Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-28
TOLL EXEMPTION RAID
ON TREASURY, HE SAYS
Representative Taylor Unable to
Understand How Democrats
Can Oppose Repeal.

How a man protesting to be a demo-
crat can vote in favor of free tolls is
beyond my understanding" declared Rep
resentative Taylor of New York. HIM
self a democrat, in supporting the Sims
bill yesterday. I'VE have always aligned
ourselves against the republican party
on one distinct ISSUE and that issue
has been that the republican party was
in sympathy with the interests"
Whenever the interests want to rob
the public and make a raid they work
upon our race prejudices, religious feel
ings and some of our human weak
nesses. This is what they are trying
to do now. Plain words and clear,
cool head are what Is needed. so we
may be able to see through their
schemes and legislate for the future in
the best possible manner.
Tho argument that our platform pro-
claims In favor Of free tolls is nothing
but cloak to hide another raid upon
the public treasury
American Hatred of England.
He continued:
1T is contended that the American
public hates England. Let us admit
that this is true. Is that a reason why
we should vote away the taxpayers
money and give it to these ship and
railroad combines? Revenge is sweet
but surely this is no way to revenge
ourselves upon England. even though
we are seeking to do so. If a thief
when arraigned in court for picking a
mans pocket made a plea in justifica-
, .lop mat ne did 1t because he did not
like his victims neighbor, We would all
laugh at the nerve Of the thief
AS representative 1 cannot go to
my constituents and say, The reason
| voted to give away your money was
ts l. hate England ! am afraid
they would not consider this a valid
excuse for letting these combin 2, put
freedom '''
ut. is claimed that we built this
canal with American money; it is
American property, and we can do as
we Will with 1t. That Is true, but do
you appreciate before We turned a
space OF dirt and spent one penny upon
THIS canal we consulted England and
tsinsd country ra IN the world. and OBJ
.aIneu from them permission to con-
struet It, We purchased the rights of
the FRENCH people and nation.
Made a Solemn Contract.
we then made a solemn written OBJ
hsation with England, that was taken
into consideration by every country in
the world, that we would use the canal
in certain way; we would charge
equal tolls to every ship that used it
conceding, of course, our right to pass
our own warships through the canal
free of charge, which is not disputed
| Relying upon this written treaty OF
compact. England and the rest of the
world conceded us such rights as
they had in that portion of Central
America. 1t may be assumed that they
had no rights. but, however. at tina,
time. we recognized them. and 1T is toe
late now to contend that they had
none.
These statements about bending q
Knee to England are nothing more
than chaff, which these interests are
throwing into the eyes of the Ameri.
| can people, with an attempt to blind
them, warp their judgment, and direc,
their attention from the real issue a,
stake. They are used as cloak to hide
raid which is being made on the
pockets of every taxpayer in this coun.
| try. more gigantic than has ever beer
attempted before. We are not bending
| knee to England. In preventing the
use of this canal by these ship and rail
road combines We are protecting tn,
American property and at the sam,
time the American taxpayer"