed by combination OF
n minority OF the Democrats ana Il
majority Of the Republicans"
Nr Bryan says that platform planss
dealing with international questions
must be accepted with III. understand
/ ing that W. act Jointly with other
. nations in International affairs" that
"Ncii II tho plank had not been contra
! d!ctcd by another plank in the plat
form: and even If 1t had not concealed
I Il subsidy policy rcpugnhnt to Demo-
cratic principle and history that even
/ 4 conditions had not changed. 4 plat
I form plank should be taken on inter
/ national questions "as the expression of
a wish. rather than as the expression
! OF q determination, for no nation can
! AFFORD 30 purchase n small advantage
/ ia the face of Il universal protest"
should BE Worth the Cost.
/ "If "A nation" continued the sccrc-
/ tary. desires to array itself against
/ the world. il should be sure that the
! thing which IL Is 10 gain IS worth what
/ IL costs The President. knowing that
every commercial nation, except our
own CONSTITUTES the treaty as "A plcde e
. Of equal treatment, would have been
recreant 10 his trust had ne failed to
! point out to the American people that
our diplomatic relations would be seri
ouslY disturbed hy the carrying out OF
the free tolls policy"
Considering the repeal measure upon
It's merits. MIR. Bryan said there we're
just two questions to be decided:
First. is IL desirable for the Demo
cratic party to abandon It's historic
position and become the advocate OF