Evening star., 1914-03-06
Practically Certain Canal Toll
Exemption Clause Will
Be Repealed.
OPPOSITION is PLACED
AT GREAT DISADVANTAGE
Presidents Strategy in Situation
Cited-Underwood and O'Gorman
Will Fight Executives Plan.

1t is practically conceded on all sides
in Congress that Presidents Wilson de-
mand for toll exemption repeal will be
granted and the repeal bill passed The
ominous phrasing of the last paragraph
of his message yesterday renders it un-
thinkable. it is said, that his party should
align itself against him.
The prevailing sentiment in this regard
Kern. democratic leader of the Senate.
who said:
Il voted for toll exemption, and if /
vote for repeal it will not be because
have changed my views. I do not believe
Pauncefote treaty.
IF I support the Presidents request l
will do so because of his desire for Con-
gress to support his foreign policy, and
for the further reason that in questions
of this kind. where there is any doubt as
to Interpretation of treaties. the foreigner
should be given benefit of the doubt"
House Is for Repeal.
Representative Palmer announces that
a poll Of the House shows decided ma
jority in favor of the Presidents de-
mand.
At the Capitol today it was said that
the President had exercised brilliant
strategy in his presentation of the issue
to Congress He avoided discussion of
the merits of the contention. upon which
there Is acute division of opinion. brush
ed all that aside and appealed upon the
score of preponderating and outweigh
ing questions of larger public exigency.
He has the opposition in Congress AT
a distinct disadvantage now, 1t was said
today. They were ready for him. in a
discussion of the pros and cons of tolls
for American ships. and were supported
by eminent democratic and other author
ity in their contentious. He declines bat
tie on that ground. they say. and chal-
lenges them on territory with which he
alone is familiar-namely, other matters
of even greater delicacy and nearer con
sequence"
Will Register Protests.
While the President is confidently ex-
pected to win in the end. he will not
obtain his way without protest from his
own party and from the republicans. In
the House Leader Underwood will make
a speech against repeal and in the Sen
ate Mr.. O'Gorman will vigorously re-
sist.
Mr. Underwood will discuss the material
phase Of the question. that is to say, the
interests of Americans in their own
canal. Senator O'Gorman will devote him.
self largely to the diplomatic feature, the
right in international law OF this gov
ernment to exempt its coastwise ships.
One republicans position Is outlined in
statement issued by Representative
Knowland Of California, as follows:
1.-The President in the last sentence Of
his message, when he said I shall not
know how to deal with other matters
lf even greater delicacy and nearer con-
sequence if you do not grant it to me
in ungrudging measure. practically ad-
mitted what every one has suspected
namely, that the failure of his policy
Of 'watchful waiting has made neces-
sary a surrender of American rights at
Panama.
"a former President, just as patriotic;
the last Secretary of State, just as capa-
BILE and as sincere an American, both
took the position that when we exempted
American coastwise vessels and provided
for the free passage of battleships and
other government craft this government
was clearly within its rights, violating no
treaty.
Sees Increased Demands.
Now because of the failure of for
eign policy, and to please nations that are
our commercial rivals, although I doubt
il they have much concern over what
which traffic they are barred, the govern
ment's policy must be reversed Congress
turn a somersault, and this country hu-
inflated in the eyes OF the world l pre-
dict that the demands Of foreign govern
ments will increase if we once renounce
our right to regulate foreign commerce.
..The Presidents position would have
been stronger and his sincerity less open
to question had he discovered that the
q. Ioir of q
treaty before he made his famous speech
as a presidential candidate to the farmers
of Washington Park, N. j., August 10.
1912. pointing out to them the advantage
of free tolls as regulator OF TRANSCRIPT
mental railroad rates and, with the Bal
timore free toll plank in mind. declaring
that our platform Is not molasses to
catch flies. 1t means business Men who
talk one way and vote another will be re-
tired to private life. 1t would be illu-
m;natinp to publish these two speeches in
parallel columns.
Explains Sentences
President Wilson stated to callers at the
White House yesterday THAT his conclud-
ing sentences in the message had no sig
nificance beyond their bearing on the
need of rigorous good faith in the
Panama tolls question as an evidence of
unwayering good faith on all other ques-
tions.
Senator Shively, acting chairman of for
eIen relations committee. is of opinion
that the President referred to all foreign
questions.
"The administration has inherited many
foreign problems" he said. land it is
necessary that our foreign relations be
adjusted That is what I think the
President had in mind"
O'Gorman's Statement.
Senator O'Gorman has issued a state
ment in part as follows:
II yield to no one in respect for the
Presidents motives or patriotism, and ]
withhold my approval of his recommends
ton with regret. Believing his proposal
unwlse. unnecessary and destructive OF
the best interests Of the American people
nv duty as a senator of the United States
offers me no alternative but resistance to
| the proposed repeal.
"Ex-President Taft. Philander c. Knox
ex-Secretary of State: Oscar w. Under.
wood, democratic leader in the House O,
Representatives, and Richard Olney, ex,
Secretary of State in Mr.. Cleveland's ad.
ministration, have asserted that in theil
| onInion the exemption Of coaStWise yes.