Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-09
LOCAL SOCIETIES
PROTEST REPEAL
I
Continued from First Page,


thority, substantiated by decision of
the United States Supreme Court, and
admitted by the London Law Review,
the highest legal authority among
British publications, absolutely and
unequiYocally declare that exempting
american coastwise ships from the
payment of tolls while passing
through the Panama Canal is no vio-
and
whereas, Panama free tolls for
American domestic commerce would
mean encouragement in the building
up of an American merchant marine
so much needed by this country;
would mean lower shipping charges
between coast and coast and would
consequently mean lower prices for
American products to American con-
sumers. and
Whereas. The repeal of the free
tolls provision would be a national
calamity, would mean further en-
croachments by foreign powers upon
american domestic policy, would
mean surrender to unjust English
Demands,
- Resolved, That the United Irish
Societies of Newark and Essex
County. New Jersey, in meeting as
sembled at Keeney's Theatre. New
ark, n. j., March g. 1914, condemn the
free tolls provision of the canal act,
and declare that the time has not
come for this nation to strike her
colors and to surrender her rights to
any foreign power.
Resolved, That the President, the
United States Senators from New Jer-
sey and the Congressman from the
districts contained wholly or partly
in Essex Count, be notified at once
of the action taken at this meeting. -
Gillen Canal Issue.
THE United States purchased a
strip of territory across the Isthmus
of Panama through which 1t dug the
Panama Canal entirely at it's own
expense of over $780, 000, 900, spent
principally for the benefits this coun-
try would derive from the canal
Speedy and cheap shipping facilities
between coast and coast and q stra-
tegic position of the utmost value
In times of war.
"A law passed for the government
of the canal provides that all foreign
ships and all American ships engaged
in foreign commerce must pay tolls
passing through the canal and that
American ships engaged in purely
domestic commerce. which means car
rying goods from one American port
to another American port, may pass
through the canal without paying
tolls. President Wilson and others
seek to repeal the free toll provision
of the Panama Canal act, stating that
free tolls would be a violation of the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
THE Congress and President who
enacted the canal law favored free
tolls and did not consider that the
treaty would be violated thereby. In
the last Presidential campaign Will
son, Taft and Roosevelt all declared
themselves In favor of free tolls. The
platforms of the Democratic and Pro-
gressive parties declared in favor of
free tolls. Bryan was chairman of
the resolutions committee that drew
the platform. Tho Democratic party
was voted into power on this plat
form. 1t was a sacred pledge made
to the people.
"The United States Supreme Court
decided in 1909 that toll-free domestic
commerce through the Panama Canal
is no violation of the treaty. The
London Law Review, the highest au-
thority among British legal pubiica-
tons, declared a few months ago that
free tolls for American domestic COM
merce is not in violation of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty. Concurring in
these opinions we find former Secre-
taries of State Olney and Knox, for
ner President Taft United States
Senators O'Gorman, Thomas and
Chamberlain. Democratic Leader in
Congress Underwood and scores of
other leaders in American thought
who stand for the best interests of
the Republic.
Underwood states that we need
great merchant marine to bring our
goods to the worlds markets. that
we cannot grow without a merchant
marine, that nothing would encourage
foster the building up a merchant
marine more than free tolls at the
Panama Canal He said that If
ship loaded with wheat at Duluth
can go toll-free through the locks of
the great Lake system and deposit
its cargo at Buffalo, and If a barge
loaded with coal at Pittsburg bound
for New Orleans can go through the
locks of the Ohio River toll-free, why
should not an American ship carry
ing freight from New York to San
Canal toll-free? The territory through
which the Panama Canal runs is just
as much American territory as the
territory through which the Ohio
River runs"
Senator Chamberlain says: I make
the prediction that If we repeal these
tolls there will be an immediate de-
mand by Great Britain. backed by
the Canadian government, for a re-
peal of that portion of the act that
forbids railroad owned ships or ships
in which railroads have an interest.
from passing through the canal.
Other demands can be made upon us.
compliance with which will greatly
humiliate us before the nations of
the world. I do not see how we cap
pass through the canal or even
fortify 1t for it's own protection, IL
protest is made that either of these
things is violative of the terms Of
the treaty.
Quotes London Authority.
The London Law Review says:
The United States can support its
action on the precise words of the
material articles of the treaty, that
its case is strengthened by reference
to the preamble and context, and
that it's case is difficult to challenge
on the grounds of general Justice.
There is no international obligation
legislative act by any process of
arbitration, and that any aggrieved
party has an appropriate and i'm
partial and a competent tribunal in
the Supreme Court of the United
States"
Many believe that President Will
son should have met England's de-
mand for the repeal of the free tolls
provision with a message to Con-
gress for an appropriation to enlarge
the navy and army of the United
States. When a foreign power at
tempts to interfere in our domestic
policy it is time for us to pause and
take stock This nation when only
5,000,000 strong was able to make the
nations of the world respect the Mon