Evening star., 1914-02-09
FRANKLY OPPOSES
TOLLS EXEMPTION
President Feels Justified in
Disregarding Plank in Con-
vention Platform.
SEEMS TO BE CONFIDENT
COUNTRY is BACKING HIM
Does Not Intend to Deliver Message
on Subject-Bryan Silent on SEN
ator Walsh's Charge.

FreSiQeDt W llSon was quite frank Win
visitors today regarding his opposition
TO free tolls for American coastwise ves-
sells through the Panama canal, despite
the declaration of the Baltimore conven-
tion platform. He believes that a change
in the circumstances under which a plat
form touching international questions
was made is sufficient justification for
change In the attitude Of the party, and
its leaders and the people OF the country.
In this as IN other matters the President
appears 10 be confident that the country
IS with him. He did not go into ex-
plantations today as to his position. al
though frankly admitting that from the
first he regarded the platform declara-
ton as unwise.
are said TO feel that platform pledges
made upon domestic questions, fully
threshed out and thoroughly understood
by the convention. were absolutely
sacred. but on International problems.
touching tender spots In relations be-
tween this and other countries, voted
upon without thorough consideration,
the admins tration felt able to handle
the situation IN the light of present con-
ditions in much more practical man
ner-
Hold Conditions Changed.
1t is POINTED out that when the Panama
plank was placed before the convention
1t was adjudged by those responsible for
It as of no great Importance in an inter
national way. 1t was product of con-
ditions at that time. These conditions
have changed. The international rela-
tions of the country have become some
what tense in several directions and the
President and Secretary OF State assert
On feeling fnr q
United States in all directions by fair
play toward other nations when treaties
are under Interpretation.
1t is stated that Great Britain is the
only foreign country that has made rep
resentations to the United States against
free tolls through the canal, but repre-
sentatives OF this country abroad have re-
ported that the position of that country
others.
1t became known today that Great
Britain has not taken up the question
with the President or State Department
since Ambassador Brice left here. The
administration has not received any COM
munications from Japan REGARDING the
vote in the House striking out of the I'm
migration bill provisions hostile to Japa-
nese and eastern people generally.
No Message on Tolls.
The President told callers he did not
on the subject of Panama tolls; that he
felt his attitude had been sufficiently
made clear In recent letter to William
L. Marbury of Baltimore He expects
Congress to repeal the tolls provision dur
ing the present session. and may confer
soon with Representative Adamson of the
House commerce committee. which would
have charge Of such legislation
any comment whatever on the statements
attributed to Senator Walsh of Montana
that Mr.. Bryan not only approved the
Panama canal tolls exemption plank In
the Baltimore platform. but even sug-
gested an amendment to it barring rail-
road-owned ships from its benefits Mr..
Bryan takes the ground, 1t Is understood,
that the deliberations of the convention
committee, of which he was a member,
were confidential and cannot properly be
discussed by him
Walsh Says Plank Was o. KID.
Senator Walsh of Montana declared
today that any suggestion the plank
of the democratic platform adopted at
Baltimore providing for the free pas
sage of American coastwise vessels
through the Panama canal had been
serruptitiously inserted the platform
he, along with Secretary Bryan and
Senators OGorman and Pomerene had
constituted a subcommittee appointed
to draft this particular plank; that
Senator O'Gorman had offered the
resolution for the plank. and that 1t
had met with general approval in the
subcommittee of eleven on resolutions.
Senator Pomerene of Ohio said that
the statement made by Senator Walsh
was, he felt sure. substantially correct,
though he had no very definite recol-
lection of the matter
Senator Chamberlain of Oregon.
chairman of the military affairs COM
mittee announced today that he was
strongly opposed to the position taken
by the administration with regard to
the repeal of the provision of the
Panama canal law for free passage of
American coastwise vessels He said
that his Interpretation of the treaties
with Great Britain regarding the canal
did not coincide with that of the Presi-
dent, and that he did not believe that
the treaties called for any such action