West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-04-16
ISSUES STATEMENT
Congressman Brown Gives Reasons
for Voting Against Repeal OF Canal
Toils Bill

Washington, April l4.-In the course
of a statement regarding his vote on the
question of canal tolls, published in The
Congressional Record, Congressman w.
G. Brown said: my reasons for voting
against the repeal can be summed up as
follows:
First. will cast my vote as my
conscience and judgment dictate.
Second. will vote against the repeal
because / believe the Hay Paunceiote
treaty will justify that construction and
no other.
Third. will vote TOR free tolls because
il was plank in the Baltimore platform.
Fourth. | will vote with the great
leaders OF the party, those who have
fought long and hard for the overthrow
of monopoly and for the rights OF the
common people, and those who, by their
brilliant leadership when they were in a
minority in the House, made Democratic
success possible.
Fifth. will vote for Tree tolls because
| believe il is un- American to vote other.
wise.
Sixth. would as readily vote To sur.
render the sovereignty OF any OF the great
States OF our Union as surrender our
sovereignty TO the canal which the United
States bought and constructed and forti.
fled at cost of nearly $500. 200. 900.
Seventh. do not believe in permit.
ting other nations arbitrarily to construC
the language of our treaties.
Eighth. That il We surrender 10 Great
Britain now and concede her demands,
we and our children and our children
children will forever lose control and
sovereignty in this zone and can never
again return to tree tolls.
Ninth. III we establish our right tc
free tolls now, ii gives us full control,
and at any time in the future by act oil
Congress we can levy such tolls upon our
coastwise vessels as the necessity of the
case demands.
Tenth. II it is true that England has
made demand upon us, am unwilling
to purchase our peace at any price. AS
has been so we'll said heretofore, we have
millions for defense but not one cent for
tribute. III she demands surrender oil
our sovereignty and a concession of our
rights in the Canal Zone or fight, | am
for fight. Uncle Sam whipped her in
his infancy, he whipped her in his boy.
hood, and now, in the strength of hi,
splendid manhood, inspired by the
memories OF Yorktown and Bunker Hill
he is not afraid to again engage her in
battle.
Eleventh. l am unwilling to take the
stars and stripes from the masthead and
let them float in humiliation at half mast
along the Notifications OF the canal as an
everlasting evidence of our cowardlY sur.
render to any power on earth.
Twelfth. l am an advocate of peace
but We must have peace with honor.
And lastly, with Champ Clark, Oscar
Underwood, Fitzgerald of New York
Claude Kitchin, Frank Doremus and
other great leaders, am not afraid o
having my vote or patriotism questioned
Before would Intentionally vote to con
cede one inch of American soil OF sur
render just claim of our sovereignty tC
any nation on earth l would surrender
my seat in Congress. may be wrong
time alone will tell-but l will vote fol
what believe to be the best interests Of
the American people, both in the second
Congressional district of West Virgins
and throughout this broad land of ours,
for on this question there is no common
ground; it effects the honor, the integrity
and the patriotism of the whole nation