The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-04-03
The PRESIDENT
CHANGES front
Philadelphia Inquirer Pro-
duces Speeches.
Calls Attitude On Tolls Question
Back Somer.
saulting.

y President Wilson did recent,
what no other President in the his
tory of the Nation has ever dared
even to suggest Standing before the
membership of the Senate and House
he advocated that American rights
should be surrendered to fit an emer-
gency.
He asked for the repeal of that pro
vision of the Panama Canal act which
excmpts vessels engaged in the coast.
wise trade OF the United States from
payment OF tolls. He has discovered
because OF the emergency-that Eek
empfion constitutes mistaken Geo.
monte policy from every point of view
and Is. moreover. a plain contraven-
ton of the treaty with Great Britain
concerning the canal"
We say that he has made this dis
covery because OF an emergency, for
II u impossible to conceive thai he
copd tear up the Democratic plat
form on which he was elected and
assail the tolls legislation. which he
In person advocatIl as candidate.
for any ether reason.
THIS entire subject was threshed
out in 1912 by the Congress of the
United States. II II was right then
to insist that this government should
not yield control OF It's own internal
commerce. that same right exists to-
: day. A Democratic House declared
i1lass right, refused 10 acknowledge
fhat any foreign nation cou1i domi-
nate our commercial affairs and pass
ed the clause that the Preslden. now
desires repealed.
There followed this action ,,he
adoption of Democratic platform
at Baltimore. There had been weeks
of debate in committee, the House
had acted.but the Senate had not. At
Baltisncrs.to impress the Senate with
the desirability Of following the
House, the Democratic party was
pledged to 10 tolls in the following
words:
I'VE favor the exemption from
tolls of American ships engaged in
coastwise trade passing throush the
Panama Canal.
I'VE also favor legislation forbid
ding the use OF the Panama Canal by
ships. owned or controlled by railroad
carriers engaged in transportation
competitive with the canal
Then what? The Senate, after a
full debate, Joined the House in en-
acting the legislation.
/ And let there be no misunderstood
lug regarding the position of Mr.. Will
son himself on this point. No posi-
HE tncaty violations bothered him in
the slightest degree. Al washington
Park, New Jersey on August Is. 1872
Mr.. Wilson said In a speech to an i'm
'Iuens gathering:
''One Of the great objects in cut
ting the great ditch across the 18TH
mus Of Panama is TO allow farmers
who arc near the Atlantic to ship
to the Pacific Ly way of the Allan
tic ports. to allow all the farmers on
what | may. standihg here. call this !
part of the continent to find an
outlet at ports CT the gulf or the
ports OF the Atlantic seaboafi. and /
then have coastwise steamers carry |
their products down around through !
the canal aud up the Pacific coast or |
down the co.'s. OF South America. |
Nov. al present there are no
ships to do that. AMI one OF the bills
pending. passed. I believe, yesterday
by the Senate as 1t passed the House.
providing for free toll for Americ !
ships through that canal and prohibits
amy ship from passing throush which
is owned by any American railroad
csanpany. You see the object OF
that, don't your (Apg'ause). We
don't want the railroads ~ compete
with themselves, because We under
Irtand that Kind of competition. We
Want water carriage 10 compete with
land carriage. so as 10 be porfcctly
sure thai you are going TO get better
rates arouisl the canal than YOU would
scrcss the continent" Il
eNo suggestion Of . mistaken Gee I
nomlc policy" in those pain woSis,
NO whisper OF "a 'contrlventlon OF The
treaty In that persuasive language.