Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-05

to congress to sustain the national
honor Of the United States In uphold :
ing treaty obligations by repeating the
Panama tolls exemption against which
Great Britain protests. He asked con-
Rress to do that "in support of the
foreign policy Of the administration.
and added that an exemption for Amer
lean ships not only was a mistaken
economic policy" but was in contra
yention OF the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
II hsall 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 measure, .
said the president.
THE large thing to do is the only
ng we can afford to do; a-voluntary
withdrawal from a position everywhere
questioned and misunderstood. We
ought to reverse our action without
raising the question whether we were
right or wrong and so once more de-
serve our reputation for generosity and
the redemption Of every obligation
without a bubble or hesitation"
Shortest on Record.
President Wilson's address, the
shortest he has yet delivered to con-
Rress exactly 420 words. was as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress: I have
come to you on an errand which can
be very briefly performed, but beg
that you will not measure its import
ance by the number of sentences in
which state 1t. No communication
have addressed to the congress carried
with it graver or more far-reaching
implications to the interest of the coun-
try, and I come now to speak on mat
ter with regard to which am charged
in peculiar degree. by the constitu-
ton itself with personal responsibility
%'I have come to ask for the repeal OF
that provision Of the Panama canal act
Of Aug. "a, 1912, which exempts vessels
engaged In the coastwise trade OF the
United States. from payment Of tolls
and to urge on you the justice. the wis
dom and the large policy of such a re-
peal with The utmost earnestness OF
which ] am capable.
Tn my own judgment, very fully
considered and maturely formed, that
exemption constitutes a mistaken eco
nomic policy from every point Of view
and Is more over in plain contraven-
ton Of the treaty with Great Britain
concerning the canal concluded or
Nov. 1S, 1901. But have not come ia
you to urge my personal views. have
come to state to you .act and sit.
uation. Whatever may be our own diff
ference Of opinion concerning this
much- debated. measure, its meaning IL
not debated. outside the United States
Everywhere else the language Of the
h treaty ID given but one Interpretation
and that Interpretation precludes the
exemption Lam asking you to repeal
( We consented to the treaty; its Ian
guage we accepted, II we did not orig
4 inate II; and we are too big, too pow
eFful, too self-respecting nation t.
Interpret with too strained or refined
4 Z reading the words of our own prom
ises Just + because we have power
h enough to give US leave to read them
~ We please.
ss The large thing to do Is the only
( thing ~ can afford to do. voluntary
Swithdrawal from position every.
where questioned and misunderstood
We ought TO reverse our action with
i out raistAg the question whether We
I were ri6hf Or wrong and 30 once more
deserve qur reputation for generosi.,
q ~ d emp tion Of every obligation
q y m bhle OF hesttation.
~ your n support from