Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-06

AS The the SITUATION, there is grave
that organized conspiracy of the railroads OF this country
and Canada will destroy of the greatest benefits OF the Fan
anna Canal to the American people.
Briefly For twenty-five years the trans
railroads successfully opposed the construction OF the
Panama They opposed this tremendous development
Meeting the greatest and bringing Eastern and
10000 miles to each other because the
canal would compel railroads reduce their freight rates
The of transporting goods by water always very much less
than by land and in is not half as much.
When they could longer delay the coming of this remep
dos benefit to the American people they made desperate strug
gle allowed ships through the canal which the rail
themselves owned also to prevent any American ships
from going through the canal free of toll charge The railroads
knew that they could their ships through the canal
they could with their gigantic financial resources soon drive
independent steamship line out of the canal they have
everywhere they operate steamships They also knew that
charge levied every ship that passed through the
canal would the cost of water transportation by just
by that amount also would relieve the railroads
from the necessity of reducing their by land
Therefore years ago. when the law governing the use OF
before Congress- the railroads poured their horde
of trained lobbyists Capital City prevent free tolls and
to obtain themselves the right to operate ships through the
canal
But it happened to be moment when Congress was sin
guary free influence of the corporations The national
election The specer of Roosevelt whose genius courage
and energy given the canal doomed dary the men
Congress who usually their orders from these
tions
The party had just held its national convention
at Baltimore solemny declared that American ships in
our trade ought not to toll for passing through
the canal
So the railroads were denied the right operate their
steamships and the attempt to make the American
ships passing through the canal pay toll was voted d1w over
VOTED FOR 1T Of Lodge that notorious reaconay
egegousy misrepresents Massachusetts, and Crane also
voted for the railroads EVERY In The @
OF TOLL CHARGES.
Thus it seemed that one of the great objects the
badc
had been ecuedwhch reduce the cost of trans
porting goods the American continent
But the railroads do surrender after defeat With
election day they calculated that the they accus
both parties would dare to take orders
they could be supplied with some new excuse for chang
ing their This ngeniousy furnished in
the outrageous petense that must have the friendship of
Britain dangerous isolation the worlds affairs
opposed free tolls to ships because the
Canadian Railroad opposed to it, Great Britain bases
her claim of right to protest on the ground that 1t is violation
of her treaty rights
Now great cry has requires
abandon free tolls for American ships pretended that
in difficult straits in our relations and must have
the respect and friendship of Great Britain unnamed
catastrophe likely to befa This the strange story that
President Wilson whispering into the ears OF the Democratic
members of Congress.
The British protest was made the question
before Congress years ago, and it WAS REJECTED BY
CONGRESS THEN. 1T WAS REJECTED BY THE DEMO
CRATIC PARTY IN ITS NATIONAL CONVENTION, which
pledged the Democrats Congress for free tolls and
pledged also Mr. Wilson whom nominated for President MR.
WILSON HIMSELF REJECTED THE BRITISH PROTEST
AND ADVOCATED FREE TOLLS ON THE STUMP DURING
THE CAMPAIGN
What has happened since to bring about this change in
men opinions? Nothing at ALL except that election is and
mer in Congress less controlled by public opinion
Do the Democrats dare repudiate their platform repu
date their the behes of these railroads and in the
fear of the President power to dispose of patronage?
Where William J. Bryan in this crisis? He declared
and again that the MAN WHO VIOLATES HIS PARTY
PLATFORM is WORSE THAN A THIEF" This question
arises out of the State Department and Mr. Bryan the head
of the State Department He the Committee Resolutions
of the last Democratic convention that drew up platform
which declared favor of free tolls for American ships thy
yoes lips the heroic lay tuneess now. On
ing out OF his very department he silence conspiracy
which according to his political code than theft
When the Democratic members of Congress called
account by their constituents they will not be allowed
hind the skirts of the President He will the keeper
their conscience Of their judgment We have neither
client nor maeyoen despom this country Congress there
10 make the laws and Representative Senator abdcate
his powers or duties in favor of the President without being
sonab to his country he be driven power of Pres
ldentia patronage reputation of his party platform and
reversal Of his without causing serious ninrv 10 his