Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-16
A Question of Honor, National
and Personal

President Wilson is said determined send
message Congress urging the repeal of the law exempng
American coaste ships from Panama Canal tolls His deter
mination Such message from President Wilson would
alongside speech Candidate Wilson
warmly appaudng the enactment of the very laws he
repeal preach rights per-
sonal letters is bad enoughto embody such policy Pres
Dental message would be
The President bases his present opposition to the law he
applauded upon the broad principle of national
newspaper that finds its aspiration in offices where the
prices of railway stocks and the maintenance of railroad
the amportan public questions harping this ques
ton of national honor
One would think that the national honor special Viii
discoveyand regrets that his soctude for did
become acute in time to save it in Mexico
The Wilson anxiety for the national honor however
stirred by the blood of American citizens poured the soil
Mexico the tears of American exposed the
dts of Villa But aroused very agony by
the proposition enforce national law the dermen the
transcontinental railroads.
nations honor after all is the summing up of the Of
personal honor of all its citizens It's first citizen its President
should express his actions the of the people
Let us consider this question of personal honor
Woodrow Wilson was nominated for the Presidency by
olutons:
the of
eeastV"e trade passing through the canal"
Mr. Wilson accepted the nomination of that convention He
accepted its platform without reservation August TO- 1912 al
most two months after the convention held he made
speech urging his hearers to vote for him. and for the platform
and referred to this particular subject thus
"ons the bills pndns Just passed by Congress- passed be-
yesterday Senate had the House. provided for
ship through that which owned American
You the object of that don't your We don't
railways with themselves because
kind of competition We the carriage to
carriage. be perfectly that
better rates around by tho canal than would
the continent"
speech after the subject had been fully de-
bated Congress The plank applaudd had been inserted
the platform after the fullest consideration The belated effort
special pleades for the railroads to make
pear Struggled in has failed majority of the platform
committee which considered have testified to the regularity of
its adoption.
What the nation what voice, unheard
people large has whispered to the President and what
the arguments which changed commendable policy in
August 1912 national dishonor this February What has
abandon the effort get better rates around by
the Canal than you would across the continent7"
The candidate for President sought votes platform de-
handing tolls he sought by speaking favor of that
Once elected he repudates his platform retracts his
words, violates his implied contract with the voters.
President says that there is an honest difference Of
opinion to the meaning of the Hay treaty
That difference of opinion freely and fully dis
cussed during the campaign of 1912 Mr. Wilson then advocated
American side of the CONFERENCE.-THE anti British the anti
monopoly the anraroad side He approved the unanimous
declaration National Convention the subject Ten mil
lion approved his position then the Progressive parys
position President Ta position taken after due consideration
Of the law and the existing treaties
President Wilson has not yet given the true why he
repudiaes his former and adopts the views of the
transconnenal railroads and of the British Government