New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-06
Republican Senator'S Should I>o'
Play Politics with the Canal
Tolls Issue.

rho Tribunes washington dispatches say ula'
Renublicsn Senators who had been counted upon 10
support the Sims canal tolls exemption repeai oii'
are succumbng TO the temptation to make cheap
nartsan capital out Of the split in the Democ'"uO
Marty between the repeaers and the anlFrepediei'
They are being urged TO widen the spit Oy oPpo'
ing the President and playing into the hanuS Vi
Underwood Clark, Hearst and Tammany. on soine
questions it is natural to expect politicians 10 play
notifies But petty ambitions to put one faction OF
another of the opposition "ln hole should De re-
messed when 1t comes TO dealing with international
relations Honorable men Of all parties shouiu
stand together on an issue involving the scrupuouS
observance of the country's treaty obligations.
The exemption of coastwise shipping from canal
tolls would never have been authorized by Congress
had the Democratic party not been willing to aban-
don its anti-subsidy convictions in order 10 make
trouble for a Republican President President TAFT
WAS sore beset in 1912. He did not want to sign
q Panama Canal act remtting tolls TO coastwise
shining and thus raising question OF bad faith
with Great Britain. At the same time, he did not
want 10 see canal legislation sacrificed. The Dem
ocrats and the hostile Progressive Republicans in
Congress saw chance to put him "in hole and
gladly seized it. Mr.. Taft signed the bill as
gress to give foreigners who thought the tolls eH-
emption discrimination against them the right TO
test the question in the United States courts,
Eleven Republican Senators stood out on August
4 1872 against loading down the Panama Canal
act with tolls exemption provso If their attl-
tude was right then, why should it be any the less
right now? OF the eleven nine are still members
Of the Senate-Messrs. Brandegee, Burton Fall,
Lode PpnrOSe
1t is reported that Messrs. FAN, Oliver and Penrose
are disposed to reverse themselves the ground
that partisan advantage would accrue from the de-
feat of the Sims bill and the consequent SCATTERING
of President Wilson's prestige.
We cannot see how the Republican party would
be benefited by so cold blooded subordination Of
national honor and interest to temporary partisan
profit. Republican Senators should not be willing
to gamble with this country's reputation for good
faith. Those who in 1912 attacked discrimination
in favor of our coastwise trade as vicious would
dscredit themselves by favorng discrimination now
simply as means of aggravsting feud within the
Democratic party.
The Republicans in the Senate are bound by no
platform declaration in favor Of tolls exemption.
They are free to do what they think is right and
best for the country. Some of them are strong be
levers in ship subsidies and would like to strain
point to vote indirect aid from the Treasury to
the coastwise lines, whether such aid is really
needed or not. But are satisfied that the Re-
publican party as whole favors maintaining the
national honor first and encouraging shipping after
ward. II would have good cause to deplore the
shcrtsighedness Of its representatives in the Sen
ate II a majority Of them should antagonize the
President and embrace the cause Of Clark Hearst
Murphy and Underwood.