The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-07
WILSON TOLLS PROGRAM
ATTACKED BY ROOSEVELT
Platform Is Promise Soiemniy Made
and Not TO he CynicaiIy
Abandoned.
Ispecinl 10 The TImcs-Dlspatch.l

Especial to Tho limos Dlspatch.J
Para, Brazil, May 6.-Colonel Roosc-
welt In an interview to-day attacked
President Wilson's free tolls program
and his proposal to give Colombia $780,
100000 In return for n treaty.
'In Wow of the nearness OF vote
on tho canal tolls repeal bill In the
Senate and tho astonishing statement.
trust wholly without foundation,
that tho administration has offered to
pay Colombia s25.oOo.ooo blackmail
because Colombia behaved badly In
tho past, 1 wish to say word on why
the Panama tolls exemption clause
should not bo repealed.
II hnve no question that we have
legal, Rs we'll as an unquestionab lie,
moral right to exempt genuine coast
traffic from tolls, but II this Is con-
tested by any power Interested with
which we have an arbitration treaty,
unique stionably wo should arbitratc,
for we have explicitly stated that in
depreciation OF treaties. Is q proper
subject for arbitration. and wo must
never make promises we don't keep.
= Put to submit our cause to nrbi-
trat!on when we believe 1t Just
thing. and to abandon arbitration Is
4 totally different thing. 1t would be
had enough to repeal tho exemption
clause In any event. but the cir :um-
stances under which tho repeal is
asked make 1t Infinitely worse.
Promise Soicmnly Mude.
Two Progrcssives explicitly stated
In our platform that wo believed coast
wise traffic should be free OF tolls.
Our platform was promise we SOL
emnly made. not TO use in an effort
to get power and cynically abandon
afterwards. and solemn obligation.
The plank dealing with the tolls In
the Democratic platform was not tho
only plank that was put In. with tho
knowledge that there was promise
There Is nothing we need more to
do than raise tho standard OF public
life SO that wo shall insist that
promises madc on the stump shall be
kept off the stump. And there are
few moro revolving types OF public
immortality or more damaging 20 the
public conscience and moro deeply
discreditable to those Responsible for
them than the readiness to make
promises before election. coupled with
an equal readiness to break tho Same
promises after election.
"Wc arc asked to surrender our
rights In the canal we built with our
money and with tho effort OF our citi-
zens-which is tho greatest engineer
inE fca: of all aGes-so rs forsooth.
some other nation may play on our
behalf tho game we are too weak TO
play ourselves.
Plea Is Pure Nonncnse.
such n plea Is pure nonsense. II
Uncle Sam would do Justice to others
and insist upon justice In return, he
has the power by his own strength TO
secure that Justice. Above NIL. 10 try
to placatc foreign powers SO we may
DO able TO bear ourselves as We ought
on the American continent - as fool
ish as ignoblc.
and asked permission from foreign
powers and trusted to Il strength not
our own. the American battlciicet
would not have made the voyage
around the world-a very act which
did more for peace than all the pre-
posterous arbitration treaties formed
TO please the amiable old women OF
both sexes which our Bryan, nj the
bchest OF Mr.. Wilson. can evolve In
those rare moments when he permits
business OF the State Department TO
serve what he regards ns tho legiti-
mate interruption 20 pleasure and
profit.
II cannot believe Mr.. Wilson ha, so
far forgotten the dictates OF honor and
hi, duty IA citizen as to consent to
pay s25.OOO.ooo or any other sum TO
Colombia such payment would be
nothing but blackmaiI, whether made
In spirit OF mean timdity or the
credit predecessor In Office. 1t would
be precisely ms dishonorable as for n
future President TO pay the secretaries
OF Hucr,a s25.000.000 because we &C.
cupicd Vera Cruz.
Panama Rosc In Revolt
Panama rose In revolt insisting
that the American administration
should stand. No, one dollar shouId
be paid Colombia. and II would be an
act or infamy to pay even a dollar to
nation which. In crooked greed, tried
desperate blackmail. To besmirch the
good fame OF Amcricn BY such paymen,
Wohi" be nm act unworthy any honor
nhic man In the great oilicc OF Presi-
dent. To yield the Panama tolls rights
would be equally d!shonorablc
Regarding the New York governor
SHIP rumors, Colonel Roosevelt said;
The report Is silly and pfeposterous.
Under no circumstances would I accept
such "a