Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-06
WILSON SCORED
IN SENATE FOR
CANAL STAND
Congress Plans to Grill Secretary
Bryan on the Mexican
Situation
Continued From Page I.

nounced in measured tones by the
Chief Executive.
At the close there was no indica-
ton as 70 whether the sentiment OF
The address had been favored or not.
The tribute Of applause was such as
has always been rendered when the
President addressed Congress,
First Open Party Breach,
Republicans and Progressives
seemed amused at the situation. DEM
ccratic leaders were nervous and APP
parently much worried at the posi-
bilities for their party which the
days events might bring.
Majority Leader Underwood and
Speaker Clark, of the House, with
Chairman Doremus, of the Democrat
&c Congressional Campaign Commit
tee. listened unmoved to a doctrine
which they have publicly declined to
accept.
There was much whispering among
| Democrats before the President ar
rived as they looked about at the
crowds in the galleries and realized
that the first open breach in the ranks
Of the majority party during the VIII
son Administration was being dis
| played to the public.
That the Pre- sident would have his
way was taken for granted even by
the older leaders Of the opposition.
| They contented themselves by declar-
| ing that they would stand by the
! platform pledge OF free tolls to Amer
| lean coastwise shipping, and let the
President take all the responsibility
| Of action in violation of that pledge.
AnnulIing Bill Introduced
Within an hour after President
Wilson had called upon Congress to
act, Senator Chiffon, Of West Viz
glnia. this afternoon introduced bill
to amend the Panama Canal act and
permit the repeal OF the clause ex-
empting American coastwise ship
ping from the payment of tolls The
text OF the provision reads:
THE President, Notwithstanding
anything herein contained, is hereby
authorized and empowered by proc
| lamation to make, suspend, alter,
change or abolish any tolls contem-
plated or provided for by this act, and
may prescribe tolls to be charged in
any case in which tolls are prohibited
herein
Responsibility Personal.
| The address follows:
"Gentlemsn of the Congress:
Il have come to you upon an err
rand which can be very briefly per-
| formed, but ] beg that you will not
measure Its importance by the num-
| Der of sentences in which | state 1t.
| No communication have addressed
to the Congress carried with it graver
or more far-reaching implications to
the interest of the country, and ! now
| come to speak upon matter with re-
gard to which I am charged in pc
culiar degree by the Constitution it
self with personal responsibility.
81 have come to ask for the repeal
OF that provision of the Panama Ca
nal act Of August "a. 1912, which ex-
empts vessels engaged In the coast
wise trade Of the United States from
payment of tolls, and to urge upon
you the Justice, the wisdom and the
large policy OF such a repeal with the
utmost earnestness of which am ca
pable.
In my own Judgment, very fully
considered and maturely formed, that
| exception constitutes a mistaken eco
homie policy from every point of
view, and is, moreover, in plain con-
travention Of the treaty with Great
Britain concerning the canal, con-
Guided on November is, 1901 But l
have not come to you TO urge my per-
sonal views. have come to state to
you a lac; and a situation.
Whatever may be our own differ
ences of opinion concerning this much
debated measure, its meaning is not
debated outside the United States.
Everywhere else the language Of the
treaty Is given but one Interpretation
and that Interpretation precludes the
exemption am asking you to repeal
We consented to the treaty. its Ian
guage we accepted. IL we did not orig
mate it, and we are too big, too pow
erful too self-respecting a nation to
interpret with too strained or refined
a reading the words OF our own
promises just because we have power
enough to give us leave to read them
as we please.
To Support Foreign Policy.
The large thing to do is the only
thing we can afford to do, a volun-
tary withdrawal from a position
everywhere questioned and misunder-
stood. We ought 30 reverse our ac-
ton without raising the question
whether we were right or wrong, and
so once more deserve our reputation
for generosity and the redemption of
every obligation without bubble or
hesitation.
81 ask this of you in support of the
foreign policy of the Administration.
shall not know how TO deal with
other meetings of even greater delt-
cacy and nearer consequence II YOU
do not grant 1t to me in ungrudging
measure"
=