Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-02
wor.hIessness Of Democratic Word.

House could not have performed its
247 to ISL repeal of canal tolls ex-
emption. on Wednesday, April LIST
would have been exceedingly appro-
pirate for the party to go on record
With its President as repudiating the
platform on which the people gave
them power.
= From this hour what is the meaning
or the use of a national Democratic
nlatform? WHO WILL AGAIN
HONOR THE PLEDGES OF Ma
TIoNAL DEMOCRACY?
short time ago the President as
sured a delegation of women that he
could not even recommend to his
party position upon great issue
that had not been covered in the party
platform expressions. Suffragists who
had heard his campaign appeals for
support, turned away indignant and
amazed.
!. Today our President has not only
reversed his public declarations on
woman suffrage and canal toll ex-
enption, but he has used the prestige
and patronage power of his high Of.
flee to force the law-making body to
discredit itself and HuMILIATE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
We do not wish to assume position
that is harsh or unjust against the
President of the United States. We
have been frank and eutspoken in
praise of those qualities and acts of
his which have aroused our admira-
ton. We HAVE criticized his in
consistency, because in man Of his
.caliber his about-face positions stand
out in bold relief.
Eighteen months ago Prof. Wilson
believed that the Panama canal was
an American enterprise too big for the
successful undertaking of any other
nation, If we are to judge by his pub
lie utterances. He knew that 1t was
builded upon American territory, with
American money by American engi-
neering skill and MUST BE CON-
TRoLLED BY THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
In his campaign speeches the man
who is now President of the United
states publicly declared his faith in
the rights of the American people to
maintain competition between traffic
systems for public protection. He
then told the people that coastwise
traffic was beyond the jurisdiction of
any treaty with another nation, be-
cause it would be WHOLLY WITHIN
THE BORDERS OF OUR COUNTRY.
He told them that water traffic by
way of the Panama canal would in
sure lower freight rates between the
coasts and thus wholesomely RE-
pUcE THE HIGH COST OF LIv-
ING. .1
Before he became President Wood
row Wilson endorsed the measure then
before Congress exempting American
seoastwise shipping from such tolls as
THIS COUNTRY MIGHT COLLECT
of foreign shipping availing itself of
the canal He saw that it would en-
courage American shipping from
Maine TO Mexico. NOW he says he
thinks the act of Congress was dis
honorable, and discredits the American
people in the eyes of the world.
In 1912 Woodrow Wilson was looked
upon as sane, and man Of wisdom
and common sense. He was accepted
as a man competent to serve the
American people as President, If he
could secure the election. He secured
such election by standing upon a
plank which he and other Democratic
leaders declared was well calculated to
reduce the cost Of living. Now he
says that plank was a blunder or has
been misinterpreted, and the treaty
upon which he bases his claim for
British interests. could have no other
meaning than his view.
Why this sudden change? Why the
haste. without the opinions Of high
diplomatic authorities? Why no,
have asked the highest judicial body