The Washington herald., 1914-04-13

sion to record my individual protest
against such iniquity."
On all sides yesterday the announce
ment OF the impending publication Of
the result of the poll was hailed as a
certain instrument OF confusion for the
opponents Of the President. This morn
ing's contribution represents only one
installment. The results of the poll will
be printed from time TO time as the let
tiers come in.
Ratio Is EncouraginE.
The ratio of five to one for the re-
peal so far is a little more favorable
even than the ratio of the Democratic
vote in the House when the repeal bill
passed. OF the States so far poIled, only
two have given a majority against repeal.
Both Texas and Pennsylvania have de-
clared for repeal, while in Illinois the
vote so far is "A to 2, in favor of the
Presidents position.
One OF the most encouraging deductions
from the letters is that most of the
delegates declare that whatever the I'M
derstanding of the plank at the time Of
its approval, there is no question that
under changed conditions the Presidents
hand should be upheld. Condemnation
of subsidy is almost universal in the
letters which declare for repeal There
is no serious attempt TO defend the free
tolls plank.
Gov. Ferris. :of Michigan, who was a
delegate, writes: Il am with President
Wilson in his message asking Congress
to repeal the free tolls act l am with
him. not simply because of my blind
loyalty to President Wilson. I am with
him because l think he is right
E. X Thurmond. president Of the First
National Bank of Sayre, Okla, replied:
While l went to Baltimore and voted
for Mr.. Clark, 1 believe forty-five times,
however, 1 think he/is on the wrong
side in this fight. 1 believe that We
should stand with the President and that
you could not make a mistake in making
a strong fight for the President in this
matter
Would Have been Expunged.
Former Gov. John Gary Evans. OF
South Carolina, said in his reply to
Senator Gore:
Had il been known by the convention
at large that this plank was in the plat
form. it would have been expunged by an
overwhelming majority. l trust that the
Senate will stand by the President and
repeal the law
George W. Fithian. former Represent
ative from Illinois. who was a delegate
and the Illinois member OF the
resolutions committee, and also a MEM
ber of che subcommittee that prepared
the platform, relates the following as
his recollection of the tolls plank:
Il do not have any recollection of this |
question being discussed at any of the |
of the subcommittee or of the |
whole committee. / am now thoroughly |
that the Baltimore platform |
was wrong. and that the law permitting |
our coastwise vessels to pass through |
the canal free of toll should be repealed |
of any treaty obligations |
hat this nation may have with |
Ither nations, the Coastwise vessels |
should be required to pay toll the same |
Is other vessels. Our coastwise trade |
5 one of the big monopolies of our
and to permit that trade to have /
he free use of the canal is. in effect.
granting II by legislation a subsidy. The
Democratic party cannot stand for sub
'idies in any FORM
Mr.. Fithian, who served several terms
n Congress. retiring in 1894 was at one |
ime chairman of the Committee on Mer-
'hant Marine and Fisheries.