Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-30
Cong. Gillett Criticizes
Wilson'S Lack of Frankness

Washington, March Z9-hepresentatlFe
Frederick H. Gillett of Massachusetts
one of the eight Republicans in the
House on record as in favor of toll ex-
emption repeal, in debate on the repeal
bill Saturday vigorously criticised Presi-
dent Wilson for lack of frankness in ex-
planning his change of front on the tolls
questions and attacked the adminfstra-
TONS foreign policy which he asserted
made repeal a matter of necessity.
AS one of the original opponents of toll
exemption for American ships he said
81 would gladly have voted for the reso-
luton simply on grounds of national hon
or and amity or of economic wisdom
do it with less satisfaction when it is re-
quested as an escape from foreign dan
| gers.
Mr.. Gillett after quoting the free tolls
plank and extracts from speeches. by the
President said in part:
and now this very President who
angled for the farmers vote by showing
them how free tolls would help them,
| who is the same speech reproached gen
| tlemen who talk one way and vote an
other, who said the platform is not mo-
lasses to catch flies. who refused the
request of the suffragists on the ground
that he should only address Congress on
subjects which has party platform had
indorsed, this President exposes himself
to his own reproaches, violates what ne
asserted was his own strict rule of con-
duct. deserts the voters for whom the
molasses was spread and avows that this
exemption from tolls, affirmed in the
.x,l s,nln sod h m
personally in the campaign, constitutes
a mistaken economic policy from every
point of view and is, moreover, in plain
contravention to the treaty with Great
Britain. And he does this without any
apology, explanation or indication that
he has held any different opinion.
IF the President had admitted ms
change of heart and frankly avowed that
he was wrong before, it would have gone
far to disarm opposition and soften crit
icism But on the contrary, he ignores
entirely the past and appeals, with his
invariable felicity of phrase and charm of
style, to motives of principle and honor,
as if no one would recall that their force
should nave been just as great when he
was deaf to them and that they were just
and the Democratic party denied them.
But there is an inconsistency in the
message itself, short as it is. He asks
us first to repeal the act on grounds OF
duty and generosity. 1t was noble APP
peal to the higher impulses of the Amer
| lean people. But as if afraid to trust to
that appeal he afterward adds: 1 ask
this of you in support of the foreign pol
icy of the administration. l shall not
know how to deal with other matters OF
even greater delicaey and nearer conse-
ouence if you do not give it to me-
Abandoning the ground of magnanimity,
he now asks il to save his foreign policy.
eft is l think unfortunate that he did
not dare to risk success upon the loftier
ground To me it seems humiliating, to
do now as an act of necessity and self
preservation what we should have done
cheerfully and gladly as an act of justice
and wisdom.
"A high-spirited nation does not like
to change it's policy under the dictation of
foreign complications. / think the admin
istration has done what it could to make
il difficult for the United States to re-
treat with credit.
impeaching the honor or honesty of the
President l presume his first opinion
was adopted without thorough investiga-
ton and that when he studied it he rec
ognized his mistake.
But it illustrates and exempliies again
what / have before charged as the fatal
weakness of this administration in its
foreign affairs, that 1t adopts opinions
and policies because they are convenient
or popular at the moment without study
ing their ultimate consequences or in
evitable results, and so finds itself f1oun-
dering in difficulties and complications
which a wise foresight and preparation
would have avoided.
| cit is better to be right at last than
never to be right at ALL but in foreign
affairs it is peculiarly important to be
right at first. to foresee consequences.
and not to adopt measures which other
nations can justly constrain us to re-
nounce or which our own interests or
honor recommend us to abandon"