Arizona republican., 1914-02-07

yet undertaken by him. and is placing his leader ship in peril. A large majority of his party and the overwhelming mass of the people were in strong sympathy with the tariff revision and the currency legislation programs, both of which begun and executed in accordance with platform pledges Like wise he will have party and popular support in any antitrust legislation program.
 But the attitude of the president toward the canal tolls question is only contrary to that which his party has almost solidly committed itself in earlier legislation, but it is contrary to the over whelmng sentiment, right or wrong, of the Amer ican people. With them patriotic sentiment sub merges possible argument in favor of the British contention. It matters nothing that the Hay-Paunce- fote treaty declares: The canal shall be free and open to the vessels of commerce and war of all nations observing these rules, (which follow, on of entire equality. that there shall be no discrimination against any such nation it's cti- zens or subjects in respect of the conditions or charges of traffic otherwise
 In the debates upon the canal bill those who favored the exemption of American vessels from tolls and who made pretense of caring for inter national fairness, endeavored by nterminable argu- ment, calculated confuse rather than to clarfY. to prove that the exemption clause was not in con- uavention of the treaty More shallow and dema- gOgic supporters of the clause declared that the country should not be bound by treaty in which the countrys just privileges had been barered away.
 In the beginning President Taft held the view that President Wilson holds and mildly protested against the clause Later, whether having changed his opinion yielding too late to the pop will he signed the bi declaring his belief that it was not in violation of the treaty.
 President Wilson elects to be bound by the ,bo icb hay-a haen a1e strong and unmistakable in full command of the English language could make them. There cannot be the slightest doubt what in the minds of the negotators of the treaty. The senate which ratified it could have had dou5t.
 President Wilson looks beyond the proposition that if this country builds the canal and maintains and guards it wholly at it's own expense. it should be allowed discriminate in favor of it's own yes sels: that it should be allowed do with it's own property it peases. But there is something back all that which. however, is not essential to the question Shall we be bound by own solemn agreement?
 The British had somehow and some time ac- pured certain rights the isthmus. What they were is not clear but that they existed was recognized in the Clayton -Bulwer treaty, for even then the construction isthmian canal was in contemplation. In negotiating the Hay-Pauncefote treaty when the construction of the canal was more imminent the British conceded certain rights se- cured it under the former treaty, and, so far as we recall the treaty accepted by this country with a clear understanding and without question.
 Every American wishes that American vessels might be exempted from canal tolls and if the pres ident shall be able induce the American people to forego what may be regarded a great national wish in order that international compact may be observed. he will have accomplished a more diff fcult task than yet fallen him. than which will be likely for any president in many years
 
 Here is the point where the leaders of his party who fretted against the authority of the pres dent may make strongly entrenched stand, and here is the point where the party may seriously. if not fatally. divide.