Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-04-17

memorial" He refers to the exemption
plank as little plank" and to the pro-
nouncement on bounties and subsidies as
the Larger plank" and says:
What opiate does the little plank con-
tain that it can make those who accept it
oblivious of the larger plank! By what
rule Of construction can the small plank
be made binding and the large one ignored
THE secret of the strange power ex-
erted by the little plank is to be found in
the fact that it carefully conceals the
means by which it is to be carried out.
Had the word subsidy or bounty been
inserted in this plank it could not have
secured the Endorsement of the convention,
because the contradiction between this
plank and the larger plank would have
been Immediately apparent
IF the same care had been used in the
drawing of this plank that was used in the
drawing of the plank on the merchant
marine, it would have read as follows
We favor the exemption from toll of
American ships engaged in coastwise trade
passing through the canal, but without
imposing additional burdens upon the peo-
pie and without bounties or subsidies from
the public treasury
But even if the platform had not con-
tanned within itself a complete refutation
of the position taken by the advocates of
free tolls the President would have been
justified in the position that he took by the
changed conditions which confronted him.
"A platform is pledge and is as bind
ing upon an official as the command of a
military officer is upon a subordinate
the statement cannot be made stronger.
But the subordinate officer is sometimes
compelled to act upon his judgment where
a change of which the commanding officer
is not aware has taken place in conditions.
ut is not only the right of the subordi-
nate to judge the situation for himself
where conditions have changed since the
order was given but it is his duty to do so.
I'm the case under consideration the
President takes responsibility for an Off
cial act which he regards as necessary for
his country's welfare, and the people must
decide whether or not he is justified, and
those who refuse to act with him also as
sumo responsibility and they. too, must
abide the judgment of the public.
Such change has taken place since
the Baltimore platform was adopted. Had
the Democrats in convention assembled
been confronted by the condition which
now exists and had they known what those
now know who voted for repeal no such
plank would ever have been placed in the
platform. The con vention's attention was
not even brought to the fact that ma
jority of the Democrats in the House had
voted against the free-tols measure and
that it had in fact been passed by COM
bination of minority of the Democrats
and majority of the Republicans
Mr.. Bryan says that platform planks
dealing with International questions must
be accepted with the understanding that
we act jointly with other nations in inter-
national affairs, that even if the plank
plank in the platform. and even if it had
not concealed subsidy policy repugnant
to Democratic principle and history" that
even if conditions had not changed a plat
form plank should be taken on interna-
tional questions las the expression of a
wish rather than as the expression of
determination, for no nation can afford to
purchase a small advantage in the face of
a universal protest"
IF nation" continued the Secretary,
desires to array itself against the world,
it should be sure that the thing which it
is to gain is worth what il costs. The
President, knowing that every commercial
nation except our own CONSTITUTES the treaty
as a pledge of equal treatment. would
have been recreant to his trust had he
failed to point out to the American people
that our diplomatic relations would be
seriously disturbed by the carrying out of
the free-tolls policy"
Considering the repeal measure upon its
merits, Mr.. Bryan said there were Just two
questions to be decided
First. is it desirable for the Democratic
party to abondon its historic position and
become the advocate of subsidies and
bountiesY And. second, if it is desirable,
what is the Democratic party willing to
sacrifice in International prestige and world
influence in order to secure the advantage
which these subsidies promise to few
peopleY"