Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-31
Speaker Disappoints Those
Looking for an Attack
Upon President.
NEVER HAS BEEN SPLIT
Speaker Differs in Exemption
View, But Is Still Executives
Well WiSher.

Washington, D. c., March 31-Speak,
er Clark today in closing the debate
in the house against repeal of Panama
canal tolls exemption disappointed
those who expected him to attack the
president.
There is no personal issue between
the president and myself" he said.
81 trust there will never be. l have
at no time uttered word of criticism
of the president, and as far as l am in
formed and believe the president has
not said a single word in criticism of
me. l have never for a moment en-
tertained an opinion that the president
is actuated by other than the highest
motives" He declared there was no
breach in the democratic party. The
speaker argued at length against the
presidents contention and declared,
1.-The amazing request of the president
for repeal, like the peace of God, pass
eth all understanding" He said If the
president had reasons (which are not
utterly untenable and which compel
him to. make this request" he said he
had not given them to the house. He
differed with the presidents statement
that toll exemption was mistaken
was a dispute on that point, he pro-
posed that exemption be suspended
two years.
Calls 1t Mistaken View.
He contended that the president
was mistaken in his view that exemp- 4
tion was reTugnant TO -tre Hay -Paunee-
fote treaty.
''We want war with no nation" the
speaker continued, but rather than
our right to complete SOW
erignty over every square foot of our
domain, we will cheer
fully and courageously face the world
in arms" He attacked the attitude of
house democrats who led the presi-
dents fight for repeal.
Referring to published declarations
that his opposition to the president
was the opening gun of his fight for,
in 1916" the speaker de-
,lared he had told all to whom he had
spoken about the 1916 situation, that
If the presidents administration is a
success, Wilson would be reelected and
f it was a failure the nomination
would not be worth having" AS to
lis own future, the speaker insisted
le could be happy without the presi-
lency, the speakership or even in re-
irement to public life, should his con-
;tituency so determine. Replying to
What he called "scurrilous slander-
'us article in the New York World"
he speaker said that the charge that
Ie had been swayed in his attitude
oward the bill by the "ship subsidy
interests was base, false insfnua-
ion''
Scores Some of Editors.
"If any man here believes that
lander" said the speaker, ''let him
tand up now, so he may be seen by
hundreds of Witnesses The news
,aper he named. he said, ''along with
very other editor in America, who
Iopes to be an ambassador or in some
ther fat job, has been endeavoring
o place me- in antagonism TO the
resident ever since the election"
The greatest crowd the house has
cen in recent years jammed the gal
cries today to hear the final debate
n the repeal of the Panama tolls ex-
mption. People were waiting in line
DR. hours. Just after daybreak two
vomen and a man took seats for the
,ng wait until noon. During the wait
lg hours the crowd made itself at
ONE. Some brought newspapers and
ooks. A gray-haired woman brought
er knitting and clicked needles in
ustriously. Lunch boxes and milk
nd pop bottles lined the rail with inn
linent danger to legislators below, un-
i the doorkeeper forced their re-
loval
Representative Humphrey of Wash
igton, republican, denounced the
emocratic position as more contexnp.
BILE than the English language can
xpress," and declared the condition
rought about by 'egotistical blunders
ig" of the administration in the Mex.
IAN situation.
He lauded Underwood and Speaker
lark, who. he said, "by every rule of
lirness and honor should be presf-
ent today" for refusing to repudiate
10 democratic platform.
Mann, republican. also spoke In OPP
osifion to repeal.
Mann received an ovation from the
alleries and the republican side az
q concluded.