The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-03-31

1
The speech of Speaker Clark, oppos-
| ing the measure, is the chief object OF
anticipation as no hint has been given
| as to the course his attack will take
His friends expect no attack on he
president. The bill is expected to pass
by a majority of 80 to IS.
The senate debate today was en1iv-
ened by Senator Lewis. of Illinois,
pleading the presidents cause, but
urging compromise by giving the
president authority to suspend the
tolls. Discussing his views on refer
ences made in the presidents repeal
message, he drew picture of dire
things following intervention in Mex
leo. He predicted Japan would seize
the Philippines and Russia seize Alas
ka. South America, angry over the
splitting up of Colombia would ad-
vance on the Panama canal.
The house was crowded and attend
anee records were broken. The pres
ident was both attacked and defended
by the representatives and campaign
policy of the party derided and COM
mended. The economic policy of free
tolls was supported and condemned
L'Engle of Florida, made an OPPOSE
ton speech from an invalid chair.
Senator Owen read the ship subsidy
plank of the Baltimore platform say
ing it was a flat contradiction of the
free tools plank and laid the presence
OF the latter to the pressure of ceast-
wise companies.
THE PARTY PLATFORM.
President Wilson declared today
that on account of the contradictory
statements in the Baltimore platform,
democrats should have no hesitation in
voting for the repeal of the Panama
canal tolls exemption.
The president emphatieally charae-
terized the exemption as a subsidy
and pointed out that one plank in the
Baltimore platform expressed epposi-
ton to any subsidy direct or indirect
while one plank declared for tolls ex-
emptien. The president asserted there
should be no doubt among democrats
as TO which should take precedence.
The president reiterated that the
exemption never was q policy of the
democratic house because 1t was pass
ed through a coalition of republicans
and a minority of democrats, the ma
jority of democrats voting against it
on the ground it was subsidy.
The president explained that even
the international situation, to which
he referred in his messages, had not
arisen, he would have been opposed to
the tolls exemption as against demo-
cratic doctrine But, he indicated
however. that If it were not for the in
ternational situation the acts of a
previous administration. Mr.. Wilson
talked frankly about the tolls contro-
versy in congress, saying that the
story he had entered into a bargain
with Great Britain through Sir Will
lam Tyrrell, private secretary to Sir
Edward Grey, was one OF a number OF
Insults that had been introduced in
the congressional debate. The presi-
dent declared he wanted to express
his regret that what had promised to
be a dignified contest with genuine
OF opinion. seemed to be
in his opinion. into an
to discredit the adninistra-
ton. He remarked that while 1t made
all the more certain the result in ia
vor Of the administration, he thought
1t pity that public affairs should be
handled in that way. He did not think |
all the opponents Of the repeal felt |
that way but much color had been in |
terjected in the controversy and he did |
not understand the motives for it. |
The president said he had no anxiety |
over any political friction in the dem |
ocratic party over the result and re- |
ferred to the repeal contest as not a |
capital operation" but Just con
Mr.. Wilson let it be known that he
was unqualifiedly opposed to any |
or amendments such as /
have been proposed in the senate. He
IS for a straight repeal without equiv
ocation
THE PRESIDENT QUOTED.
The White House later authorized a
quotation OF what the president had
said in answer to the charge to the eff
'ect that the president had made
ieal with Sir William Tyrrell, private
'ecretary to Sir Edward Grey, the
British foreign secretary. The presi-
lent had been asked if the charge
we're trde. The president replied:
"Of course that answers itself. 1t
s just the crowning insult of num-
Der OF insults which have been intro
iuced in this debate. This whole
hing reminds me Of a story used to
De fond of telling of a very effective
iebater-I need not say where this
lappened-who sent a challenge down
INTO county very hostile to him to
ieoate. The people down there did
lot like the job very much but they
,ut up the man they liked best and
VINO is generally put up on such oc-
,asions, a great big husky fellow
whom they all called Tom. The chal-
enger was given the first hour Of the
wo hours allotted to the debate and
lie hadn't got more than half way
through his speech when it became
evident that he was convincing the
audience, when one of Toms parti- |