Evening star., 1914-04-08
DEFENDS HIS VOTE
ON TOLLS REPEAL
Representative Murray Gives
Reasons for Opposition to
Presidents Policy.

Quoting Kipling, declaring that he could
not subscribe to the doctrine that the
king can do no wrong, asserting that he
might be a mugwump, but never pie
wump." Representative Alfalfa Bill
Murray of Oklahoma today assailed the
critics who have recently found fault
with him because he voted against the
Presidents request in the Panama tolls
matter. Representative Murray gained
the floor through a question of personal
privilege and read a short clipping from
a Texas paper. stating that Murray had
been condemned at a mass meeting in
Okmulgee. Okla, for his stand in the
tolls matter.
His response to Critics.
Mr. Murray said:
Condemned for what, Mr. Speaker:
For refusing to violate my party plat
form-for refusing to obey the President
message to us in which he said: we
ought to reverse our action without rails.
ing the question of whether We were right
or Wrong-condemned for declining to sub
scribe to the old English principle, The
king can do no wrong?'
These same fellows condemned me
when i was elected. Night and day they
always condemn me- l shall go to my
grave with curses upon their lips. Fair
and sensible men will ask for reas sons and
will await an understanding before they
pursue this course, and this is the only
class for whom l have any consideration.
They know that no amount of condemna-
ton will drive me from any position.
may be convinced by argument and there
by brought to change my position, but !
will never be driven from one.
Announces His Position.
My opinion of the President is of that
high character that l am ready to fol-
low him upon any question that I do not
understand or that am in doubt about,
as l followed his desires on the Alaska
railroad bill, because 1 knew nothing of
the Alaskan conditions. But upon those
things upon which I have convictions by
my own method of discovery-and l have
never been deceived nor have l ever had
cause to regret my position upon any
public policy which l have mastered to
my own satisfaction. and know when l
have solved problem-let me give notice
now for them to get ready for more con-
demnation. because if the press Of the
country correctly speak the view Of the
President on the bill excluding undesir-
able foreign immigration, for which I
voted upon its passage in this House, l
shall vote to pass it over the President 8
veto: and when the makeshift rural
credit bill is brought before this House,
which takes care of the large land-own-
ing farmer, but does not consider the
small one or the tenant farmer, who,
above all others, needs aid. shall again
violate the wishes of the President by
offering amendments to take care of the
tenant farmer.
Every atom of my brain, every quiv-
| ering nerve of my soul. is dedicated to
my countrys veal. even in conflict with
my partys harmony and interest" he
said.
In concluding. he quoted one of Rud-
yard kiplings newer poems, entitled
If" and also delved into Shakespeare.
Acted Upon Conviction.
He said
Nor is this the only instance since
my public career began that 1 have
met condemnation by some organized
misguided body of men when time
proved l was right. but l feel just as
deeply the rectitude of my position in
that to have done otherwise would
have compelled me to stab my own con-
science. to club my own brain, and to
write across my brow the word Idiot.
Whatever this vote may mean to me,
I have been true to myself, and in this
1 have but to invoke the injunction of
Shakespeare:
First be true to thyself, then it must
follow, as the night follows the day,
thou canst not be false to any man.
II fear neither opposition, condemna-
ton nor defeat. l fear but to be wrong.
Neither is it important that 1 hold pub
lie office, but it is important that 1 pre-
serve my self-respect.
When 1 retire to private life I shall
carry with me that calm consolation of
man at peace with his own mind and
conscience.
In my effort to maintain the things
have worked for, to sustain the truth L
have talked for, shall muster the cour-
age to approach. as nearly as frail hu-
manity will permit me. other inspiring
lines of Kipling's IF
:. If you can force your heart and nerve and
sinew
To serve your turn long after they gone.
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: Hold