The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-09
LODGE FOR REPEAL
Addresses Senate IN Support Of
Wilson Canal Policy.
EXEMPTION IS our nIeIIT
Bat Is Not Dictated by Justice,
He Declares.
Question Of Money Of Small 40.
count in the Matter.

Question Of Money Of Small 40.
count in the Matter.
Washington. April 9.-Senator Lodge.
ranking Republican member Of the fcr-
eign relations committee addressed the
senate today in support OF President
Wilson's Panama canal tolls policy.
He maintained vigorously the leeal
right OF the United states to exempt
its shipping, foreign ~ well a. coast
wise. from tolls. but declared that -
decent respect to the opinions Of mani
kind" and the .distrust and in anne
cases dislike with which the Uni6ed
States IL regarded abroad, demanded
prompt repeal Of the exemption clause
or the canal act.
Whether We shall insist upon eiv,ne
to our ships two or three millions of
COLLARS IN a dtsputed way IL in ny
conception, very small question com.
pared to the larger issues which are
here involved" said the senator. .sWhen
the year 1903 opened. the United States
occupied higher and stronger poai-
ton among the nations Of the earth
tnan at any period I'm our history.
Never before had we possessed such
an influence In International affairn.
and that influence had been used bene-
nciently and for the worlds peace Ia
Two consptcuous instances-at Port
mouth and at Algeciras. Never before
nad our relations with the various
states OF Central and South America
been 30 good. It seemed 40 II the
shadow of suspicion which, owing to
our dominant and at times domin>er-
1 ing power. Aad darkened and chilled
4 our relations with the people Of Latin
America had at last been lifted Thtn
great position and this commanding
innuence have been largely lost.
I Not I'm Wilson's Coumcals.
4 Il am not in the councils OF tho
PRESIDENT OF the United States. but I
present position Of the United stsfss
IN Its foreign relations has bec0uSo
very apparent to him, as It has g
otner responsible and ref1ecting men.
and with this appreciation OF our
present position has come the earned
wish to retrace some of our steps, u
least. ana to regain, so far a. posse
pie. the nigh plane which We former
, iy occupied. 1t would be an obvious
impropriety to point out the specffIc
conditions OF our present reIaffono
with the various nations, both IN ~
old world and the new; It II enough
!. to note the fact that we are regarded
by other nations with distrust ana In
some cases with dislike
Right or. wrongly. they have come
to believe that we are not to be trust
ed; that we make our international
relations the sport Of politics and
treat them as II they were in no wise
different from questions Of domestic
legislation This has not been in ac-
cord with our history or our position.
Only once have we abrogated q treaty.
and then actual II not declared war
existed. We have scrupulously OBJ
served our international agreements.
and where differences have arisen We
QQftIan mt ~ ~
hand of power but by negotiation ana
arbitration.
Quotes Declaration OF Inaeuenl3e~,c.-
| Il suppose that at this moment IN
the midst Of the adroitly stimulated
passions raised against the presidents
recommendation that we should repeal
the toll exemption it will be thougl1t
very poor spirited and even truckline-
I believe that Is the accepted word
to suggest that in deciding this ques-
ltion we should take into consideration
the opinion of other nations. Neverthe-
less. consider this a very important
element in any decision which 1 may
reach. and I am encouraged to believe
that am right in so thinking. because
have the warrant and authority Of
the author of the Declaration Of In
dependence. When Jefferson framed
that great instrument he declared that
the impelling reason FOR making the de-
claration was "a decent respect to tho
opinions of mankind
THE outcry about exhibiting SUBJ
serviency to Great Britain or any 9TH
er country because we see fit to re-
peal the tolls seems to me hardly
worthy Of serious consideration. The
United States il altogether too great
and too powerful to be subservient to
any one, and the mere fact OF sue-
gesting 1t seems to me to indicate an
uneasy suspicion on the part Of taooo
from whom 1t emanates. not only Of
the validity Of their position but Of
the power and greatness Of their own
country, as to which I, for one. an
troubled by no doubts.
Those who deny the right OF IT,
United States to exempt its own ve9-
sells rest their case on the language OF
article 3. which declares that,
The canal shall be free and omen
to the vessls Of commerce and Of war
Of all nations observing these rules.
on terms of entire equality and mor6
particularly upon the. proposition that
the words .all nations must include
the United States. freely admit that
this IL a fairly arguabIe point. but Il
does not seem to me that the words
sa1l nations' in this connection necee-
sarily include the United States"