The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-13
bryan SAYS TOLLS EXEMPTION is A SUBSIDY
AND GOT INTO PLATFORM BY TREACHERI
Conttssed from Fret Pdoe.

Trajectory planks to appear in that dec
laration.
They intend to call on Mr. Bryan
also to explain why IL the exemption
from tolls is an indirect subsidy now. It
was not an Indirect subsidy in violation
Of the Democratic faith when II was in
dorsed by Mr., Bryan as chairman Of the
resolutions committee.
Secretary Bryan contends. however,
that President Wilson would be justified
In his present course even II there were
no conflict between the platform rlanks
owing to changed conditions. The Secre-
tary Of State advances the interesting
contention that a plank In regard to in
ternationai AFFAIRS Is to be regarded as
I'm expression Of a wish. not an express
sion of determination"
Secretary Bryan, like President Wilson,
fails 10 charge that tolls exemption would
constitute a violation Of the Hay-Pauncc-
fote treaty.
He diseioses for the arst time the view
Of this Government that "the repeal OF
the law cannot be construed TO be . con.
struetion Of the treaty"
by tuu8 iuubSutiB tho
attitude Of this Government toward an
Interpretation Of the treaty Secretary
Bryan. It Ii believed. 10 leaving the way
open for any contentious which this Gov
eminent might care TO advance. especially
II Great Britain should seek to construe
the treaty as requiring American war
ships to pay tolls.
Secretary Bryan. in his statement also
gives for the first time his own apprecia-
ton OF the standing of this nation under
the present Administration Of the State
Department In the eyes OF the world.
eve occupy to-day" says he. - proud
position among the nations. We are fore
most advocates Of peace and arbitration.
We are becoming more and more a moral
factor throughout the world"
Here is Secretary Bryan's statement:
I'm the discussion OF the repeal measure
II was impossible TO connne its opponents
TO discussion Of the merits Of the Ques-
ton. They stoutly contended that they
were standing upon the platform adopted
at Baltimore and assumed to themselves
Q superior sort OF virtue because Of the
sanctity with which they invested this
particular plank Of the platform.
The readers OF the ComnioHer have
long since learned to regard a platform
pledge As binding and they are entitled
to know the grounds upon which the
Democrats Of Congress acted in repeating
a measure Endorsed by the platform.
Three Facts to be Considered.
There are three facts to be considered
facts which the friends Of free tolls
have refused to discuss. First. that there
was another plank In the platform. or
rather. another clause. which was practi-
caIly a part Of the same plank which con-
tanned the free tolls declaration. This
clause had to do with the encouragement
Of the merchant marine. and reads:
we believe in fostering, BY consti-
tutional regulation of commerce. the
growth Of a merchant marine. which
shall develop and strengthen the COM
mercial ties which bind US to our
sister Republics OF the South. but
without imposing additional burdens
upon the people and without bounties
or subsidies from the public treasury.
"The merchant marine includes all the
ships belonging to American citizens. and
Il will be seen that the Democratic party
expressed q deep interest in the upbuid-
ing OF the merchant marine, and yet, not
the Importance Of the sub
ject and the anxious concern felt by the
party for the rehabilitation Of the mer-
chant marine II specifically declared
against bounties and subsidies as means
of aiding the merchant marine.
The action OF the free tolls Democrats
in ignoring this plank is incomprehensible.
because its language is clear and spe-
cifc and it reiterateS doctrine for which
the Democratic party has stood from time
immemoriaL
This opposition 10 bounties and sub
sides. whether granted openly and d.
rectly or whether granted secretly and in
directly. as they are through protective
tariff. is a fundamental article Of Demo-
cratic faith.
But while the friends Of free tolls
are able to overlook the plank above
quoted. with it's clear and ringing declara-
ton against subsidies and bounties. they
regard as sacred the following lines in
which the party Endorsed free tolls:
I'VE favor the exemption from toll
OF American ships engaged in coast
wise trade passing through the canal.
"Why do these few words stand out so
brightly before the advocates OF free
tolls? And why are they unable to see
or remember the words condemning boun-
ties and subsidies? What opiate does the
little plank contain that 1t can make those
who accept it oblivious of the larger
plank? BY what rule of construction can
the small plank be made binding and the
large one ignored
secret OF strange Power.
"The secret OF the strange power exerted
by the little plank IL 10 be found In the