Mexico Missouri message., 1914-04-16
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS SEEN IN
FIGHT ON CANAL TOLLS Elk
EMPTIoN REPEAL.
WORKING NOW ON SENATORS
Administrators Supposed FrIendli.
ness TO Great Britain Arouses Pre-
iudlces-Poiltleians Say Wilson
Cannot Afford to Lose.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

that Champ Clark, the speaker. and
Oscar w. Underwood, the leader Of his
party In the house, stood so stanchly
opposed to the repeal of the Panama
tolls exemption law demanded by
President Wilson, Washington has
seen large quantities of presidential
politics in the situation.
1t of course would be ungracious to
say that either Mr.. Clark or Mr. Un-
derwood was opposed to the repeal on
any grounds other than those which
they consider to be for the public
| good 1t is true that both of these
| gentlemen probably will be candidates
for the presidential nomination in 1915,
and also that both of them, being good
! politicians, know the delegate-secur-
ing possibilities in the big centers Of
! population where opposition to repeal
and especially to what has been called
"a trucking to Great Britain" is most
determined.
The center of interest in the repeal
matter is shifting to the senate cham
| Der, and while debate there may not
be as bitterly personal, as has been
the case in the House of representa-
tives, II certainly is to be bitter
enough to please people who like the
acrid flavor in the debate diet.
Politics in the Opposition.
So far as presidential politics are
concernedwithth this matter of the repeal
OF the tolls exemption law, 1t can be
said that men with presidential ambi-
tons and who oppose the repeal prob
ably hope to count on support in the
future from large sections of the coast
country which are opposed to the pres
ident in his position, from few
"midcountry" sections, and Of course
from the large cities. The mid
country" regions, however, seem to be
largely In favor OF the repeal. The
strength which one or two of the pos
sible Democratic presidential candi-
dates have developed heretofore on the
interior regions, however, 1t Is said
may enable them to withstand without
injury any criticisms which may come
because of their present action in op-
position to Mr.. Wilson's policy. In 9th
er words, the gained strength from the
coast states and from the big cities It
is apparently figured will Offset any de-
fections from the interior.
Resolutions adopted by scores Of or.
CARNATIONS urging that repeal be de.
feated are being received every day
by the United States senators with
whom now 1t seems that the only
chance to defeat repeal lies. Congress
for some reason or other has heard
and is hearing more from one side of
this controversy than from the other
side, and this probably accounted for
the desire Of the opponents of repeal
to delay consideration Of the matter In
the house, and it accounts, perhaps.
for their continued desire to delay 1t
in the senate. The feeling seems to
be that If enough protests come such
senators as are wavering may decide
to desert the presidents cause.
Prejudlees Have Been Reused.
While most of the letters, resolu.
tons and kilograms which have come
to Washington on this matter have
urged that repeal be denied, this does
not mean necessarily of course that a
majority of the people of the country
are opposed to the course which the
president asked congress to take. II
means only that the opponents of re.
peal have been much more energetic
throughout the country than have its
friends, and this probably can be &C.
counted for by reason of the fact
for 1t Is a known fact-that certain
elements in the community have been
more bitter about this thing because
of the nature Of its supposed friendli
ness to Great Britain than for any
other reason that can be adduced
The controversy has stirred preju.
dices and when this is done the re.
Spouse Is always certain and active
Politicians in Washington say Pres
ident Wilson cannot afford to lose this
contest, for they hold it will hurt the
prestige of his administration. 1t is
matter OF record that thus far he
has been victorious In nearly all the
things which he has set out to do
Washington Citizens Alarmed.
They Assert, viii Mean tho Ma.
Aon JUSb bNNh lOl lhCu III w ash
ington committee of business
men and influential citizens whose
duty will be to arouse throughout
the entire United States an inter
est in the well being OF the capital
of the country" This committee owes
its origin to the recent attempt IN
congress to change the whole system
of taxation of the district by makinl
the residents of Washington pay al
the taxes, the government to pay alb
solutely nothing for the upk sep of the
streets, the sewers, the police and the
fire department and other necessitie!
OF city government.
AS things are at present, the take:
are divided half and half, that is, the
residents of Washington pay half thu
amount necessary to run things ant
congress appropriates for the otheI