The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-27
CLARK DEFIES PRESIDENT
IN CANAL TOLLS BATTLE

| the silver purchase clause OF the Sner-
man act In violation Of the platform OF
1892. upon which Grover Cleveland was
elected. In that debate Speaker Clark
opposed Cleveland ana insisted on the
binding effect Of party platforms.
The rule limiting debate on the canal
repeal bill and erecting q bar against
amendments came up In the House late
In the afternoon. II Ia gen, rally con-
sidered that the rule is one OF the most
drastic regulations OF the kind devised
in recent years. Democratic critics con-
tend that Uncle Joe Cannon in his palmi-
est days never prepared anything more
| effective.
Representative Henry. chairman OF the
Rules Committee. In presenting the rule
opened the debate on the tolls question
for the Administration. He contended
the demand for the repeal. and remarked
that the United States was not only vio-
iating faith. but Furthermore was facing
a crisis.
what Ia that great crisIs7" demanded
Representative Cooper Of Wisconsin"
II decline 20 be interrupted" snapped
Mr.. Henry.
Mr.. Henry's strongest argument was
that the tolls exemption was not OF neces
sity Democratic principle. He showed
that when the remission paragraph was
voted into the Adamson law OF 1912 It
had been favored by only seventy-two
Democratic. while ninety-four had voted
against 1t. Republican votes were in
sufficient numbers with the seventy-two
Democrats to pass It,
"HWmiliating Surrender"
Representative Campbell CT Kansas
who followed Mr.. Henry, characterized
the project repeal as a humiiiating sur
render to Great Britain, for which the Ad-
ministration could offer no apology ex-
cept that conveyed In the Princetonian
English Of President Wilson when ne ad-
vocated. In his public address to Con-
gress. surrender-right or wrong"
One line of Mr. Campbelrs spe.ch
brought forth enthusiastic applause from
the free tolls members. II was when
ne said
THE situation to-day {. very differen,
from what II was 100 years ago Then
that noble bird. the American eagle lined
his nest with the remnants Of the tawny
name OF the British lion. To-day it
would seem when the British lion only
growis the American eagle takes flight"
Representative Pou OF North Carol. ma
told his colleagues that Democrats should
md no excuse for participating in an
act OF international dishonesty. because
In the hurry OF Democratic convention
We had put something into the platform
that said something else"
Representative Lenroot. Republican Of
wisconsin. invelghed against the proposed
gag eule. He recalled occasions when
Speaker Champ Clark. then a minority
leader In the House. had attacked cloture
ms applied by Mr. Cannon and had de
clsred that he never would be party to
such form OF cloture as prohibited the
free discussion OF important legislation.
Mr.. Mann sne~rs.
Minority Leader Mann OF Illinois
sneered Mt the protestations on the part
or the Democrats charging that the only
honor now at stake was the proyerbial
British honor which was always at stake
when 1reat Britain found herself con-
fronted with the possibility Of being un-
able to drive a hard bargain.
He charged that the British sentiment
against the tolls exemption provision OF
the Atkinson law was wholly selfish in
character and not pred!cated upon Great
Britain's certainty that her claim would
stand in competent court of interna-
tional Jurisprudence. but upon the ext
gencies OF the occasion and the complex
ties OF the present American situation
with regard to the foreign policy OF the
present Administration.
A bitter night In expected when con-
sideration OF the ruis liz resumed to-
morrow.
Chairman Henry Of the House Rules
committee and one OF the Wilson Sup
porters on the tolls question. issued this
attack tonight on, Speaker Clark:
Il am devoted personally TO Chamr
Clark and think of him very highly. OF
course any sensible man knows that he
is now fixing TO Jump sauarely into the
camp Of the Presidents enemies Instead
or quibb'ing about rules and hiding be
hind them as pretext he ought cour-
aseously to admit that he is about to
hand In the midst OF the ship trust an.
special interests cotcrie. fighting tho
measure
Instead OF opposing rules. non-cssen-
tiai In this great conflict. he should re-
serve his real sympathy and march boldly
over, TO the standard of the railroad.
and ship monopoly and nght the President
openly and not hold up the thin gauze
or special rule to shield his position
oh, no: special rule is not the Nv
In the ointment, The country might az
well know that and not trouble themselves
about guessing In spite OF this d,sertion
AZ TINS unexpected moment the friends
OF the Administration have every conf
dence they will win this fight for national
honor.