The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-02

have taken the tolls exemption as an
evidence that the United States is in
terpreting treaties to suit itself, re-
CARELESS Of obligations. President
| Wilson saw in this stain on the ma
tional honor. The repeal was held
necessary, he said, because OF the
Judgment of the world that the ma
ton was bound by treaty to place all
nations on equality in the use OF the
canal, and that violation of this OBJ
legation would create serious inter-
national situation which would en-
barrass the United State at every
turn in future negotiation of treaties
and trade agreements. President Will
son further took the position that
the exemption of tolls was form OF
ship subsidy and a mistaken econom-
ic policy Some of his supporters IN
congress, more outspoken in this re-
gard, held exemption of tolls to be
solely in the interest Of the railroad
and ship monopoly. 1t required
courage on the part OF president
Wilson to take stand against
measure which many of the party
had supported on previous votes,
though the majority OF the democrats
did not favor free tolls, but 1t is an
evidence of his honesty and loyalty
to convictions that he did not dodge
the issue when it was presented to
him.
Hotheads in congress, who are
not too hotheaded, however, to over
look any political advantages, and
sections of the lingo press, have crltl-
cised President Wilson's Mexican
policy. but in this, too, the president
and his friends believe the people or
the nation support him. PRESIDENT
Wilson has taken the position, as one
of his supporters put 1T, on Walt1hg
for Mexico to settle it's turbulent al
fairs, hoping that a deliverer may ap-
pear among its people, as one mas
appeared in the history of all ma
lions. Armed Intervention meant
war, with all it's attendant suffering
and misery, and the enlightened
thought of the day is in no moo TO
see the country plunged INTO war:
What steps the future may demand
remains to be seen, but the presl-
dents friends are firm in the conVlc-
ton that the people would not nave
had him do otherwise than ne mas
done in keeping hands off in Mexico.
The defeat of Senator Coe l. Craw-
ford of South Dakota, for renomlna-
ton by Congressman Charles II.
Burke is taken as an indication that
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES forces
are lining up for a bitter fight on the
progressive republicans this year.
Crawford was allied with the Borah-
Bristow -Cummins-N Norris forces in
the senate in the main, although ne
did not always vote with them.
Burke, on the other hand, was one OF
the staunchest of Cannon's support
ers and a dyed-in-the-wool standpat-
ter. With the republicans lining up
for a standpat tariff campaign, and
preparing to force the progressive
candidates to land squarely on the
platform, it is not difficult to see an
embarrassing political situation
ahead of the republican candidates.
If they swallow the standpat pill
and the standpatters seem to be get
ting back in the saddle-they Will
lose their progressive support. II
tney show independence and refuse
to eat their tariff speeches OF the
last decade, well they will have be-
fore them the fate that befell one
Of their number, Crawford, in South
Dakota. The democratic senatorial
aud congressional candidates should
lind a great deal Of comfort in this
situation.
J. K. Daugherty.