The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-10-29
system Of SECRECY
ADOPTEDBY DEMOCRATS
,,cHT TURNED OFF RATHER
THAN ON IN AFFAIRS OF
GOVERNMENT.


when the democrats took over the
national government 1t was announced
that publicity would be the watch
word. and that there would be no more
secrecy in governmental affairs. The
neople were to be permitted to know
what was going on all the time and
at last light was to be permitted to
chine in the dark recesses and corners
Of governmental functions, Instead of
carrying out this promise. they seem
to have been going around and lock-
ing the doors, and where they have
found a light burning in some dark
corner they have quickly turned 1t out.
This system OF secrecy is characters
tic Of all the great departments and
n the White House itself The most
striking example of Withholding in
formation from the public, informa-
ton in which they were vitality in
terested and which they had right to
know. was furnished by the president
himself in connection with the repeal
of free tolls for coastwise shipping
through the Panama canal.
janores Demand for Information.
The people will remember the wave
Of discussion which swept over the
country when the Panama canal tolls
question was up. The democratic
party. in its platform, had declared for
free tolls. Mr. Wilson, when can
didate declared for free tolls. In Of
fee, he and his party completely
changed front. The president ordered
subservent congress to put tolls on
American coastwise ships The world
gasped at such complete and violent
change Of position. Our people de-
lnanded to know the reason. Senator
Jones Of Washington submitted res
olution requesting the president to ad-
wise the senate what nations have
protested against the passage Of coast
wise vessels through the Panama can
al free Of tolls, what representations
have been made regarding the same
and copies of all communications re-
ceived from foreign countries relating
thereto. together with copies of an
swers submitted by the United States
Wilson on Publicity.
The Panama canal, the great Amerl'
can achievement, was about complet'
ed. A measure affecting not only Am
erica but the whole world was before
the country. The people We're consid
ering this world question and the!
wanted to know the facts. If Their
was ever a time when the American
people wanted light. 1t was then
Woodrow Wilson had said in hi
book, "A first necessity IS to open tn
doors and let in the light on all at
fairs which the people have right t
know about Open them wide to pup
lie view; make them accessible
every force that moves, every opinion
that prevails in the thought of tn
people," So the people thought tn
president would gladly transmit IN
formation for which they were askinf
But Senator Jones' resolution was re
ferred to the committee on foreign re
lations, where it was pigeonholed
the democratic majority and to I'M
day Mr.. Wilson has transmitted no IN
formation on the subject, except som
representations from England whic
were already generally known Fact
big, vital facts, the country ought
know, are hidden away IN secr'
chambers OF this administration.
President Declines to Answer.
In his message to congress, In whio
he completely reversed himself an
his party on the canal tolls questio
the president had said, there Hel
"other matters Of even greater dellc'
cy and nearer consequence" whie
made this reversal necessary. I'm
was an international question: and r
publican senator's. regardless of the
politics, had wished not to embarra
the president, so Senator Poindexte
in a resolution offered April !, cail
upon the president ito inform the SCI
ate, in SO far as not Incompatible WI
the public interest, in confidence II
so desires" what these matters we
and to inform the senate what co
nection such matters had with I
proposed repeal of the tolls exempti
provision Of the tolls act. Senat
Poindexter finally succeeded, sew
days later in securing a discussion
his resolution before the senate
the democratic majority modined
and referred It to the committee
foreign relations, where 1t was smo'
cred to death. The information call
for has never been made public
there was nothing to conceal W
this secrecy?