The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-04-17

CON ME NDED
FOR TOLLS VOTE
Congressman at Large is Con-
graduated for His Stand
and He Gives Reasons.
(By G. A. BOlden.)

CHA RLESTON, April IS. - The
many friends of Congressman at
Large Howard Suth erland. as we'll as
the friends OF the other four West
Virginia representatives. i'm the House
who voted against the repeal of the
exemption clause in the Panama
Canal Act in hhis section of the state
are expressing very hearty approval
of the course of their congressman.
And especially is this SO of Congress
| Rr1zn-at Large Sutherland, who wrote
MANY letters to his constituency
Throughout the state, asking tndivid-
ual ideas of the repeal act. and, af-
ter receiving hundreds Of replies, and
noting the wide divergence OF views,
was finally obliged to make up his
mind according to the dictates of hts
own conscience and IN conformity
with his views as an unconprorniking
| Am eracan for his own country, hrst,
| Ias+. and all the time. Congressrnan
Sutherland, writing to a close dE1end
il this city, under date of the 10th
1 inst, and dwelling upon the repeal
question, had the following to say:
i Reasons Given
i referring to the Panama Canel
tolls unatter. about which you have
been good enough to write me II s &C.
ours to me to give you briefly a rev
of the reasons that finally impelled me
to vote against repeal.
~ gave this matter my undivided
attention and study for many days
and nights preceding the final vote
I approanhed the subject absolutely
4 without political or other bias.
started out with a, strong pred1spoS-
45on In favor of the views of the pres
lSsa1+ for. on the surface, the case
| seemed absolutely clear and conclu-
| si1ye. hut the deeper down went Into
+Ia subject. and the more studied
| +J,a treaties and the laws bearing on
| n from the time of the formation OF
! o3r- government. down to THE present
| +tnae together with the diplomatic cor
resuondence. the debates on the SUD
j iect and the opinions OF the most en-
| inent aarthordties on the Interpretation
- +-.ery+ias and on International law,
/ AM. ,4oreYI became Convinced that we
ahouId maintain, If possible, our en-
fire eoyereignty over the canal. and at
~, saerr1e time carrying out both the
s1,frst and the letter Of our treaties
9TH refersnce to all foreign nations.
Broad Question
ssIt Is very broad question: ana
one about wlrich there is room lot "a
1,eTsitv OF opinion; but / seriously
| ,711,r+ the wisdom OF yielding to Eng
/ Sasol5 II, this matter at this time. do
800 ,heiieve that the Hay Patualce6ote
-, -, vr.as intended to cover QUE
4 - .+Eviesa7 tra<Hc The treaty made in
4s1S vvitl, EnSland providing for alb
salute e.yualf4y OF treatment of all
1reNeels crf both nations in aH ports OF
i Great BRITAIN and of this country, us
Iy,e, even more explicit language than
that used in the y-Pa'hrlcetote
has never for a moment been inter
rJre4ed by either nation TO inctude
i ~oaE+riSa traffic
.iVvney, the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
~, made 1t was not coutesn-
| n1ated bv either party that the canal
would be built on our land, as was
/ consequently done. The economic sade
| ~ the question was largely swallowed
~, In +51.. larger QueStiona as to whefh-
- 1,e, sl,t41ld yield, forever. OUT COM
nlata control of the canal. 1t has
+ 5,owaver been a fixed policy OF our
Gs1vernn4ent and of all parties. to
promote water traffic as check upon
the rapac&ty OF the railroads 40 Tolls is
are exacted on the MISSISSIPPI ano
ohio rivers, upon which and ene e.
=I-y,ayrefles more than a hundred nil
lion dollars have been expended os
ara national government; and no one
4lysr,Es there should be. The Panama
canal is as much ours as are these
-vsaterways or any of our hsarborEs. the
trans-Ssoaltsnenta1 railways were the
! s7,ore. active advocates OF and viii
profit mostly by the repeal.
Opinion Divided.
opinSon here IN Charleston, IKE
sv,eryyvslere else, is greatly divided
mon the question OF repeal some 81
/ the strongest Democrats are agasrSt
repeal. while not a few RePu l,Lss
l. ,ys-