Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1914-03-13
WILSON ON TOLLS.
DECLARES EXEMPTION OF u. S.
coATWIsE SHIPPING is MIS-
TAKEN ECONOMIC POLICY.
PRESIDENT READS MESSAGE
Chief Executive Asks Congress to Re-
peal Adamson Act Containing OBJ
Jectionable clause-Powers Hold
1t Violation of Treaty.


Washington, March president
Wilson appeared personally before
congress again this afternoon, this
time to read a special message urging
the repeal of the provision in the Pan
anna canal act exempting American
coastWise vessels from payment
or tolls. This message was written
and delivered in accordance with the
request of Representative Underwood.
The Democratic floor leader felt that
the president should assume the re-
sponsibility for action that will be d.
rectly contrary to one of the resolu-
tons adopted by the last Democratic
convention, and that he should give
his reasons for favoring the repeal
so that members who voted for the
exemption clause would have an ex-
euse for changing their attitude.
Presidents Message.
The address follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
/ have come to you upon an errand
which can be very briefly performed.
but | beg that you will not measure
It's importance by the number of SEN
fences in which / state it. No COM
munfcation l have addressed to the
congress carried with 1t graver or
more far-reaching Implications to the
interest of the country and / now
come to speak upon a matter with
regard to which | am charged in a
peculiar degree by the constitution It
self with personal responsibility.
Il have come to ask for the repeal
Of that provision of the Panama canal
act of August "a, 1912, which exempts
vessels engaged in the coast trade
of the United States from payment of
tolls, and to urge upon you the JUS
tice, the wisdom, and the large policy
Of such a repeal with the utmost
earnestness of which l am capable.
Exemption a Mistake.
I'm my own judgment, very fully
considered and maturely formed, that
exemption constitutes mistaken
economic policy from every point Of
view, and is, moreover, in plain con.
prevention of the treaty with Great
Britain concerning the canal conclud-
ed ON November Is, 1901. But have
views. I have come to state to you a
fact and 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 tho
| treaty Is given but one Interpretation.
and that Interpretation preoudes the
exemption I am asking you to repeal.
Consented to Treaty.
| I'VE consented to the treaty; its
! language We accepted, IL we did not
| originate it; and we are too big, too
| pow eIful, too self-respeCting nation
| to interpret with too strained or re-
/ fined a reading the words of our own
\ promises just because We have power
enough to give us leave to read them
| as we please. The large thing to do
is the only thing we can afford to do.
] a voluntary withdrawal from a posi-
ton everywhere'que and misun-
derstood. We ought to reverse our
action without raising the question
whether We were right or wrong, and
40 once more deserve our reputation
for generosity and the redemption of
/ every obligation without bubble Or
/ hesitation.
II osk this of you In support OF the
| foreign policy of the administration.
| 4 shall not know how to deal with
other meetings Of even greater deli
eacy and nearer consequence If you
do not grant 1t TO me in ungrudging
! measure"