The Detroit times., 1914-05-04
TOWNSEND AIMS
BLOW AT TOLLS
REPEAL BILL
Michigan Senator Also Improves
Opportunity to Attack Wilson
Mexican Policy
SAYS MEASURE HITS
WOLVERINE STATE
Detroit Strongly Interested In
Cheap Rate, Declares Scion
in Speech

WASHINGTON, ID. c., May A.
Il will not vote my government. OF
which am part, guilty OF perhdy
aud dishonor. in order 20 obtain the
approval OF the selfish shipping IN.
terest OF foreign nation declared
Senator Townsend OF Michigan, at
the conclusion of a strong speech
against the tolls exemption repeal
bill. in the senate, this afternoon.
In the course OF his speech he paid
attention 10 President Wilson's Mex
lean policy.
"Out OF our Mexican relations no
possible credit or honor can come TO
our country" ne said. The war now
raging between Huerta and the
United States will be recorded in his
tory as having originated In an I'M
jUstiiable stated cause.
Was IL Cato, the Roman orator,
who had such hatred OF Carthage
that he closed every speech with the
words: Carthage must be destroyed
Our president assumed similar atti-
tude toward Huerta. He has, how
ever, entered upon armed interven-
ton In Mexico and every patriotic
American will follow the commander
in-chlef, right or wrong In this I'M
stance. Huerta will probably be de-
stroyed and TO accomplish th6. IN
struction> thousands OF Americas best
boys and OF Mexico's guiltless sons
may die.
mo sickly sentimentality, no fear
OF or hope OF reward from powerful
railroad corporations, no desire 10
evade full responsibility by the Unit
cd States OF its duties under the Mon
roe doctrine. no effort 10 purchase the
temporary cooperation OF any foreign
nation in our clearly defined national
duties, will control my action | am
opposed 10 running>up the white flag
cause is just.
The Panama canal. If il shall re-
main under the undisputed dominion
OF the United States and its use shall
Justify the hopes OF its builder will be
a benefit not alone to New York and
California. but 10 every state in the
union. The products OF Michigan
shipped 10 Oregon will by virtue OF
cheap transportation through this
cana receive a benefit. The railroad
rate from Detroit 10 Portland mus;
meet the rail and water rate from De.
trcit via New York or New Orleans
and the canal to Portland. Today the
railroad rate from Detroit 10 Pacific
points Is affected TO some extent by
the rates by water from the Atlantic
seaboard by way OF the Straits OF
Magellan 10 Pacific points.
1T is. impossible that the shorter
Panama route will not have the effect
OF cheapening transportation or bet
tering the facilities, or both between
the middle west and the Pacific coast.
| do not expect great reduction In
individual rates because OF the Pan
anna canal influence. but the aggregate
benefit will be great, much greater
THAI the aggregate of RENTED tolls
on domestic shipping.
"Will the shipper pass this freight
benefit on to the consumers or Will he
absorb It all? That, OF course, Is a
more difficult question. But without
lower transportation charges the con-
sumner can not even hope TO get a
benefit, while with them he can"
Senator Townsend discussed at
length the diplomatic history Of the
canal negotiations. and attempted TO
show that the exemption OF coastwise
ships from tolls did not constitute a
violation OF its letter or spirit.
Action now may determine wheth-
er we shall continue 10 settle for
ourselves matters affecting our do
nestle AFFAIRS and our national honor,
or whether, right or wrong we shall,
al the behest OF president, no mat
ter how sincere, repudiate our past,
weaken the Monroe doctrine. under
which It has been possible 10 demo
cratize the western continent, and
with no new reason except that the
president demands II.
"If in the course Of this debate, the
president has been too severely criu-
cized, and II he shall hereafter be i'm
properly arraigned, he can not justly
complain. He should at least have
taken the congress into his conf.
dence and presented the real reasons
which were evidently sufficient "a
affaot rhauQa In him F"