The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-10
Democrats Decide to
Thresh Out Differences
Among, Themselves.
WILSON HOPEFUL:
BUT NOT COERCIVE
President Showing No Spirit of
Antagonisn, and Will Not
Send Special Message to
Congress-Stone Sees No
Occasion for Starting
Ruckus Over Matter.

Washington. February e-Repeal Of
the provision OF the Panama Canal act.
oIempting American coastwise shipa
from tolls, favored by President Will
hon, Is to be made subject OF con-
sidcration and action BY Democratic
caucus OF the Senate That this would
90 wiEe and necessary course in tho
interest or party harmony and the
nations foreign policy, is the conclu-
sion OF administration Senator's who
have discussed the subject with tho
President within tho last few DAYS
Ihc President to-day told callers lie
did not intend to send a messaue to
Congress on the subject How COON
the caucus VIII be called has not been
determined. but several Senator's to-
day frankly asserted that tho Demo
Gratis would get together TO weigh the
situation as presented by tho Prcsi-
dent and settle for themselves tho
whole controversy. Tho fact that the
Democratic party indorSed the toll cx-
cmption policy at the Baltimore con
vention. these Senator'S and President
Wilson hold, should not be IL subject OF
open controversy at this time. because
conditions involved In the tolls uues-
tion have changed since that time.
The point TO be settled lie whether the
policy Of tolls adopted by tho nation
through tho action OF Congress should
DC reversed regardless Of the dcclara-
No Spirit Of Coercion.
President Wilson has made il clear
TO Senate and House leaders that nc is
not attempting TO force Congress to ro.
verse Itself He had outlined 10 them
tho country's situation with respcct
10 foreign relations, and his belief that
a reversal OF tho policy on the tolls
question would hc the best thing lie
~ seeking To convince Congress that
this IL SO, but party leaders who have
= t.fitI T,t
not attempting IL in any spirit OF an
iaSonisnI, but ia a spirit Of opera
ton Tor the general welfare.
one Senator said to-day that there
is Il general understanding In CONGRESS
that .he shaping OF tho countvy's for
cign policy should be directed by the
president, and that Congress must give
car TO him whenever legislation affects
that policy i'or this reason, the feel
ing IL that the tolls question should
hc discussed H. - party caucus. As a
forerunner OF this step. Senator stone,
or Missouri, who Is confined to his
home By illness, addressed some poig
Iiant comments on the controversy In
letter To Senator Kern. AS chairman
or the Senate Democrats caucus
Referring 10 the discussion OF the
question. with reference To The toll
plank OF the platform as a Joker"
Senator stone called such a suyges-
tton utterly puerlc" though admitting
that only II small percentage OF the
members OF the convention had more
than All Imperfect knowledge OF the
subject"
No Occasion for "ItucIxus."
IT does not seem to me-" the Mis-
souri, Senator continued. that there is
tho least sion for starting n
'ruckus' about this platform declara-
tion.
Tho declaration is IN the platform
rs the deliberate act OF the national
convention. That proposition might
rs we'll be taken as settled. and there
fore II is not a Joker. The trouble
is that the time has come when many
good men and good Democrats think
that tho policy outlined In tho plat
form was a mistake. and that the
nation cannot in honor or good faith
adhere to II. Manifcstly. the honor
and good faith of the American peo-
Dio are OF greater consequence than
nero dogged adherence to "a deciara-
uon In party platform on n question
of purely public policy.
Moreover, l hold that, in n matter
OF this kind, if some reason or cause
should make il advisable and even
wise not to insist, at least for the
time being. on the letter of the Bal
tilnore declaration, patriotism and good
sense would dictate that we pass the
consideration of the question of en-
forcing the policy proposed in the
platform to somo future time. That
is all there Is to It, There is no need
OF any fuss about tho platform, nor
any Eeed of cussing' those who made
H."