The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-04
SUMTER. 8. c., SATURDAY, APRIL 4 1914


expecting to listen to a political dia-
tribe laughed and cheercd with the
others.
There is glory enough for ALL"
said the speaker, referring to his Dem
ocratic colleagues, 'and with such
men / will not argue
The house listened attentively to
the speakers argument against the
tolls repeal, his assertion that he be-
lievcd the president was mistaken, his
argument that the Canadian Pacific
railroad and the Tehuantepec Nation
al railway would profit by the repeal,
ard his appeal against yielding any
thing to Great Britain
I'VE built the Panama canal" the
speaker shouted in the climax of his
speech. I'VE built it on American
soil We have fortified it; we will
control it. We built it primarily and
almost entirely for our own benefit
and sccOndarily for the worlds ben
eft. I would rather see the canal
walled up than give Great Britain
control Of it. / would rather have
the canal filled up with granite bould-
crs than to yield one iota of control
over it to any foreign nation"
This was signal for the opponents Of
repeal TO open their strongest bat
tories of applause and the chamber
for several moments rang with the
din of cheers and shouts.
Holding the interest to the end,
the speaker remained Il commanding
figure interrupted by applause as he
proceeded.
Almost prayCrful!y he continued,
lowering his heavy voice to say: Now
may the God OF our fathers who
nerved 5000 900 backwoods Ameri-
cans to fling their gage Of battle into
the face of the mightiest monarchs in
the world, who guided the hand of
Jefferson in writing the charter of
liberty, who sustained Washington and
his ragged and starving army amid
the awful horrors Of Valley Forge,
and who gave them complete victory
IN the blood-stained heights of York
town, may He lead members to vote
so as to prevent this stupendous folly
=this unquestionable degradation of
the American republic"
Speaker Clark had finished. He
had defended his position; praised the
president whom he opposed; express
ed admiration Of his colleagues from
whom he differed on this question;
chidcd those who had assailed him
ana sugar-coated instead Of tarring
the situation. AS he walked from his
Place the house arose en- masse. Dem
ocrats, Republicans and Progressives
alike cheered. When order could be
restored Representative Adams IN
took the floor to close the long de-
bate.
Representative Adamson devoted
himaelf largely to denunciation OF
free toll legislation as an economic
policy. characterizing as mock sub
sidy TO special interests those who
have lohbied steadily before the inter-
state and foreign commerce commit
tee of the house for seven years. The
house was in an uproar and Represen-
tativc Underwood had difficulty in re-
storing order.
Later Speaker Clark resumed the
chair and strenuously sought for or
der, but although Representative
Adamson spoke for about half an
hour the house was in such disorder
that little Of his speech was heard.
When he concluded Representative
Aomason called for vote. a hush
swept the crowded floor and the pack
eli galleries as Speaker Clark an
nCunccd vote on the third reading
and cnGrossmcnt of the bill"
Republican Leader Mann demanded
Il ron Gull, ana the llfSt record vote
ol the bill was forced on prelimi-
nary Legislative stage. The adminis-
tration's strength made it's appear
ance however, and the bill was ad-
Nahcod through the third reading hy
II vote of 247 to 100.
sound OF cheers and onnlausn
greeted the announcement of this
vote and scarcely had it subsidized
when Representative O'Shaughncssy
OF Rhode Island presented tho mo-
ton to recommit the bill, prepared by
conference of leaders opposed to the
measure. 1t read:
Il move to rccommit the bill II. Il.
143S5 to the committee on Interstate
and foreign commerce with 1irccti,nc