Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-05
WILSON SCORED
IN SENATE FOR
CANAL STAND
Congress Plans to Grill Secretary
Bryan on the Mexican
Situation
Continued From Page I.

nounced in measured tones by the
Chief Executive.
At the close there was no indica-
ton as 10 whether the sentiment OF
the address had been favored or not.
The tribute Of applause was such as
has always been rendered when the
President addressed Congress
First Open Party Breach.
Republicans and ProgressiYes
seemed amused at the situation. Dem
ccratic leaders were nervous and APP
parently much worried at the posi-
bilities for their party which the
days events might bring.
Majority Leader Underwood and
Speaker Clark, Of the House. with
Chairman Doremus. of the Democrat
ic Congressional Campaign Commit
tee, listened unmoved to a doctrine
which they have publicly declined TO
accept.
There was much whispering among
Democrats before the President ar
rived as they looked about at the
crowds in the galleries and realized
that the first open breach in the ranks
of the majority party during the VIII
son AiAlittISNl alum WAC 'NiAiS ''-NS
played to the public.
That the Pre- sident would have his
way was taken for granted even by
the older leaders Of the opposition.
They contented themselves by declar-
ing that they would stand by the
platform pledge of free tolls 10 Amer
lean coastwise shipping, and let the
President take all the responsibility
Of action in violation of that pledge.
AnnuIIing Bill Introduced.
Within an hour after President
Wilson had called upon Congress to
act. Senator Chiffon. Of West Vir-
ginia, this afternoon introduced bill
to amend the Panama Canal act and
permit the repeal Of the clause eX-
empting American coastwise ship
ping from the payment of tolls. The
text of the provision reads:
1.-The President, Notwithstanding
anything herein contained, is hereby
authorized and empowered by proc
lamation to make, suspend, alter,
change or abolish any tolls Contem-
plated or provided for by this act, and
may prescribe tolls to be charged in
any case in which tolls are prohibited
herein"
Responsibility Personal.
The address follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
81 have come to you upon an err
rand which can be very briefly per
formed, but | beg that you VIII not
measure its importance by the num-
ber of sentences in which | state 1t.
No communication l have addressed
to the Congress carried with it graver
or more far reaching implications to
the interest of the country, and ] now
come to speak upon matter with re-
gard to which | am charged in a pc
culiar degree by the Constitution IT.
self with personal responsibility.
IT have come to ask for the repeal
of that provision of the Panama Ca
nal act of August "A, 1912, which eX-
empts vessels engaged in the coast
wise trade of the United States from
payment of tolls, and to urge upon
you the justice, the wisdom and the
large policy OF such a repeal with tine
utmost earnestness OF which l am ca
pabe
I'm my own Judgment, very fully
considered and maturely formed, that
exception constitutes a mistaken eco
nomic policy from every point OF
view, and is, moreover in plain con
travention OF the treaty with Great
Britain concerning the canal con-
cluded oil November Is. 1901. But
have not come 10 you to urge my per
sonal views. / have come to state K
you a fact and a situation.
whatever may be our own differ
ences of opinion concerning this much
debated measure, its meaning is no
debated outside the United States
Everywhere else the language Of th'
| treaty is given but one Interpretation
and that interpret alton precludes tn,
| exemption | am asking you to repeal
| We consented to the treaty, its Ian
| guage we accepted, if we did not orig
| mate il. and we are too big. too pow
! erful too self-respecting a nation t.
! interpret with too strained or refined
a reading the words of our owl
promises just because we have powe
enough to give us leave to read then
as We please.
To Support Foreign Policy.
THE large thing to do is the onl,
/ thing we can afford to do, a Volun
tary withdrawal from position
everywhere questioned and misunder
stood. We ought 90 reverse our ac
tion without raising the question
whether we were right or wrong au
so once more deserve our reputation
for generosity and the redemption o
every obligation without bubble o
hesitation
Il ask this of you in support of tn
foreign policy of the Administration
shall not know how to deal wit
other meetings of even greater deli
cacv and NEARER consequence if yo
do not grant 1t to me in ungrudgin
| measure"