The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-19
Attack on President An
swered by Republicans
and Democrats.
ACCUSES WILSON
OF INCONSISTENCY
Chief Executive at Time of First
Open Discussion of Approach
ing Battle Is Engaged With
House Leaders in Dis
cussion of Same
Subject.

w washington, feOruary lS.--AcCuSlnS g
President Wilson of inconsistency in
his views OF the binding effect OF the
Democratic platform, and charging that
! greed OF tho railroads and the au-
dacous claims OF Great Britain seem
far more potent with our President
than the appeal OF the womnnhood OF
the nation" Senator Bristow, Republi-
can, OF Kansas, to-day turned discus
sion OF woman suffrage In the Senate
into a vigorous debate on the pro-
posed repeal on the free tolls provi-
sion OF the Panama Canal act.
Senator Bristow's attack brought to
the defense of the President several
Republicans as we'll as Democratic
Senators. while It served also as the
signal for opening tho fight within
the Democratic party against repeal
OF the tolls exemption provision.
Senator Chamberlain. of Oregon.
Democrat, dramatically declared that
he would not "stultify himself by tell
ing his constituents that he had not
kept his platform pledge on the toll
question because the President of the
United States does not agree with me-"
Wilson with House Leaders,.
While Senator'S were thus engaged
in the first open discussion of the
approaching battle In Congress over
the chief executives desire for reversal
OF the Panama policy. the President
himself was engaged with leaders OF
the House of Representatives who are
opposed TO repudiating the declaration
OF the party platform. He discussed the
situation with Majority Leader I'm
derwood and Representative Kitchin.
OF North Carolina, but so far rs can
be learned, did not convert them to
his view that the provision granting
free tolls to American vessels violates
tho Hay-Pauncefote treaty and en-
harnesses the administration in its
foreign relations.
Senator Bristow based his charge OF
inconsistency against the President on
the ground that he had told the suffra-
gists he could not urge woman suf-
frage, because the Democratic party
had not expressed itself in the mat
ter, while he proposed that Congress
should reverse itself on the tolls ques-
tlon. despite the fact that the party
had indorscd its action. In this CON
ncction. the Kansas Senator mentioned
tho reference In the Baltimore plat
form, favorns "a single presidential
term" and asked whether the President
would interpret this plank In har-
mony with his position as to suffrage,
or AS to canal tolls"
Lodge Defends President.
When Senator Bristow said that the
tianscontincntal railroads had for
Years been behind the fight against
free tolls for American ships and in =
timatod that they had influenced the
President, Senstor Lodge, of Massa
chusctts. Republican member of the
Foreign Relations Committee. took the
floor 10 declare that the President was
actuated in his attitude on the toll
question solely by his desire to restore
The United states to its former prestige
among nations. The President does
not like, 10 see the United States an
outlaw among the nations" added the
Massachusetts, Senator.
Referring to the visit OF women suf-
fraeists to President Wilson last De-
cember, Senator Bristow quoted this
from the chief executives reply to
their request for support Of the equal
suffrage constitutional amendment:
When my private opinion Is asked
by those who arc cooperating with
me. am glad to give il. but am not
at liberty unless | speak for somebody
besides myself 10 urge legislation upon
Congress-
When tho tolls question came up
the Kansas Senator continued, ct was
not brought before the President br
ie %cod women OF the country, but
by a representative of the English
government, whose action had been in
stigated by the American and Ca
madam transcontincntal railroads, and
British shipping interests"
Quotes baltimore Platform.
Senator Rristow quoted the Balti-
more platform in it's Endorsement of
the toll exemption policy for Ameri-
can ships. and declared that the Presi
dent. in recent letter to Mr. Mar
/ larry, of Baltimore, had declared the
exemption to be "a very mistaken
policy from every point of view
1T is true continued Senator Bris-
| tow, that we have expended about
Continued On Ninth Page.)