The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-04-03
SIGNIFICANT FACT THAT MEN AZ.
FillATEo WITH RAILROADS
FAVORED REPEAL
Junior Browns Vote a surprse to
rvs Constitutentt--wiil Have
10 Explain This Fail
az Charles Brooks Smith

WASHINGTON. ID. c. April 1T
would take lots OF time and a no
mean talent 20 satisfactorily analyze
ana report briefly on the mass OF let
ters received by Representative Suth-
eriand on the referendum vote he
took on the question whether the ex-
en- ption clause OF the canal tolls act
should be repealed. He sent out p
500 letters 10 bankers. lawyers. edi-
tors and coal operators. The replies
Tor the hrst two days numbered ex-
actly zO1. OF which 49, favored re-
peal and 20 opposed H. on the
strength OF that batch the statement
was sent out that the replies were
about i've TO one in favor OF repeal.
which statement was an error as
these figures prove. After thar the
replies poured in by the hundreds
and the sentiment was shown TO be-
more equally divided. There was no
division whatsoever along political
lines. In large number Of letters
TINS sentiment was expressed: IF
the exemption clause violates our
treaty, then | favor repeal"-the
ground OF reasoning seeming 20 be-
mat the treaty was a contract which
should be lived up to. This view WAS
taken very largely by bankers. Many
OF the writers confessed themselves
uniformed on the subject and said
Il
10 the congressman t-larRe A sig
nitcant and interesting fact Is that
All the railroad lawyers were united
IN favor OF the repeal. as were the
representatives OF corporations known
10 be closely allied TO the railroads.
whenever a reply was based on the
premise that the question OF national
sovereignty was paramount then
the author OF that reply was sure 10
he found opposing repeal When a
writer considered the question of shin
subsidy uppermost. he was pretty
likely 10 line himself up in favor OF
the repeal OF the exemption clause.
A great many of the letters showed
a woeful inability to grasp the main
issue involved. and not a few OF the
writers were frank enough TO confess
Il.
Informing and Valuable.
Aside from what the Sutherland
referendum showed in the way OF a
divided sentiment. Il was on the
whole informing and valuable, be-
cause II presented innumerabie argli-
ments on all sides of the question.
supplementing what knowledge Mr.
sutherland acquired by a thorough
study OF the subject in all its phases.
his views VIII be set forth in a speech
winch viii be printed in the Record
AS the debate was limited to twenty
hours. Mr.. Sutherland. along with
scores OF other members who would
nave nked TO have been heard, and
had prepared his address. was unable
10 get In on the time. He was recog-
nized, however. and given leave 10
extend his remarks in the Record. So
his speech will set forth his line of
reasoning I'm arriving at the conclu-
sion TO cast his vote against repeal.
WIN the exception OF Congressman
WIN IaR
from the first against repeal and
stated them clearly and forcefully in
2 public interview the balance OF the
delegations studied the question indus
triously. Judge Moss was the first OF
the number TO state how ne stood
winch ne did in a splendid speech
against the gag rule" delivered last