Evening journal., 1914-04-04
SATURDAY. APR. 4. 1914.
BREAKING PARTY LINES.

4. VERY hour makes It evident that the fight
l. over President Wilson'S Panama Canal toll ex-
empton repe0ler is going TO break party lines in the
United States Senate just as IL already has broken
them in the House of Representatives.
Democrats Republicans and Progressives will line
up on the one side in favor of the repeal and the
other side we shall find Democrats Republicans and
Progressves standing shoulder TO shoulder against IT,
In other words the matter of repeal has ceased largely
to be a partisan question. It has resolved itself into
issue in which the highest qualities of American
citizenship being called into play to decide what
Is the right and the honorable thing for the United
States to do in the emergency which confronts it.
Nor can IL be denied that there is great and an
honest difference of opinion among Americans of un-
questioned integrity and patriotism relative to this
question which has been raised and brought to an
by the President The members Of Congress have
been called upon decide whether national honor and
the of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty require that
something done by a previous administration and
dorsed in the platform Of the party which controls the
present administration shall be undone. The vote in
the House revealed clearly how greatly of equal
patriotism integrity and intelligence differ upon that
question. Republicans joined with Democrats TO undo
something that had been done by a Republican admin
stration; Democrats joined with Republicans in
Congressional Reputation of specific plank in the
platform adopted by the Democratic party In Balti-
more; Democrats Joined with Republicans in defense
OF the toll exemption policy Of Republican President
and Congress- and Republicans Joined with Democrats
in defense Of the former Republican administration
and Of the toll exemption plank upon which the
present Democratic administration stood for election.
Nor the Progressive members OF the House able
to remain in line either side of the question. Like
the Democrats the Republicans they split the
ISSUE voting for and others against the repeal
OF the toll exemption clause in the Panama Canal
act.
II would be act Of gross injustice TO accuse the
Democrats and the Republicans who voted for the
peal of having made shameful surrender to Great
Britain On the other hand II would be equally
gross injustice to those Democrats and Repub-
cans who voted against the repeal Of having regard
for national honor and treaty obligations. A
fairer Interpretation would be that apart from the
EFFORT of certain wing of the Democratic party play
politics at the expense Of the Wilson administration
the members of the House followed the dictates of
their consciences in casting their votes for or
against repeal.
Nor is there any to suppose that when the
be marked by the honesty Of thought and pur-
pose. Democrats and Republicans will stand side by
side for repeal and other Democrats and Republicans
will stand side by side against It. Both sides will be
moved by high-mnded and patriotic impulse and each
side viii be worthy Of the respect Of the other. Nor
will the public view with disavor that member OF the
Senate who honestly and conscentiously votes upon
either side OF controversy in which the great Amer
lean electorate regardless of party is divided as wide
ly and honestly are its representatives in the
upper and the lower branches Of Congress-