The Sentinel=record., 1914-03-06

thing had caused him to read the message except a doubt that had ex. isted in some quarters in congress as to how strongly convinced he was as to the necessity of repeal He had felt that he wanted members of congress to realize that he earnestly sought them to reverse their action of a year ago.
 Senator Shively, acting chairman of the foreign relations committee. to. night said he was assured President Wilson's reference to "other matters" meant all foreign matters confro1ting the government. f'The administra- tlon had inherited many foreign prob. lems," he said, "and it is necessary that our foreign relations be readhlst. ed. That is what I think the pres!- dent had in mind
 When the house committee on in terstate commerce meets tomorrow if IS expected to favorably report the Sims bill to repeal the exemption clause. On the senate side bill for that purpose was introduced last year by Senator Root of New York.
 Senator Chiffon, discussing his amendment to indirectly accomplish the repeal, said it was his own idea Of way out of the difficulty The president had not been consulted with relation to it, he said Some senators fn m Chiffon amendment would leave con. gress open 10 the charge that it had attempted to dodge the issue Sen ator Root asserted that the result would be the same as a flat repeal and that congress might better act by direct repeal
 Some of the leaders in congress. including Majority Leader Under wood of the house, who oppose the repeal, had no comment to make. Many senators and congressman prais ed the message. Others indicated they would support the repeal, though they did not agree with the presi- dents position.
 T voted for toll exemption" said Senator Kern, democratic leader in the senate. If vote for the repeal. it will not be because I have changed my views. I do not believe that the toll exemption violates the Hay Pauncefote treaty. If I support the presidents request | will do so be- cause of his desire for congress to support his foreign policy, and Tor the further reason that in questions of this kind where there is any doubt as to interpretation of treaties the foreigner should be given the benefit of the doubt"
 Representative Evans of Montana, a republican member of the commit tee. telegraphed yesterday to be re- recorded in favor of the repeal of the bill at the committee meeting to- morrow.
 Representative Palmer of Pen1syl vania announced that a poll of the house concusively demonstrated that there are more than enough votes in the house to sustain the presi- dents appeal.
 Representative Knowland of Cali fornia, republican. issued a statement declaring that because of the failure of a foreign policy and to please 1a- tions that are our commercial rivals, the governments policy must be re- versed, congress turn a somersault and this country humiliated in the eyes Of the world" He added that in a speech during the prediction campaign the president had said, re. ferring to the Baltimore free tolls plank:
 "Our platform is not molasses to catch flies; it means business; men Who talk one way and vote another will be retired from public life"
 Wilson's Personal Appeal.
 Washington, March 5.-President Wilson personally appealed to con gress assembled in joint session to- day to sustain the national honor of the United States in upholding treaty obligations by repeating the Panama tolls exemption against which Great Britain protests. He asked congress to do that 'in support of the foreign policy of the administration. and add. ed that an exemption for American ships not only was "a mistaken eco homie policy" but was in contravea- tion of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
 q shall not know how to deal with other matters of even greater delicacy and nearer consequence if you do not grant it to me in ungrudging manner, said the president
 The large thing to do is the only thing we can afford to do; volun- tary withdrawal from position every where questioned and misunderstood. We ought to reverse our action with out raising the question whether we were right or wrong and so once more deserve our reputaation for generos- ity and the redemption of every obli- gation without quibble or hesitation"
 President Wilson's address, the shortest that he has yet delivered to congress, exactly 420 words, was as fOfl0Wgs