The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-13
Democratic National Committee
Issues Statement That Many
Convention Delegates Did
Not Know of Plank
Wilson Supporters
To Spring Coup
Referendum of Delegates Show
They Started 5 to | In Favor
of Repeal Bryan Declares
Plank Got In Through Sub
terfuge

WASHINGTON, April 1@.-Fresl-
dent Wilson ana his advisers appar-
entity are becoming worried over tne
fate OF the Panama tolls repeal bill in
the senate.
Two members of the cabinet Issued
statements tonight defending the ad-
m.niStration measure. by authority or
the Democratic national committee u
statement WIS issaed that il designat-
ed to show mat majority OF the del
egafes that sat In the Baltimore con-
vention in 1912 did not know of the
presence OF the platform OF the plank
endorsing the exemption clause. TINS
statement further contends that "a ma
jority OF the delegates are with the
president an this issue, despite the
Platform declaration.
In IA copy Of an editorial 10 be
printed in the Commoner, MIR, BfyAn,
secretary of state. makes all extended
\ argument ia support OF The repeal
bill He takes the position thai the
plank approving the exemption clause
7 does not count IN view of The party $
.tffae- henored hostility" to hoanties
and subsidies Secretary bryan argues
that 10 permit American vessels 10 go
through the canal without payment Of
tolls would amount tn nothing more
or less than the payment OF a suo-
sidy.
From business Standpoint.
Mr. Redfieid. the secretary Of COM
merce, argued this tolls question from
q business standpoint lie made the
claim that the shippers most directly
concerned will moi he adversely affect
ed If required 10 pay tolls. He pointed
out that these shippers new tranship
/ ever the is,hmus of Tehuantepec, and
tina, they would save money by taking
the Panama canal route and paying
las a ton
Mr. Bryan's formal approval Of the
- ha gse{s f4-elts ion n .
tng its face on the Baltimore platform
tolls plank la expected 70 arouse a
storm Of criticism
Democratic opponents Of the admin
Iteration bill express resentment over
The action of tho Democratic national
COMMITTEES in rushing 10 the rescue az
the administration in this emergency.
They recall that City tive Demo
Gratis In the house voted against the
repeal bill. and that number Of
Democrats in the senate are opposed
10 the measure Privately they aver
that the control II tho party organiza
ton by President Wilson and his
friends may he made the subject Of
acrimonious comment in congress.
To Emtsarrass Opponents
President Wilson's supporters IN the
tolls fight have explained coup that
is likely 10 confuse and embarrass
the apposents OF the repeal bill in
the senate. The chief argument in
the house against the repeal bill
made by Democrats, and the chief
reliance In the senate or senator
OGorman, and other Democrats. who
ore opposing repeal. was the decia-
ration in the Baltimore PLATFORM IN
favor Of free tolls TO coastwise YES
sells.
To demonstrate Just how important
and binding the platform declaration
should be, Senator Gore, Of okfaho~
ma an administration supporter, on
April list started a referendum to OBJ
hahn the sentiment of the delegates
Who sat In the Baltimore convention
on tho merits Of the repeal bill.
Delegates Favor Repeal.
The nrst instalment from the re-
plies received was put out tonight by
authority of the Democratic national
committee. The results are very sat
ssfactory to the president. In his let
ter sent to each of the delegates. Sem
atar Gore asked whsther the delegate
Favored or opposed free tolls.
II was claimed tonight that the
scte stands 33s for repeal, 50 against
repeal and II non-committal--a ra-
Ito of 5 to ! for repeal. which IL
About the ratio shown among the
Democrats in the house on the vote
taken on the repeal bill.
!. Seine of the most interesting or the
replies were made public tonight
Governor Ferris. Of Michigan. who
was a delegate. writes
II am with President Wilson in his
message asking congress to repeal the
free tolls act ] am with him. mol
hmply because of my blind loyalty &c
President Wilson. I am with him
because / think he is right"
Secretary Bryan, by throwing him.
self in the canal tolls fight. has raised
another issue which will increase this
bitterness in the. Democratic party.
He charges in effect that the tolls
Exemption plank in the Baltimore
platform was inserted through subter-
ft,re without the convention realizina
The full meaning OF the declaration
For the first time also Mr.. Bryan
acknowledges that the diplomatic re-
tations OF this government with other
nations are seriously threatened by
the excm ption clause in the Panama
ranai act, and that it involves the
question OF the United States array
ing itself against the world
His views were given out at the
state department with the explana'
lion that they are expressed through
q the issue Of the Bryan publication
which is to appear tomorrow.
Secretary Bryan justifies the repu-
81 diation of the tolls exemption PLANK
~ not only on the ground that It wal
Nh Inserted through subterfuge. but also
|STh0cAuse II Is In contradiction Of an
sOther plank in the same platform
sss5 nGAinet direct or indirect ship subsi
s n1ea The latter he describes A. thu
Ss 1Sxsr plank of the two.