Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-31

ident Wilson had for some time been
"a sympathetic listener" to the trans
continental railroads which plotted to
keep up freight rates.
West Ready to Fight.
The benefit that would come to the
Pacific Northwest from the canal is to
be taken from US and given to British
Columbia and the transcontinental
railroads." he continued. Il am one
man from the Pacific Coast who has
never publicly talked war with Japan
We on the Pacific Coast know the
power of the wonderful Japanese En-
pire We know that in many ways
we would be greatly handicapped in a
contest with Japan. But the people
of the Pacific Coast are neither weak
lings nor towards. They do not share
the dread of the President nor the
abject fear of the Secretary of State
or Japan. If it is a question of ma
tional dishonor or war, the people of
the Pacific Coast are ready to fight
row"
England's Honor Involved.
IF there be question of honor in
volved, it is the honor of England"
declared Republican Leader Mann, in
his defense of tolls exemption. They
made no protest against the construc-
ton of the treaty we then made and
under which we acquired the right to
and did build the canal, and to now
come forward with a claim that we
violated the treaty in the beginning
is dishonOrable on the part of Eng
land and subject to severe denuncia-
ton"
Representative Mann asserted there
we're three aspects of the Panama
Canal tolls proposition-first, our
treaty rights; second, our moral
rights apart from the treaty con-
struction, and, third the economic
policy involved. -
Decision Lasting One.
The important question to be de-
cided now" he said lis our treaty
rights for a decision of that question
is lasting one The economic pol
icy might be changed at any time by
Congress hereafter when greater ex-
peflenCe is acquired.
IF we agree now to the English
construction, it is certain that in the
future, when we have a war with ia
pan or China. or some other country.
questions will arise in reference to
their use and our use of the canal,
especially as to war vessels; and in
that time of stress we will be met
with the contention by England. the
mr. al liz
other country. that we have already
construed that treaty in such a way
that We can not protect the canal
without bringing a protest from Eng
land or other countries which will
embarrass if not defeat us in the
war"
All Wait For Clark.
Despite the air of excitement per-
vading the floor and galleries the
tolls debate began in leisurely fash
ion in the House with interest in the
forthcoming speech of Speaker
Champ Clark overshadowing every
thing else.
Representative Nolan, Of Callfor-
MIA, opened the debate with a five
minute speech against the repeal
He attacked the administration for
surrendering TO Great Britain
Let King George build the Mica
raguan Canal and see how magnan-
imous England will be" he said.
Representative LaffertY, Progress
sive, of Oregon compared the Dem
ocratic administration to a biplane
with William j. Bryan as aviator.
He said the biplane would come to
earth again with the defeat of the
free tolls bill. He was followed by
Representative Humphrey.
After listening to previous de-
bate" said Representative Thomas,
Of Kentucky. Il have almost come to
the conclusion that this is no place
for a minister's SON Yet | believe
after all a mere tempest in a teapot