Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-04-02
DEMOCRATIC INHARMoNY.

that there is harmony within the democratic ranks in
either the state or the nation.
Within the past few weeks new leaders have de.
iveloped at Washington. Perhaps a better way to
state 1t, would be to say that under the leadership of
President Wilson new men have been put to the front
IN the house of representatives, the old leaders, such
as Speaker Clark and Mr.. Underwood, having been
relegated for the time being.
The breach in the party ranks at Washington is
caused by the PRESIDENT determination to have the
clause exempting coastwise ships from payment of
canal tolls repealed, so that no American ship will
reap an advantage not accorded to foreign vessels.
The democrtic party, in it's last national conven-
ton, declared specifically in favor of granting vessels
engaged In coastwise trade the advantage of free tolls
at Panama.
The president, however, contends that this clause
IN the democratic platform was not duly considered by
the great body Of democrats; that it went through
without opposition because OF lack Of interest; that,
even if it had been casually and informally consid-
cred, conditions now do not Justify the exemptions
provided for by the law; and that, the party having
made a mistake, there should be no hesitancy on its
part to rectify its blunder, Notwithstanding it may
have been considered a party pledge at the time the
platform was adopted.
Speaker Clark and Chairman Underwood of the
ways and means committee have taken issue with the
president. Both Mr.. Underwood and Mr.. Clark seem
to be very strenuous i'll their opposition to the presi-
dent $ policy. Mr.. Underwood made a speech on the
floor OF the house, IN the course Of which he appealed
to the patriotism of his acknowledgements to stand by
the party pledge and to show to the world that Great
Britain cannot dictante our course.
That the exemptions is nothing more nor less than
a form of ship subsidy is admitted on all sides. Those
tavoring such exemptions point to the lack Of Amer
lean bottoms engaged in trade as evidence, to their
Satisfaction, that ,,,lncc t,,,,;., ,lo-+, +Io ,o1;. 90
long pursued by Great Britain in providing subsidies
as an "inducement for American ships to enter into
competition with foreign-owned vessels, the United
States will never achieve distinction as a maritime
power.
Another point set forth by the opponents of repeal
pertains to our treaty obligations. The most forceful
argument favorlng repeal relates to our treaty with
Great Britain. 1t is contended that we have obligated
ourselves as a nation never to make any distinction in
the matter of tolls, but to exact the same tolls alike
from American ships that are levied against others.
Whatever the outcome may be, there does not seem
to be much prospect for a getting together on the part
of the democrats. The breach will widen rather than
close, in all probability
And in the meantime, both the bull moosers and the
republicans are pricking up their ears. Each hopes
to profit from the democratic row.
Whom will the bull moosers pick for their state
ticket?
Unless all signs fail, there will be much strenuous
mess exhibited within the democratic ranks before the
canal tolls provision is repealed. President Wilson
will find that he has tackled a rather big job.
Former President Roosevelt sharply ~criticises Presi-
dent Wilson with respect to the Mexican situation.
President Wilson may have made mistakes in this case,
but Colonel Roosevelt should reflect that it is infinitely
easier to criticise or condemn than to act in such a
crisis.
Mr.. Dillon will succeed himself as congressman
from the first district; MI. johnson will succeed Mr..
Burke in the second district, and Judge Rice will sue
eeed Mr.. Martin IN the third district. Mr., Burke will
go up from the house to the senate.
Victor Murdoch, the leading progressive in con-
gress, says that the followers Of Colonel Roosevelt will
be against the repeal of the exemptions of American
eoastwise ships from payment Of toll. Not all of them
are against it, Nj. Murdoch should understand. Some
of the strongest of the Roosevelt following is for the
repeal.
The election returns IN the various counties show
that there were many hairbreadth escapes. Aschanges
of nine votes would have changed results on the SEN
atorship, for instance, in Codington, and q change Of
five votes would have given another man 4 place on
the house ticket. There are many similar results in
- @HMIM