Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-07
Presidents Steam Roller Halted.

1t is suggested that some of the
strength for repeal of canal tolls ex-
emption in the National House was
based on false claims. 1t is becoming
known that reports were sent out de-
claring this or that man to be with
the President" whether or not they
had so expressed themselves. A case
in point is referred to by the Wash
ington Post of Friday, April 8. 1t
said:
Senator Burleigh, of Maine,
promptly proved yesterday that ii
was dangerous to guess" how
senator's intended to vote on the
repeal bill. In a New York paper
he was placed in a column with
those Republicans who it was al
legged would support the President.
Il have always favored exemp-
ton from tolls for American
coastwise ships" said Senator
Burleigh. Il am of that opinion
now Since the repeal of the law
was first suggested l have been
against it, and l shall so vote
when the time comes"
Some time ago Senator Burleigh
assured friends who asked him that
he should be against repeal clear
through to the end" He declared that
he deemed it a short-sighted and un-
American plan and that he should
vote against it if he stood alone in
the United States Senate.
Senator Burleigh has learned in re-
cent weeks that he will not stand
alone; in fact, he is receiving assur-
ance from some of the ablest men in
the Senate that they are in the fight
to stay. They stand on the ground
of good American fairness and COM
mon sense: That the canal is Amer
lean; that it has been built by Amer
lea on American territory; that Amer
America must collect the tolls and see
to it that every nation is served equal
justice as provided for in the Hay
Pauncefote treaty; that exemption of
American coastwise shipping tolls is
no hardship upon Great Britain or any
other nation,-but that PAYMENT or
TOLLS BY AMERICAN coAsTWIsE
SHIPPING is AN UNFAIR ADvAN-
TAGE TO GREAT RAILWAY SYS-
TENS FUNDED BY BRITISH CAP
ITAL.
Senator Burleigh believes that the
insistence of the President and his
Democratic following in surrendering
American sovereignty to British die
tation will meet with overwhelming
condemnation by the American people.
He is convinced that no combination
of diplomatic situations can today ex-
list that would excuse such spineless
policy upon the part of the admins
tration.
The Washington Post, which is in
dependent in politics, reviews the
changing sentiment" at the Capitol.
1t notes a loss of votes for repeal, and
the plumbers of Senator Owen in his
undue zeal to sweep everything before
the Presidents demand. 1t finds a
spirit of revolt, even among the Pres
idents supporters, against blind ac-
ton without information as to what
menace the President stands in fear.
The Post says:
Secretary of State Bryan spent some
time at the Capitol yesterday endeav-
oring to get the inside of the toll stu
alton and to win opposing Democrats
over to the Presidents viewpoint. In
this he was not very successful. His
presence, however, showed that the
whole power of the administration is
to be exerted in the Senate, as it was
in the House, to bring about the adop-
ton Of the repeal bill
Mr.. Bryan went to the Capitol to
confer with the foreign relations COM
mittee on arbitration treaties now
pending before that committee. Fol-
lowing the conference he visited the
room of Senator Hoke Smith. To this
room. convenient to the Senate cham
ber 1t was an easy matter to bring
senators whom the Secretary wished
to see.
Senator Ashurst was the only DEM
oeratic opponent of repeal with whom
the Secretary talked. The impression
made by the eloquent Secretary upon
the Arizona senator was disheartening
enough to discourage any further ell
forts at PROSECUTING. 1t is understood
that Senator Ashurst told Mr.. Bryan
That so long as blood ran red in the