The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-04-13
NOW CHARGES
PARTY TREASON
Bryan Assails Democrats Who
Oppose Presidents Policy
On Canal Tolls
SAYS EXEMPTION
WAS SNEAKED IN

Treaty Not Construed by the Repeal
Bill - Changed Conditions Require
President to Ignore the Vicious
Little Plank.
WASHINGTON. April l3. - Presi-
dent Wilson and his advisers apparent.
~ are becoming worried over the fate
of the Panama tolls repeal bill in the
Senate.
Two members of the cabinet issued
statements last night defending the ad-
ministration measure.
BY authority of the Democratic ma
tional committee a statement was also
issued 10 show that a majority OF the
delegates who sat in the Baltimore
convention in 1912 dia not know Of
the presence in the platform ~ the
1 plank ind0rsiug the tolls exemption
clauses. This statement further con.
tends that majority OF the delegates
are with the President on the issue
despite the platform declaration.
In a copy of an editorial 10 he print
! ed in the Commoner, Secretary BRYAN
makes an extended argument in sup
/ port of the repeal bill.
! He takes the position that the plank
approving the exemption clause does
/ not count in view of the party : ''time
\ honored hostility TO bounties and
/ subsidies.
/ Secretary BRYAN argues that to per-
NIT American vessels TO 90 through
the canal without payment of tolls
/
1 than the payment Of a subsidy
Mr.. Redfield. the secretary of com
mcree, argued the tolls question from
! "a business standpoint. lie made the
claim that the shippers most directly
| concerned viii not be adversely affect
ed if required 70 pay tolls
Tolls Exemption Really Subsidy.
Secretary. Bryan has thrown himself
into the canal tolls fight and ~ doing
SO has raised another issue which will
increase the bitterness III the Demoera-
tie party
lie charges in effect that the tolls
exemption plank i'm the Baltimore plat
form was inserted through Suhterfuge
without the convention realizing the
full meaning of the declaration
For the first time also Mr. Bryan
I
lations ct this government with the
other nations OF this earth are serious
. ly threatened bv the exemption clause
= IN the Panama canal act and that IL
, involves the question Of the United
r States arraying itself against the
world.
Up 10 this time Mr.. Bryan has de-
- elined 10 discuss in any way through
I official channels his views on the tolls
r question. He has finally expressed
r himself on this important information
? al subject through the columns Of the
+. C0mmoner which he has advertised
2 a, club rates as the organ of the state
(, department.
: His views were given ont at the
u state department with the explanation
4 that they are expressed through the
: issue Of the Bryan publication, which
5 is to appear today.
4 Mr. Bryan's Reasons.
( Secretary Bryan iustifies the repu.
s diation Of the tolls exemption plank
e not only on the ground that it was in
serted through subterfuge but also be
cause it is in contradiction of another
plank in the same platform against
direct or indirect ship subsidies. Tie
latter he describes aS the larger plank
y Of the two.
What opiate. asks the secretary
Of state, '.dOes the little plank con
tain that il can make those who ae
= cept il obliyious Of the larger plank
BY what rule of construction can the
small plank be made binding and the
large one ignored?