The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-13

Washington. June i0.-The senate
today proceeded steadily forward to-
ward final action on the Panma canal
tolls exemption repeal bill. Leaders
tonight. however. were unwilling to
predict tho day when a vote can be
taken.
Even with q night session tonight
there was no certainty Of a vote on
the first proposition to be disposed of,
the sscalled Simmons-N Norris amend
ment qualifying terms Of tho bill.
Senator Borah. an anti-repeal lead
or. predicted that this amendment
alone would he debated four or five
hours. Action. however. within the
next day or two Is expected.
Senator Tillman Of South Carolina
today spoke. criticising the president
for bringing the tolls issue before the
country at this time and endanger-
Ing the chances Of the Democratic
party In congressional elections next
fall. He announced he would vote
Tor repeal only because he felt his
State party convention had freed him
from the tolls Joker In the Baltimore
pll lIform.
Senator Tillman first briefly out
lined the history Of the exemption and
the repeal bill. He then went on to
say:
1T will be hard to make the aver
age voter understand the contradic-
tion and seeming betrayal of the peo-
pie In not carrying out our pledges.
Democratic candidates In the next
election will be kept busy explaining
and apologizing. which is very un-
comfortable to have to do"
He talked at some length about the
policy OF tolls exemption. pointing out
that II was Republican doctrine and
'pss Democratic. In that 1t was pro-
tectioh Of the few at the expense Of
the many. He also urged that steps
b taken to repeal the law preventing
foreign built ships from operating In
the American coastwise trade. This
provision. he said, made for an IRON
clad shipping trust.
Turning to the question In hand,
Senator Tillman declared that he had
the highest opinion of the president.
He will go down In history as one
OF our greatest presidents" the sena-
tor said Of the president. II have felt
that as tho first Democrat In half a
century-real Democrat I mean, for
never regarded Cleeviand as a DEM
ocat--it is the duty Of every man
who claims to be Democrat to sup
port him In all his policies. wise or
unwise. IL he makes blunders. let us
all make blunders. and stand shoulder
to shoulder and fight 1t out on that
line and go down together"
1T stagsers my common sense and
I have been unable to understand
just why he projected the fight on his
party at this time." he said.
1T is OF great importance to the
Democratic party to control the house
at the next election. and 1 believe
the president should have kept quiet
until that election was over"
Until this issue was pressed to the
front the course of Democracy had
been onward and upward.
There are 30 many things OF more
Importance that the Democrats ought
to do. that / must say I'm nv opinion
u was a great blundcr on the part
OF the president. The Democratic
party. instead of presenting "a solid
united front. Is split into contcnding
factions"
While the Republicans, too, dis
agree on this important subject, both
wings Of that party-I mean the Pro-
gressives and 'Standpattcrs'-ares smil-
ing complacently at the division i'm the
Democratic ranks. They had wellnigh
given up all hope as far as the next
election goes. Now they are pricking
up their ears and scenting victory
from afar. / have been glod to see
that while Democrats are very ear
nest. there has been no anger or bad
temper shown: and feel safe in
saying that. whatever the result of
this contest may be. after the vote is
had solid Democracy will move for
ward behind the president and try to
redeem all our party pledges II
would be almost IL crime for the De-
mocracy to hesitate now and not fin.
nh cleansing the 'Augean stable We
can not hope under the rules of the
senate to pass very much constructive
legislation during the short session.
IL we lose the next house all the re-
forms so necessary would have to- be
done between December and March.
An owtra scaainp With nuc hronc,, az