Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-27
To Forbid Free Transit of
American CoastWise Trade
Classed as CowardIy.
KANSAS CONGRESSMAN
DISCUSSES TOLLS ISSUE
Administration Policy Regarded by
Representative Campbell as Alb
ject and Humiliating Surrender.

1T is cowardly to repeal the free tolls
provision Of the canal act declared Rep
resentative Campbell of Kansas yesterday
as he protested against the rule to limit
debate on the Sims bill to bring about
an even charge Of tolls for all ships pass
ing the Panama canal.
| This rule is to expedite the most alb
ject and humiliating surrender ever made
by our government" he said. 1.-The Presi-
dent tells us that, right or wrong, we
must do this thing
THE claim is made that the provision
OF the canal act is unjust to England. for
the reason British ships will be required
to pay tolls when using the canal.
| Think of that! Neither the ships of
England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan
or any other country may load at any
port of the United States and unload at
any other port of the United States. The
ships Of every country are forbidden to
| engage in the coastwise trade Of the
| United States That shipping is done en-
tirely by American ships. This exclu-
| sive trade In American shipping is done
under laws enacted since the treaty of
same language referring to equal treat
ment in the ports Of the United States as
| Is used In the Hay-Pauncefote treaty,
| and in one hundred years England has
| never contended through diplomatic chan
nels that equal treatment should be con-
strued so as to deny to american ships
| the exclusive right Of carrying our coast
wise trade.
Repeal, Fright or Wrong"
| 1.-THE President told us few days
ago that. right or wrong. We must
| repeal that part of the canal act that
exempts our own shipping engaged in
our own coastwise trade from the pay
ment of tolls on our own canal. and
| in a mysterious fashion refers to the
foreign policy Of the administration. He
told US that IL we do not grant him this
request in 'ungrudging measure he will
not know what to do in other very i'm
| portant matters.
What Is the foreign policy of the ad-
ministradon? Does the President know ?
| No one else does.
THE President does not explain what
his diplomatic embarrassment is that
| makes this surrender necessary. Does
he fear the murderer and illiterate ban
dit, Villa, will break off diplomatic rela-
tons with his administration. and In that
| event he will need the aid OF England,
or does he ask Congress to aid him in
| further humiliating the American people
by making this abject surrender because
England has intimated that she wants
it done?
Quotes Ambassador Page.
| Was our ambassador at the court Of
St James, on the 11tn OF March. speak,
ing for the ADMINISTRATION when he said
he could not say that the United States
had constructed the canal for Great
Britain. but that 1t added greatly to the
pleasure Of building that great work to
know that the British would profit most
by its use?' Is it to accomplish the
purpose set forth in that declaration of
| the American ambassador to England
would give to the American people some
| advantage In the use of the canal that
they have built at a cost of 1915, 900, 600?
| III we concede the contentious of Eng
land in regard to our vessels of COM
| merce by the construction we are asked
| by the President to put upon the treaty
| by the repeal proposed, we shall commit
| ourselves to the graver. more serious.
| more humiliating. more un-American in
| depreciation of the treaty permitting Eng
| land the equal right with US to use the
| canal for ships Of war.
| IF the warships of England wished to
| reach the cities of the Pacific coast they
have an equal right with us in the use
| of the canal for their warships, il the
| construction contended for by the Presi-
| dent Is correct. The gatekeeper of the
| Panama canal would be forced to dip the
American flag to British war vessels as
| they enter to pass through the canal
| upon the same terms as our own war
| vessels.
THE Oregon, on her way back to the
Pacific coast will have to pay tolls or
go around the Horn again.
| Red Blood Protests.
Every drop of red blood in America
protests against such a humiliatng pos
sibility. but that condition rs inevitable
as to the vessels of war If the President
is right in his new contention as to yes
sells Of commerce Both are included in
the treaty in the same connection.
TT is cowardly to repeal the free tolls
provision of the canal act. This rule
and the bill 1t seeks to make in order
should be defeated by this House. BY
such action we shall maintain our own
| respect and command the respect of
\ England and every other country in the
world; we shall honor the living and pay
tribute to the memory Of the dead, who
were ready to sacrifice everything but
their honor to establish and preserve the
republic; we shall reflect the warm senti-
ment Of the millions Of our countrymen
In whose veins there Is rich, red blood
that beats for their own country, and
we shall bequeath to posterity a fearless
Americanism that will be a priceless
heritage to the unborn generations of the
future