The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-12-15

/! by John Edwin Nevin, United Press
STAFF Correspondent.]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-President
Wilson today gave assurances that
| there will be no break between his
cabinet members over the request Of
! Colonel Goethals for destroyers to
maintain neutrality on the canal zone.
Although Secretary OF War Garrison
has endorsed the request and Score
taries Bryan and Daniels are reputed
to oppose sending the swift sailing
''wasps," the president sees no cause
for alarm He said today that he has
requested Colonel Goethals for COM
plete report. If the colonel shows
that only by having them on the job
he can maintain the provisions Of the
presidents neutrality proclamation,
thew will be sent forthwith. The pres
ident explained he considers himself
the clearing house for any jurisdic-
tional disputes that may arise within
the cabinet and expects to be able to
settle the present question without
any friction.
No formal protest has been made
to this government by any foreign
nations regarding Arizona's anti
alien labor law. the president said to-
day. Formal inquiry has been made
by Great Britain, Italy and some 9TH
err nations. But the president does
not believe that there is any discrim-
nation in the Arizona act that would
make it parallel to the California anti
alien land owning law which resulted
in the controversy with Japan.
The president again today intimated
broadly that he is opposed to the lit
eracy test OF the immigration bill. He
stated he did not consider the sug-
gested test was the real way to de-
termine the quality of prospective citi-
zens. But he declined to say whether
this would so Offset what he termed
the better qualities so as to compel
| him to veto the measure.
| So far as conservation is concerned
| at the present session OF congress,
the president stated that he believed
the bill which has already passed the
house includes practically all that is
necessary in connection with water
power development. But he said he
has taken no decisive stand against
| amending It.
Stories have been given circulation
that the president and his closest as
sociates will oppose the selection OF
Claude Kitchin Of North Carolina as
democratic leader OF the next house
were given an emphatic quietus by
the president today. He declared he
did not consider it any OF his business
who the house selects as leader.
Despite the dificulty encountered In
selecting competent men for member
ship on the federal trade commission,
! President Wilson said today he hoped
to be able to nominate the commission
not later than New Years and pos
sibly by Christmas.
CD to the present the president
| said. the suggestion that South Amer
lean republics and the United States
attempt the establishment In the wat
err of this hemisphere of neutral
zone within which the shipping OF all
nations would be safe and from which
all hostile war craft would be expelled
has not been brought to him for an
opinion. He indicated that he consid-
cred such plan hopeless task.
| The president is still hopeful that
the Colombian and Nicaraguan treat
les will yet be approved by the sen
ate before the present session ends.
| The president will personally dis
cuss the Colorado situation with Gov
ernor Ammons later in the week. He
said that until then. the troops Will
/ remain in the strike zone.