New Britain herald., 1914-04-13
SUBSIDY PLANK IS
 SUPREME, SAYS BRYAN
Secretary Claims IL kuIE6eS Tolls
 Declaration in Platform.

Washington, April 13.-Secretary Bryan in a statement made public Saturday lengthily reviews the Pan- anna tolls question, and in the course of the statement declares that the repeal of the tolls exemption in the Panama canal act cannot be coI- strued to be a construction of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty" but is sim ply a refusal on the part of the United States to raise that question in that way
 MT. Bryan discusses various fea- lures of the subject--the limiting or debate in the house of representatives. the Baltimore platform, and the erect of repeal on the treaty.
 Claiming that the opponents of the repeal had seized upon the charge that the president was "surrendering to England" MT. Bryan declared that the opposition to the repeal had at tempted to appeal ito prejudice rather than to reason
 i,s What Great Britain Wants.
 7"What has Great Britain done," he asked, ito justify the accusation that she is trying to dictate to this coun- try? She has simply called atten-
  asked for arbitration of the question of construction, in case this gov ernment differs from the British gov ernment in the construction to be placed upon the language. The very men who are so insistent upon con- struing the treaty to permit free tolls, delayed for months the ratifi- cation of the treaty with Great Brit ain because of their opposition to any arbitration of the subject. In other words they construed the treaty to permit discrimination, and then ob- jected to allowing any international court to express an opinion on the subject. If, as a matter of fact, the treaty grants the rights which Great Britain claims, Is 1t a Surrender to Great Britain for our nation to re- peal a law that raised that question: The repeal of the law cannot be con- strued to be a construction of the treaty. It is simply refusal on the part of the United States to raise that question in that way.
 Wilson's Right Discussed.
 Discussing the presidents right to expect the, support of congress when he deals with international questions, Secretary Bryan adds:
 'The chief executive speaks for the nation in international affairs, and it is only fair to assume that he speaks advisedly when he declares that intercourse with other nations is seriously embarrassed by the free tolls law which he seeks to repeal.''
 Expresses Platform Views.
 Mr.. Bryan was a member of the resolutions committee of the Balti- more convention and his observations on the platform constitute his first utterance on the subject. MT. Bryan argues that there are two blanks in the Baltimore platform. pertinent to the discussion, one which declares the belief of the democratic party in the: encouragement of the merchant marine but states that it should be developed without imposing addi- tional burdens upon the people and without bounty or subsidies from the public treasuries," and a second plank declaring in favor of the exemption from tolls of American coastwise ships.
 UphOlds Presidents Action.
 ''But even if the platform had not contained within itself a complete refutation of the position taken by the advocates of free tolls, the pres ident would have been justified in the position that he took by the changed conditions which confronted him. A platform is pledge and is as binding upon an official as the command of military officer is upon subordinate the statement cannot be made stronger. But the subordinate officer Is sometimes compelled to act upon his Judgment where change of which the commanding officer is not aware has taken place in conditions. It is not only the right of the SUD- ordinate to judge the situation for himself where conditions have changed since the order was given, but it is his duty to do so. In the ease under consideration the presi- dent takes responsibility for an of ficial act which he regards as neces- sary for his countrys welfare. and the people must decide whether or