Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-04-29
II REASONS FOR
FREE SHIP TOLLS
BY Winfield ZONES.

Of the best arguments against re-
peal Of free tolls. now advocated
so strcnuously by President Wilson
and the Democratic administration
is made by an Indiana Democrat.
Mai. G. V. Menzies, OF Mount
Vernon. ono Of the leading Demo
Gratis OF southern Indiana and Tor
many years 4 prominent figure III
the party in this State has written
to Senator Gore OF Oklahoma. 4
strong letter setting forth his rea-
sons for opposing President VIII
sons demand for repeal of the free
tolls law.
Mai. Menzies was a delegate At
large from Indiana to the conven-
ton at Baltimore in 1912. He has
been delegate at large to other
conventions. and for nearly 81
wears has been one Of the most in
nuential members Of the party III
Indiana
Mai. Mcnzies' reply to Senator
Gore gives seventeen reasons why
he is opposed to the Presidents
demands. In concluding them he
says:
"When a boy OF 10 entered the
Naval Academy. About the first
thing saw was the blue flag o:
Perry with the dying words OF Law
renee across it; Don't give up the
ship
Not a jot or title OF american
rights in the canal bill to regulate
tolls should be yielded to the pro-
test or demand OF any foreign pow
err. Don't give up the ship.
The seventeen reasons given by
Mai. Menzies in support OF his po-
sition follow:
l. Because the act is not in vio-
lation of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
,. We should, as England does
discriminate in favor Of our coast
wise trade.
3. The repeal OF the law will fav-
or transcontinental railroads, Cana
dian, English and American.
1. 1t mas been our policy Tor
100 years to encourage our coast
wise trade as domestic commerce.
;. Every vessel OF our coastwise
trade must be American-buiIt, Amer
;can-repistered. American-manned.
and hy the American flag.
g. Our coastwise trade was. in
the war Of 1912. the civil war, and
s now a training school for Amcri-
can scamcn. to man. i: necessary.
in time OF war. our naval vessels.
!. If there is doubt as to the in
depreciation o. the treaty our com
try should have the benefit OF the
doubt
8. Our party resolved in favor OF
exempting from tolls our coastwise
trade in the Baltimore platform.
The platform also declared "our
platform is one Of principles which
we believe to be essential to our
national welfare. Our pledges are
made to be kept, when in Office, As
we'll as relied upon during the cam
paign."
9. We should not crack the
pregnant hinges OF the kree where
thrift may follow fawning."
10. England encouraged the de
struction Of our coastwise and over
sea commerce in the civil war. She
now seeks the imp9verishment OF
part OF our domestic commerce Tor
the benefit OF her oversee commerce
II. Conditions are now so essen
tally different from existing condi-
ions in 1901 when the Hay-Paunce-
-ortc treaty was made as amount
10 practical annulment.
p. Ali parties and all Presiden-
ial candidates in 1912 favored eX-
,mpting our coastvise trade from
he payment OF tolls. Not one OF
he Presidential candidates declared
Exemption was a violation OF Sec
ion l, Article 5, OF The Hay-Paunce-
ote treaty,
-. The agitation for the repeal
II the statute OF 1912 was initiated
" the Canadian Pacific Railroad.
Nj transcontinental railroads are
working for its repeal.
Il. The trarscontinental railroads
esisted and delayed the building OF
he Panama canal for fifteen years
o prevent competition. They now
,ish the repeal OF the statute TO
title competition.
IS. Why not subsidize, il there
ill be a subsidy, our coastwise !
-ade in preference to Canadian. c
.nglish, and American Atlantic-to- )
'aciic railroads?
10. The canal was built primar,
Y to benefit our commerce and in