The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-27

IE JoURMAI-FRmAY ]
party. upon which he was elected. spe-
can ships.
THE president told us = few days
ago that right or wrong, We must re-
peal that part of the canal act that ex-
empts our own shipping engaged i'm our
own coastwise trade from the payment
of tolls on our own canal, AND In .
mysterious fashion, refers to the for
eign policy Of the administration. He
told IN that II we do not grant MIN TINS
request in 'ungrudging measure ne
win not know what to do in other very
important matters.
Wilson's Foreign Policy.
what is the foreign policy OF the
administration? Does the president
known No one else does.
The president does not explain what
his diplomatic embarrassment IL that
makes this surrender necessary. Does
he fear the murderer and illiterate
bandit. Villa, will break on diplomatic
relations with his administration. and
that In that event he Will need the ala
Of England: or does he ask congress to
aid him In further humiliating the
American people by making this ab5ect
surrender because England has init
mated that she wants it done? Was
our ambassador at the Court OF st.
James. on the 18th OF March. speaking
for the administration, when he said
he could not say that the United States
had constructed the canal for Great
Britain. but that added greatly to the
pleasure of building that great work to
know that the British would profit
most by it's use?' Is it to accomplish
the purpose set forth in that declara-
finvn 0f hA American h00wRA0F to
England that we are asked to repeal
the law that would give to the Ameri-
can people some advantage in the use
OF the canal that they have built at q
cost Of 1911, 0O0, 900?
up to this time. reference has only
been made to the effect the repeal will
have upon our rights to control our do
nestle commerce In the use OF our own
canal. II no other question were In
volved, our humiliation will DO conn
plished; but, rising above our rights an
a commercials nation to the use OF our
own canal, ON our own soil. in our own
country. under our own flag, 10 the
right we are surrendering by this re-
peal as to our ships Of war.
The language Of the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty IL the canal shall be free
and open to the vessels Of commerce
and OF war of all nations observing
these rules. on terms Of entire equal
ity, ETC. - ~. .on..n.,., =.
commerce by the construction we are
asked by the president to put upon the
treaty by the repeal proposed. we shall
commit ourselves to the graver, more
serious, more humiiiating. more UNI
American Interpretation OF the treaty
permitting England the equal right
with US to use the canal for ships OF
war.
In Time Of War.
IF the warships OF England wished
to reach the cities Of the Pacific coast
they have an equal right with us IN
| the use Of the canal for their war YES
sells. II the construction contended Tor
| by the president Is correct. The gate
keeper Of the Panama canal would be
forced to dip the American flag to Brit
ish war vessels as they enter to pass
through the canal upon the same terms
as our own war vessels.
THE Oregon on her way back to the
Pacific coast. will have to pay tolls OF
go around the Horn again.
Every drop Of red blood In America
protests against such q humiliatine
| possibility. but that condition is inevt-
table as to vessels Of war IL the prest-
| dent is right in his new contention az
| to vessels of commerce. Both are in
! cluded in the treaty In the same con-
nection.
1T is cowardly to repeal the free
tolls provision Of the canal act. This
rule and the bill it seeks to make in
order, should be defeated by this house
By such action We shall maintain 9
| sovereign's control over our domestic
| affairs; we shall preserve our own re-
spect, and command the respect OF Eng
| land and every other country in the
world; we shall honor the living and
pay tribute to the memory Of the dead
who were ready to sacrifice everything
but their honor to establish and pre-
serve the Republic; we shall reflect
| the warm sentiment of the millions Of
our countrymen in whose veins there
is rich, red blood that beats for theil
own country: and we shall beQueath t.
(; postertty q fearless Americanism that
viii be a priceless heritage to the un.
born generations OF the future"
Speaker Clarlk's Statement.
Speaker Clark's statement read:
II am against the rule on the TOLL
question and intend to vote against it
1 will not stultify myself by voting
for any such rule. led the fight Il
liberalize the rules and practices Of thu
house, thereby imperilling my politicA
future. We won that long and bittel
fight. and it was the first Democratic
victory in Is years. Repeatedly I de
clared that would not advocate . thinl
| when in the minority that I woult
not advocate in the majority.
"The Democrats won the house in 191,
the first time in sixteen years. wa
unanimously nominated for speaker and
duly elected by every Democratic vote II
the house, with the hearty good will o.
every Republican, because they believer
1iberalize the rules and practices of thu
house voluntarily relinQuished . larg,
Among other things declared that
was in favor Of throwing bills open t.
ample discussion and amendment and
am going to keep the faith. come wha
may. II I were to vote for the pending
rule ] gould not look the house in tn
face. When / made that statement, I wa
speaking particularly of tariff bills, blu
my statement is equally applicable to a
great bills. Here Il the situation:
L ia -