Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-08
Underwood and Clark Draw Battle
Line to Make Memorable Fight
Against Presidents Alliance
With England on Canal Bill.
Repeal Measure To Be Brought
Into House Under Special Rule
for Debate This Week-BattIe
VIII Test Ability of Executive.

WASHINGTON. March THE
battle royal to prevent the country
from suffering the ignominy and hui
initiation of having its laws repealed
at the demands of a foreign nation
and to save a great political party
from self Identification will begin in
both houses of Congress next week.
President Wilson's staupchest sup
porters admit that he is entering up
on the biggest fight of his political
life His plea for the repeal of the
toll exemption clause of the canal act
has stunned all patriotic men in Con-
gress by reason of its audacity.
Letters and kilograms from consti-
tuents urge these member of Con-
gress to stand firm for the American
policy and praise them for their cour-
age in refusing to be cajoled or whip
ped into the SUPPORT of policy that
does not meet with their approval.
Wilson's Dictum Refused.
The cslmer, sober second thought
Of public men as privately expressed
to-day refuses to accept the mere die
tum of the President on this subject.
There was much comment over the
fact that the President departed from
his usual custom in this message. In
stead of giving reasons for the rec
concentrations he made to Congress
he INDUCED in yelled innuendo and
vague references to something that
might happen if Congress refused to
Go his bidding. The method of bring
ing to himself the support he asked
has been criticised as an appeal for
personal surrender to the executive
will, rather than an appeal to the
reason and judgment Of patriotic and
strong men.
Preparations for the fight are al
ready under way.
The House Committee on Inter
state Commerce ordered favorable
report on a bill to repeal the ex-
emption clause by vote Of IL to g.
This apparently one-sided vote was
due to the leadership of Chairman
Adamson, of the committee, acting
under whip and spur from the White
House, aided by every conceivable
sort of pressure that certain officials
in high places know we'll how to bring
10 bear upon members of Congress.
House Action Unimportant.
The action of the House committee
however, is not so important as 1t
would first appear to be. When the
original canal act was reported from
this same committee it contained
provision for the collection of tolls
against coastwise ships engaged IN
purely domestic commerce.
1t was the House itself that arose
and rode down the command provid-
ing for exemption from tolls. 1t is
on the floor Of the House again that
the fight is to be made and the pre-
diction is made by some of the strong
men of the House that this same COM
mittee will once more be overthrow
en- this subject.
The measure is to be brought into
The House under special rule. a
certain amount of time for debate viii
be granted. The country must not
forget that the two greatest figures IN
the House of Representatives to-day
the men who WELD the most power
are with the American people and
against the President and British al
Lance on this subject Speaker Champ
Clark and that militant and agrees
sive leader of American Democracy
oscar w. Underwood, openly and
publicly have voiced their opposition
70 the Presidents plan.
Underwood Is Champion.
Although summoned to the White
House and urged to come over to his
side and lead the fight for repeal,
oscar Underwood refused to be either
Jollied or coerced into the service Of
the British Foreign Office. His indig-
ration at the humiliating position In
which his country was placed found
expression in an interview that has
been republished In The Compression
al Record and quoted from one end of
The country to the other as the words
OF courageous man who refuses to