Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-31
REPEAL Of CANAL TOLL
ACT ENDS THE MONROE
DOCTRINE, SAYS CLARK

Baltimore convention He was par
ttcularly emphatic in his declaration
that neither he nor the President de-
sired a breach in the Democratic
party, and in his criticism of the
"jackal press, some of which repre-
sent that we are seeking to disrupt
the Democratic party.
The Panama tolls repeal means the
practical abandonment of the Mon
roe Doctrine" he said. (which we
forced into the international code and
which the American people will main
tain at all hazards That is the only
proposition the American people ever
agreed upon, and the reason they
agreed upon that was that because il
was a genuine American pronounce
ment 1t was the doctrine of self
defense.
No Personal Break.
There is no personal issue between
the President of the United States
and myself There has not been at
any time, | trust there will never be.
have at no time uttered a word of
criticism of the President. At no time.
so far as | am informed or believe,
has the President said one single
word of criticism of me. In the ma
ture of things, a man who is worthy
to hold high public post in the ser
vice of the country must believe that
other public servants are actuated by
the same high, courageous and pa
triotic motives by which he believes
himself to be moved.
Il have never for one moment en-
tertained the opinion that President
Wilson is actuated by other than the
highest patriotic motives. ! don't be-
entertained any other opinion as to
the conduct of those of us who find
Il necessary to differ With him on this
measure"
Hits New York World.
The Speaker then quoted excerpts
from articles in The New York World
declaring him to be involved in plan
to defeat the President and disrupt
the party,
IN another World article" he con-
tinued. those of us who stand for
American rights as against British
domination are assailed for boiling
the President Merciful God! What
an idiotic phrase! l have heard OF
men boiling platforms and of boltlng
nominees, but who ever heard before
of anybody boiling man In ONCE
We are denounced by the plutocratlc
World as boilers because we stand by
the platform, which is surely an as
founding way to bolt
Enqland's Honor Involved.
'If there be a question of honor IN
volved, it is the honor of England,
declared Republican Leader Mann, in
his defense of tolls exemption. Iney
made no protest against the construc-
ton of the treaty we then made and
n rio
and did build the canal and to now
come forward with a claim that we
violated the treaty in the beginning
is dishonorable on the part of Eng
land and subject to severe denuncla-
ton
Representative Mann asserted there
were three aspects of the Panama
Canal tolls proposition-frst our
treaty rights; second, our moral
rights apart from the treaty con-
struction, and, third, the economic
policy involved.
Decision Lasting One.
The important question to be de-
cided now" he said, lis our treaty
rights. for a decision of that question
is a lasting one. The economic pol
icy might be changed at any time by
Congress hereafter when greater eX-
perience is acquired.
IF we agree now to the English
construction, it is certain that in the
future, when we have a war with ia
pan or China, or some other country,
questions will arise in reference to
their use and our use of the canal
especially as to war vessels, and in
that time of stress we will be met
with the contention by England. the
present ally Of Japan, or by some
other country, that we have already
construed that treaty in such a way
that We can not protect the canal
without bringing a protest from Eng
land or other countries which will
embarrass if not defeat us in the
war"
All Wait for Clark
Despite the air of excitement per
vading the floor and galleries. the
tolls debate began in leisurely fash
ion in the House with interest in the
forthcoming speech of Speaker
Champ Clark overshadowing every
thing else.
Representative Nolan. Of Califor-
MIA, opened the debate with five
minute speech against the repeal.
He attacked the administration for
surrendering to Great Britain.
Let King George build the Mica
raguan Canal and see how magnan-
imous England will be-" he said.
Representative Lafferty, Progress
sive, of Oregon. compared the Dem
ocratic administration TO a biplane
with William J. Bryan as aviator
He said the biplane would come to
earth again with the defeat of the
free tolls bill He was followed by
Representative Humphrey.
After listening to previous de-
bate" said Representative Thomas,
of Kentucky. Il have almost come to
the conclusion that this is no place
for a minister's son Yet | believe
that our intense struggle here is
after all a mere tempest in a teapot