Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-06


ger that organized conspiracy of the railroads of this country
and Canada will destroy the greatest benefits of the Pan
Canal to the American people
Briefly these the facts For twenty-five years the trans
continental railroads successfully opposed the construction of the
Panama Canal They opposed this tremendous development
Meeting the greatest and bringing Eastern and
Western coasts 10000 miles each other because the
canal would compel the railroads reduce their freight rates
The cost of transporting goods by water always much
than by land, and in cases is not half much
When they could longer delay the coming of this remen
benefit people they made desperate srug
gle to be allowed ships through the canal which the rail
roads themselves owned and also to prevent American ships
going through the canal free of toll charge The railroads
they could their ships through the canal
they could with their gigantic financial resources drive
every independent steamship line out of the canal they have
everywhere they operate steamships They also knew that
charge levied every ship that passed through the
would raise the of water transportation by just
that and by that amount also would relieve the railroads
from the necessity of reducing their rates by land
Therefore two when the law governing the use OF
the Congress- the railroads poured their horde
lobbyists into the Capital City prevent free tolls and
themselves the right operate ships through the
canal
it happened to be moment when Congress sin
guary the influence of the corporations The national
election The specte of Roosevelt whose genius courage
and energy had given doomed dary the
in Congress usually their orders from these corpora
tons.
The Democratic party had just held its national convention
at Baltimore soemny declared that American ships
trade ought not pay toll for passing through
the canal
So the railroads were denied the right to operate their
steamships the canal and the attempt to make the American
ships passing through the canal pay toll voted down
whelmingy in the Senate ONLY ELEVEN SENATORS
VOTED FOR IT Of Lodge that notorious reaconary
who gregouy mrepresents Massachusetts, and Crane also
voted for the railroads EVERY DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE
VOTED TO LET AMERICAN SHIPS PASS THE CANAL FREE
OF TOLL CHARGES.
Thus seemed that of the great objects for which the
American people had spent four hundred million dollars the
canal had been scuredwch to reduce the cost trans
porting goods the American continent.
the railroads do surrender after defeat With
election day over they calculated the they
toned conro both parties would dare to take orders
they could be supplied with for chang
ing their votes This ngeniousy furnished in
the outrageous preense that must have the friendship of
Great Britain in dangerous isolation the worlds affairs
Great Britain opposed to free tolls to our ships because the
Canadian Pacific Railroad opposed to it. Great Britain bases
her claim of right protest the ground that it is violation
OF her treaty rights.
great cry been raised that requires
to abandon free tolls for American ships pretended that
are in difficult straits in international relations and must have
the respect and friendship of Great Britain unnamed
catastrophe likely to befa This is the strange story that
President Wilson whispering into the ears of the Democratic
members Of Congress.
The British protest made when the question
before Congress Two years ago and II WAS BY
CRATIC PARTY IN IT'S NATIONAL CONVENTION which
pledged the Democrats Congress to vote for free TOLLS and
WILSON HIMSELF REJECTED THE BRITISH PROTEST
AND ADVOCATED FREE TOLLS ON THE STUMP DURING
What has happened since to bring about this change
men opinions? Nothing at ALL except that election and
men in Congress less controlled by public opinion
Do the Democrats dare to repudae their platform repu
date their votes at the behe of these railroads the
fear OF the President power to dispose of patronage?
Where Is William Bryan this crisis? declared
and over again that the MAN WHO VIOLATES HIS PARTY
PLATFORM is WORSE THAN THIEF" This question
arises out of the State Department Bryan
OF the State Department He the Committee Resolutions
OF the last Democratic convention that drew the platform
which declared favor of tolls ships On ty
Volcees bps the heroic lay IS uneess now On
ing out OF his very department he watches In silence conspiracy
which according to his political than theft
When the Democratic members of Congress called to
account by their constituents they will not be allowed
hnd the skirts OF the President He will keeper of
e conscience or OF their judgment We have neither benev
oen nor naeVolen despotm in this country Congress
make the laws and no Representative abdicato
ms powers or duties IN favor the without being trea
sonao TO MS country he be driven power Of Pres
1oenua patronage to reputation of his party platform and
versa oil ms own vote without causing injury to his