The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
CANAL TOLLS.

son would call q dishonorable editorial
1t has the presumption to debate the
provision in the HayPauncefote
treaty, promising equal terms to all ma
tious In the matter of canal tolls This
is an offense which President Wilson
cannot tolerate with any degree of pa
tience. He grows testy and even vio-
lent when it is suggested to him that
there is an American as well as a for
eigu point Of view on this subject. In
letter to William l.. Marbury of Bal
timore, dated February 4, 1914, the
president writes:
NY Ny Dear Mr. NJ MarSpryl !" have T,fb EGq5
regard TO the question OF canal tolls
my opinion Is very clear. The eX-
emption constitutes very mistaken
policy from every point OF view. II
is economically unjust, as matter or
fact, il benefits, for the present at
any rate. only monopoly, and u
the terms OF the ay-Pauncefote
treaty. There is, OF course. much
honest difference OF opinion as 10 the
II,
to the others, but It IS AT least de-
batable, and if the promises We mako
IN such matters are debatable. J. for
one, do not care TO debate them,
thinle the country would prefer TO
let no question arise as to it's whole
hearted purpose 10 redeem It's prom
ises In the light OF any req Ssonable
hate point OF honor.
The inference to be drawn from the
passage quoted is that the president will
regard as dishonorable anyone, in or
out OF congress, who debates what the
president admits is debatable ques-
tion. IT seems to us that this is re-
fined form of very vulgar and common
argument frequently adopted in discus
sion. ''You are fool if you do not
agree with me, is the idea often ex-
pressed by heated controversialists who
lack the power of maintaining or de-
fining a position logically, A certain
predecessor of Mr. Wilson s in the presi-
aential office was in the habit of giving
even more picturesque expression TO this
form Of argument. He denounced those
who did not agree with him not only as
fools. but as malefactors and prevarica-
tors and sometimes me limited that they
were even shorter and uglier
IT is possible, however, TO turn the ta-
bles on the president by reversing the
argument. It is dishonorable 10 be un-
patriotic, To take the foreign view that
free tolls for coast-wise shipping are not
warranted by the treaty is unpatriotic
Therefore, TO take this foreign view is
dishonorsble. We are mildly surprised
10 find the president of the United
States doing anything so dishonora BILE.
1t is not likely that the president s
emotional denunciation Of those who IA
vor exempting American coastwise ship
ping will prevent them from debating
the question and fully exploiting their
views IN congress Senator O'Gorman
who IS good friend of Mr.. Wilson 8,
came from a recent conference with the
chief executive determined TO uphold
the American view We trust that at
least for the sake OF their long devo-
tion TO each other the president viii not
pronounce Senator O'Gorman dishonor
able
Tho president declares that to exempt
American shipping is economically I'M
Just and benefits, for the present al
least, only monopoly. Presumably he
is referring to the shipping interests
If canal tolls are charged to our coast
wise shipping, however the charges viii
aid another monopoly-the transeonti
mental railway monopoly. Whatever
charge is placed upon coastwise shipping
eau be added 10 the transcontinenta
railway rates. There would seem to b,
no particular reason for preferrine onC
monopoly 10 the other so far az tbt
President Of the United States is con
cerped.
After all the most important question
10 he determined Is the one which
President Wilson does not wish TO de
hate. II the United States has prom
ised IN the HayPauncefote treaty I,
make precisely the same rate for al
shipping. whether foreign or domestic
then the fact should be made so clea
by debate that no doubt can remain ii
any reasonable mind At present man,
eminent authorities believe that tht
United States has made no such prom
ise
1t may no.; be out Of place 10 sue
Gest that "equal terms" might no
mean equal rates. The railroads of thi
country grant equal terms 10 all ship
pcrs- but they do not grant equal rates
They charge one rate for the short han
and another rate for long haul. If
charge must be imposed upon American
coastwise shipping under the Hay
Pauucefote treatv. whY not make q 10y