South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-01
TIE E1GHT HALF Won.

The sane sense of honor and integ-
rity Of the American people prevailed
IN the fight for and against free tolls
in the house Of representatives. AS
far as this action goes the ships Of all
nations will be admitted to the Pana-
ma canal on an equal basis. in ac-
cordance with the terms Of the 'aT
Pauncefote treaty
II remains for the senate 10 pass
upon the free tolls clause. What the
action Of that body will be must re-
main in doubt for some weeks to
come. The senate will not be limited
in its discussion Of the bill The
cloture rule carrot apply there. The
fight will be prolonged and holly con-
tested. If not bitter. The forecast
shows fairly even. decision of senti-
ment Inevitably the result VIII be
close.
There is the possibility, however.
that as in the house republicans will
rally 10 the support Of the president
in sufficient numbers TO offset what
ever detection of democrats there may
lieve that the strong support given the
repeal measure by the house viii have
a favorable influence on the upper
body.
The result in the house afforded a
striking example Of non partisan leg
islation. Party lines we're largely OBJ
liberated. party traditions and preju
dices were smashed. Democrats, re-
publicans and progressives fought
shoulder TO shoulder for and against
the repeal of free tolls. Twenty
OF the republican members Of the
house stood manfully with the demo
cratic majority for the good faith of
the nation. Their votes were not
needed. but they gave force and en-
phasis to the presidents interpreted
ton Of the duty OF the United States
to its sister nations and to the over
wheiming public sentiment in favor of
an honest con- pliance with our inter-
national agreements.
It Is immaterial, In analyzing the
vote on free tolls ia the house to seek
the motives Of republicans and pro-
gressives who voted against repeal,
bat it is proper that democrats who
opposed should be given credit for
whatever of merit there was in their
attitude They stood fatty on their
convictions Of principle. they stood
for what they believed 20 be the right
the dignihed the honest thing. Speak
er Clark unquestlonably expressed
their sentiments when he said his po-
siton was in no sense a criticism of
the president
An examination of the vote will
show that it divided largely on the
line between the sea coast and the in
terror. OF the ffty-two democrats
who voted against repeal only nine are
from interior states. and these may be
said TO be personal followers of
Speaker Clark or Rep. Underwood.
The nine are doremus OF Michigan.
German Of Illinois. Hayden OF Arizo-
ma. Helm OF Kentucky. Igoe of Nilsson
ri. Morgan OF Oklahoma, Murray of
Massachusetts. Murray of Oklahoma.
Taggart OF Nebraska and Taylor of
Colorado.
The coast states are naturally in
terested IN securing the subsidy of
free tolls for American coastwise YES
sells though the benefit TO any but the
shipping interests themselves is doubt
ful. On me contrary the interior is
not interested IN a subsidy Of that
kind nor any other for that matter.
The leading issue. however. was a
question Of national honor and on that
point the house has voted patriotical-
ly and wisely.