The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-03-31

competed, preCluOeO he LoM us
charging my duty or exercising my
rights as q representative In congress
and as speaker of the house, to stand
! up for America against Great Britain.
Whatever may be the difference OF
opinion respecting the merits OF the
case, do Presiden Wilson honor for
his act. If were in his place and be-
lieved as he does, should do as he
has DONE Moreover have such conf
dence in the president that have not
the slightest doubt that if he were In
my place and believed what believe,
he would do as / am doing. But l do
not and cannot endorse his Judgment
in this matter. / think he 8 wholly
in the wrong, at least so far as the
treaty bears upon our own domestic
situation and consequently offers no
just cause for the breaking of a well
considered party pledge.
IF we have entered into any en-
gagement which forbids US to man
age our own affairs, then we must
abide by its terms, however unneces-
sary and foolish that engagement
may have been. Here, opinion
honest opinions-differ. Neither leg
ally in broad sense nor technically
lin narrow application, does this
treaty forbid us to regulate our
TRANSPORTATION OF our own goods in
our own ships in our own canal be-
tween or own ports"
Republican Leader Mann this at
ternoon predicted possible war for the
United States. On this he based his
appeal against abandoning fres tolls.
He said it would mean embarrassment
with England in the future.
He contended England has no III
cense" to object to what America
does With the canal so long as she
charges English vessels reasonable
tolls
! IF we construe the treaty according
to the English claims" he said, 1t is
sure to rise and embarrdss US when
ever we have war with other countries
War is not desirable, but it is inevi-
table. We cannot always maintain
peace.
IF we agree now to Che English con-
struction, it is certain that In the fu-
ture when we have war with Japan,
! or China, or some other country, quss-
I lions will arise in reference TO their
use aud our use Of the canal, especially
as to war vessels. In that time OF
stress. We will be met with the con-
tention by England. the present ally
Of Japan, or by some other country.
which will embarrass, If not defeat US
in war.
Il want to treat England fairly but
| believe we have the right to do as we
please in this matter and that it Is an
unfriendly act of England now at this
late date to insist upon any other con-
struction Of the treaty.
"Of course we cannot Aonorably
break a binding contract with Eng
! land, nor do we desire to do SO, Dat
honor does not require US to accept
false construction of a treaty because
! it is against our interest and in the in.
terest of England"
Cowardly Surrender.
To-day we are paying the price OF
scholarly obstinancy OF text book
stat asmanship Of sublime self-assur>
ance, OF chautaqua methods and grape
! juice diplomacy Representative
| Humphrey, republican, Of Washing
| ton, commented today in a red not
attack on the Panama canal tois,
repeal bill.
He termed the proposal to ABANDON
! free tolls a "cowardly surrender 10
the dictates OF an executive" and
scornfully told the democrats their
attitude was deserving OF more con-
! tempt than the English language can
express.
Then he laid the blame for the Dill
on the egotistical laundering ana
policy of the democratic administra-
/ ton.
| I'VE have lived to sea the imposing
spectacle OF president not ASKING
but supplicating, congress to repudi'
ate directly a platform plank ne els
pecially approved" thu washington
member declared. I'VE have lived 10