The Washington herald., 1914-04-01
President. Victory in the House.

est proof of its confidence and loyalty.
The majority of 81 for repeal of the ex-
Iemption granted American coastwise
ships from payment of Panama Canal
tolls was greater than even the Presi-
dents supporters, closest to him andrt
the sentiment of the House, had hoped
for 1t only remains for the Senate to
lacquiesce-and there now seems scarce
lily room for doubt that it will-to in
sure to the President the greatest tri-
umph of his administration. Placing
Justice and right and the national honor
above party considerations, admitting
that he once erred in judgment, Mr..
Wilson courageously invited his first re-
buff from Congress and instead received
renewed evidence of its steadfast sup
port.
That only 81 of the 900 Democrats in
the House voted against repeal is sur
prising in view of the amount of feeling
engendered in the early days of the de-
bate, and indicates a rapid subsistence
of rancor, which is likely to have COM
pletely disappeared before the session
ends. Certainly there was nothing in
Speaker Clark's speech calculated to
keep it alive.
The outcome in the House cannot fail
to make an impression in the Senate IA
vorable to the Presidents policy. A
substantial majority there would be a
happy ending to a situation which at
one time contained the elements of par
ty disaster. Rejection of repeal by the
Senate-the two Houses divided over an
urgent policy of the Presidents not to
be thought of.
Mr.. Clark's speech will win him many
friends and supporters and lose him al
most none. If it is open to criticism, it
is that he showed himself too sensitive
to newspaper attacks, sensitiveness
which led him on to biting characteri-
zation of those in the House whom he
held on high as foemen and stung with
his oratory. There he may have inflict-
ed wounds that it will take longer TO
heal than the present session lasts. The
Speaker could not have said less and
justified his position; he might have said
much more and have fallen far short of
exiling himself from high place in his
party. Not always logical, his phrases
rang clear as bell and he spoke frank |
ly, manfully, intimately-as he had a |
right-to his colleagues. He impugned
no mans motives, least of all the Pres
ident's, but he resented. in terms that
carried instant conviction of his honesty,
all aspersions upon his own. There is
nothing in his whole speech in contra
vention of his own calm assertion:
The President differs from the judg- |
ment of these and many other men of |
like understanding. He is convinced |
that the statute as it now stands does |
contravene our solemn obligation and
should therefore be repealed. So be-
lieving. he does the only thing that an
honorable and conscientious head of the |
nation could do; he asks us to recon- !
slider our action in view of his convic-
ton that We have violated a pledge.
Whatever may be the difference of |
opinion respecting the merits of the
case, | do President Wilson honor for
his act. If | were in his place and be-
lieved as he believes. should do as
he has done. Moreover, | have such |
confidence in the President that | have
not the slightest doubt that, if he were
in my place and believed what l be-
lieve, he would do as l am doing.
Speaker Clark may safely rest there
all question as to his loyalty to the
President and his party. He places
party platform above President and ma
tion's necessities and in doing so gives
no one the right to question his hon.
esty or sincerity.
His speech did not even lack the tinge
of comedy that sometimes saves tense
situations. Many of his hearers smiled
at the suggestion that the President
might have conhded to the House of Rep
resentatives, composed of ABS Demo-
Gratis, Republicans, and Progressives, in
executive session his delicate diplomatic
reasons for asking repeal if he did not
deem it prudent to make them known
to the world at large
All in all, Champ Clark said nothing
yesterday to disqualify him from re-
election as Speaker; but even though he
loses the Speakership he will not lose
the confidence and affection of Demo-
Gratis the country over.