The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-31
No Compact With Eng
land Has Been Made
by Administration.
SORRY THAT FIGHT
HAS DEGENERATED
Hoped 1t Would Be Dignihed
Contest, but 1t Has Developed
Into Bitter Effort to Dis
credit Him-Points Out
Contradiction in
Platform.

washington, March S0.--Prcsident
wilson declared to-day that because OF
contradictory statements in the Raiti
more platform. Democrats should have
no hesitation in voting for repeal of
the Panama Canal tolls exemption.
me President ernphatically charac-
terized the exemption as subsidy.
ana pointed out that one plank In the
Baltimore platform expressed opposii
ton TO any subsidy. direct or indirect,
while another plank declared for tolls
exemption. Tho President asserted
there should be no doubt among, Dem
ocrats as to which should take precc-
dencc
The President reiterated that the ex-
emption never was a policy OF the Dem
ocratic House. because it was passed
a minority of Democrats. the majority
of Democrats voting against it on the
sr1nnd That it was subsidy.
IL the international situation to which
he referred in his message, had not
arisen he would have been opposed to
cratic doctrine. He indicated how
ever. that If II were not for the inter
national situation, he did not feel that
it would have been proper for him to
question the acts of n previous admin
istration.
Wilson Talks Freely.
Mr.. Wilson talked freely about the
tolls controversy in Congress. saying
that tho. story that he had entered into
Sir William Tyrreli. private secretary
to Sir Edward Grey, was one Of n num-
ber of insults that had been introduced
in the congressional debate.
The President declared he wanted to
express his regret that what had prom
ised To be dignified contest, with gen
uinc differences of opinion. seemed to
be dcgcnerating. in his opinion. into nm
attempt to discrcdit the ,administra
AL the more certain the result in favor
of the administration, he thought 1t a
great pity, that public affairs should
think all the opponents of the repeal
felt that way. but such color had been
interjccted in the controversy, and he
did not understand the motives for it.
The President said he had no anxiety
over any political friction in the Demo
ferred TO tho repeal contest as not
capital operation" but just a con
valcscencc."
Mr. Wilson let it he known that he
WAS unqualificdly opposed to any COM
promise or amendments. such as have
been proposed IN the Senate, He Is for
Ncmindcd of story.
The White House later authorized
said in answer to the charge to the
effect that the President had made n
deal with Sir William Tyrrell, private
secretary to Sir Edward Grey. the Brit
ish Foreign Secretary. The President
had been asked II the charge were true
He replied:
"Of course. that answers itself 1t is
Just the crowning insult OF number
of insults which have been introduced
In this debate. This whole thing re-
minds me OF story used to be fond
Of telling OF Il very effective debater-
need not say whether this happened
who sent Il challenge down into IL coun-
~ very hostile to him to debate. Tho
people down there did not like the job
very much but they put up the man
g. n ,l Ia,
put up on such occasions, q great big
husky fellow whom they all called
Tom
The challenger was given the first
hour Of the two hours allotted to the.
debate. and lie hadn't got more than
halfway through his speech. when, il
becoming evident that he was convic-
tisanS in the back OF the room cried:
Tom. Tom. call him a liar and make it
a light That is the stage this has
reached"
The Presidents auditors asked him
If lie was going to fight. and he smil-
ingly answered that he did not need to.
Sir Edward Grey Denies II.
London. March 30.-Sir Edward Grey
British Foreign SecrctarY in tho House
Of Commons to-day denied published
allegations that the action OF prcsi-
dent Wilson over the question OF Pan
understanding between the govern
mcnts OF the United States ana Great
Britain.
lit has been assorted" he said. that
under the terms of the understanding
Great Britain had undertaken to assist
President Wilson'S policy in regard to
Mexico. There is no foundation what
ever for these reports, and am glad
10 pe aole TO take as early an oppor-
tunity as possible for saying So"