The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-03-20
Kansas Congressman Defines the
Progressive Position = Declares
that it Would Be Act Of
National Dishonor
HARD BATTLE Is
DUE In CONGRESS
Issue Causes First Serious Division
Among Democrats but Friends
Of Presidents Policy Con-
iident Of Winning
Telegram by United Press.

Telegram Dy United Press.
Washington. March 20.-Repeal Of
the free tolls exemption clause in tthe
Panama canal act as now proposed
was denounced today by Representa-
tive Victor Murdock OF Kansas as a
national dishonor
In statement defining the Progress
sive stand on the question. Murdock
declared that the Progressives in con.
gress were substantially a unit in op-
position to the repeal Of the provis
ion, while the Democrats and Republl.
cans were divided on the issue.
A year ago. Murdoch said, the three
parties all promised to exempt coast
wise passage from tolls and to disre-
gard the mandate of the voters now
would be TO violate the principle OF
representative government and to sur
render the sovereignty OF the Ameri-
can people. He insisted the exemp-
tion Of coast wise traffic did not con-
stitute a violation Of the treaty with
Great Britain.
Murdock declared The machipa-
tions Of the trans-continental railroads
and their foreign allies are menace
TO the maintenance Of the Monroe doe
trine and make necessary our uncom-
promising adherence TO American
principles in this crisis. II we read
the treaty against ourselves we can
not keep our own respect. If our for
eign policy is peace at any price. the
time has come for new declaration
Of independence"
With the prospect for early action
in congress, Il becomes more ana
more evident that the tolls issue is to
precipitate the most stubborn fight
that has marked the course of the
present administration. For the first
time since Wilson was inaugurated
the Democrats are seriously divided
on policy which is advocated by the
president some of the leaders taking
position directly opposed to that of
Wilson. OGorman is leading the op-
position in the senate while Owen OF
Oklahoma is making a strong fight in
support Of the president Underwood
in the house is fighting the repeal and
it is known that he has strong follow
ers.
While the president and Democratic
members in both houses who will sup
port his position are confident that
the repeal viii pass by comfortable
majority. few have any idea that the
majority win be large Debate on the
repeal will begin in the house on Sat
urday, when a rule will be offered linn
iting debate to fifteen hours. In the
senate, action by the committee on
inter-oceanic canals in a repeal bill
submitted by Senator Owen may be
taken today or Saturday
President Wilson yesterday confer
ed with Senator Jones of Washington.
informing the senator that there was
no basis for conclusions he had re-
ferred to in a speech on Wednes-
day to the effect that the tolls repeal
was the price TO be paid as a result
Of negotiations with Great Britain for
non-interference by foreign powers in
Mexico ard for England's defense Of
the Monroce doctrine. The president
told the senator that he was skating
on thin ice" in circulating such con
clusions after reading them in some
publication.
The senator came to discuss with
the president certain regulations Of a
pending fisheries bin affecting the sal.
mon industry in the northwest, but
Mr.. Wilson turned the conversation to
the senator's speech OF Wednesday.
The president told callers afterward
that he could not get suggestion on
the Mexican question out Of Sir
Lionel. with corkscrev.s and that
the conference was purely for inform
alton on the general situation in
Mexico.
Discussing the matter with other
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