The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-25
TOLLS GIVES THEM WORRY,
SOUTH CAROLINA DELIG ALTON
NAY OPPOSE PRESIDENT.
Meaning of the Pledgc--Docs the
Platform or the President Fix
Party's Policy Is Questioned Asked.
News and Courier.

Washington. March l9.--In las
Sundays News and Courier the state.
ment was made in its Washington
correspondence that although there
was no South Carolina vote in favor
ot exempting our coastwise ships
from Panama canal tolls when the
matter came TO head i'm the house
OK representatives in May. 1912. there
would be several votes against the re-
peal OF the exemption clause when
the question should be resubmitted
at the presidents request 1t now
appears that the correspondent wa.
very conservative In that statement. II
Is by no means impossible that the
entire delegation will vote against
tho president this time, including
both senator's.
When the Hay -Pauncefote treaty
was up for ratification some years
ago Senator Tiilman voted for the
amendment. (which was defeated, }
declaring that nothing In the treaty
was TO be construed as affecting the
right OF this country TO pass its own
ships through the canal without toll.
When the quetion OF ratifying the
general arbitration treaties came up
In the Taft administration. Senator
smith was one OF those who argued
against ratification on the ground that
t would bind US to arbitrate the
question OF our right to exempt our
coastwise ships from canal charges.
That point had much to do with caus-
ing the senate to reject the treaties of
arbitration. There is nothing to IN
dicats that either OF the senators has
changed his views on the subject.
AS TO the house delegation, the sit
uation is somewhat different. The
majority Of the representatives from
South Carolina think now. as they
thought In 1919. that on the merits
OF the question itself our shipping
ought TO pay tolls and help to defray
the cost OF operating the waterway;
out those who are inclined To stand
with the president and vote for the
outright repeal OF the exemption sec
ton or the law are disturbed over
the fact that they signed the follow
Ing pledge when they became candi-
dates for their present positions (.
Pledge OF candidates for United
States senate and for United States
house OF representatives.:
AS "a candidate for the ofice Of
in the Democratic primary eiec-
tion, To be held on the last Tuesday
In August. 1912. I hereby pledge my
self To abide the result OF such pri-
mary and to support the nominees
thereof. and declare that am a
Democrat and that am not, nor will
4 become. the candidate OF any fac
ton, either privately or publicly
suggested. other than for the regular
Democratic nomination.
II also pledge myself to support
the political principles and policies
Of the party during the term of Office
for which 1 may be elected and work
I'm accord with my Democratic asso-
ciates In congress on all party ques-
tions.
This the day Of, 1912.
tsigned by candidate.)
Filled the - day Of -, 1912.
tsigned by chairman state Demo-
cratic executive eommittee.D
The exact meaning Of this pledge
has been discussed previously In
South Carolina. Suffice 1t to say that
some OF those in the delegation who
are now desirous Of supporting the
president as to canal tolls have hlth-
erto committed themselves to the
proposition that the pledge binds the
candidate TO stand on every plank in
the nationa, platform.
IL will be recalled that the system
~ plcdging tho Democratic candi-
dates for congress In South Carolina
was adopted rs result OF the career
OF state Senator John l.. McLaurin
80 n senator OF the United states. Nc
Laurin disagreed with his party AS "A
whole on the Philippine and tariff
questions. and Senator Tillman took
steps to prevent recurrence Of such
conduct by advocating the exaction OF
the written pledge in every senatorial
and congressional campaign.
The outlook now is that the ma
jority OF the votes I'm the South Caro-.
lima delegation in congress will be
against the repeal OF the exemption
clause. in spite of the president:
split on whether the party policy
- for or against tolls on our coast
wise shipping at Panama.
Does the platform or the president
Tx the policy OF "a party? No othei
g. IM.NU