The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-03-27
Underwood Opposes Wilson
Em the Canal Tolls Matter
Says te President Is Not Adherng to Party Platform as was
Adopted { Baltimore -

Washington, March 2i.-Representa.
tive Underwood OF Alabama, demo-
cratic floor, leader In the House of
Representatives Tuesday delivered a
strong speech against repeating the
Panama tolls exemption, as urged by
President Wilson. The scene of the
leader OF the House majority, who had
led the SUCCESSFUL fights for practical
ly all the administration measures,
combating the position of the Presi-
dent attracted wide attention. Mr..
Underwood urged defeat of the Sims
btH, which follows President Wilson's
Recommendation for the repeal of
tie coils exemption. He declared the
the repeal was contrary to the plat
from of the democratic party adopted
at the Baltimore convention, and thAt
an exemption favoring American
coafwise ships did not violate the
HAH HPauncefote treaty.
"Not for one moment do believe we
bays violated treaty declared Mr..
Unokfwo0d. Our whole difficulty
ariiSs from the un-American spirit of
snFender that some OF our own peo-
pie Aave exhibited toward this ifflpor-
tan question from the very beginning
Jan any one tell us plainly why we
surrender and what is to be accom-
plbhed by It? Are we to yield merely
be4use the sentiment of Europe is
agtinst us? What has the sentiment
of Europe ever been with us about
matters of moment? When will the
tine come when we can expect to
mthtain and preserve our rights, po-
lttral and commercial with hte acaui-
eHE4nt sssnrs:hy &c European govern
The Party Pledges. :.
5E4r. UEuerwoou quoted the tolls ey-
enPtion plank from the Baltimore
pi;tform and continuing said:
There can be no contention as TO
thsi meaning OF this language. No one
CA raise the issue that the bill now
pe9ding before the house introduced
by the gentleman from Tennessee
Wf. Sfms) is not In direct conflict
WHh the declaration of th6 Ademo-
eHtlc platform. Personally / believe
trAt the party pledge should be lived
nP to In good faith by those who
aim allegiance to party. principles,
pat as there are many here who dif-
!g with me IN reference to the bind
M enect OF party platform I Will
ny at this time endeavor to discuss
tee pending bill from that standpoint.
: Let us resolve the issue into the
question as to whether the platform
d the democratic party favoring ex-
caption of tolls of American shitls en-
.gaged in coastwise trade passing
through the Panama Canal Is best for
the nation and the people of our coun-
try, or whether the gentleman from
Tennessee In sh!s bin now pending be-
sife l40s6ey eplti Id ny "a sffsz
elt5l o3 The JSs Af9crasic party. is 81 lS1
% ifls lsgis iS tss5n .tiiHt Siii be fsldse
benelleiai to our nation and our peo-
( representative Underwood quoted
figures to show that the coss Of main.
ten6Jlce of the canal ana Interest on
the governments Investment could tle
met easily without charging Afieris
can vessels tolls and By chRfg ling for
eigG vessels q fair and reasunRi,ies,
TOLL He compared the tolls charged
- - ssTsy; fiEiIf5n a. inc S1es canal wiTit
the proposed Panama tolls. ss9
The purpose Of CongTsses said
he IN providfhg In the act Tor the
opening, nlainte1 e1akce, protection and
opcgatlol of. the canal that NO tolls
skHH be levied upon vessels engaged
n 4 40 coastwlse trade of the IInftea
and providing further that h
ssiSsiid be left discretionary with the
Presidenk OF the United States to ex-
ennpt from tolls our siiipS engagea
u foreign trade, was en- effofI on the
part OF Congress te discfimfnttt IN
favor OF American shipping and 20
Ie-establiHh our merchant marine.
glfts has been d policy OF aenio-
cratic party since the ibeg Ginning OF
TITO government, The d lefn0cfatic bar
~ has never stood Tor a ent stiE5ffi-
daf!es but he has always favored ss,Sl
Nentions and Discrimination IN Sayof
ef our shipping S i.s.f, ~,
Canal for AmsrieaiSs. &
''It was tsirnpsEti tliHSfin,s ~ 4, =
taTtff duties thai nnI. mere chant Isisflre
ysas developed al fbt5 first Eissas g
cfIdes of our govern ii6nti 4 ~ s (, 4,
The democratic tariff law Sli iat fs now
on the stStnse books carries III fk &
dls ftmfnatioh aEnounting; e, q fedIics
ten OF dye aer cent. os III q llS,s sIes m
goods imported "a "A AE1erl siI s -
~ we have bisil ilG Ellls SSnaf fors he
IeSsaiEt os - 30 me A. p
Pins and not sor {: sseeI rs lees fiisive
use Of foreign ship ppf1g 8, We ssilist acoiSs
= % 10y 6E GsacFfml nat i6a III f6rcf 81
American ships or we taust In the .eiiss
pay Indirect sAbel dies 20 eiiabtA ) SiiS
ahtps Sc coTapeta u Ill aili rs ns fafS
slatipns. 7ae Sd, les and Gdiii flITis
izn tions that EarotaaH govsrnnlSift q
slavs given 20 their slsipplilg iitsF 81 q
We pfaetl tleally driven Americas
sips from ths sessss
Or the reasons siyen j, believe tia
Tire demoefatit naEfS vas both Was
snd patriotic when 4 dntiniineea a
flelIey in favor OF dlscfil6in1FiIlg srl
lfvof of ear 80 ssisS ahsns saiiia
through the Panama Cial ind III ks
sl.sse Il g fessop as 8. Z Tine ssl1y pc