The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1914-03-13
DECLARES EXEMPTION OF U. 9.
coATWlsE SHIPPING is MIS-
TAKEN ECONOMIC POLICY.
PRESIDENT READS MESSAGE
Chief Executive Asks Congress to Ro-
peal Adamson Act Containing OBJ
Jectlonable Clause-Powers Hold
It Violation Of Treaty.

Wilson appeared personally before
congress again this afternoon, this
time to read a special message urging
the repeal OF the provision in the Pan
ANA canal act exempting American
coastwise vessels from payment
Of tolls. This message was written
and delivered in accordance with the
request of Representative Underwood.
The Democratic floor leader felt that
the president should assume the re-
sponsibility for action that will be d.
rectly contrary to one of the resolu-
tions adopted by the last Democratic
convention, and that he should give
his reasons for favoring the repeal
so that members who voted for the
exemption clause would have an ex-
cuse for changing their attitude.
Presidents Message.
The address followsc
Gentlemen of the Congress:
Il have come to you upon an errand
which can be very briefly performed,
but beg that you will not measure
its Importance by the number of SEN
fences in which l state it. No com
munication / have, addressed to hhe
congress carried with 1t graver or
more far-reaching implications to the
interest Of the country and now
come to speak upon a matter with
regard to which am charged in a
peculiar degree by the constitution it.
self with personal responsibility.
Il have come to ask for the repeal
Of that provision of the Panama canal
act of August "a, 1912, which exempts
vessels engaged in the coast trade
Of the United States from payment Of
tolls, and to urge upon you the JUS
tice, the wisdom, and the large policy
of such a repeal with the utmost
earnestness OF which l am capable.
Exemption Mistake.
I'm my own judgment, very fully
considered and maturely formed, that
exemption constitutes a mistaken
economic policy from every point of
view, and is, moreover, In plain con-
prevention of the treaty with Great
Britain concerning the canal conclud.
ed on November 10, 1901. But have
not come to you to urge my personal
views. / have come to state to you a
fact and a situation.
whatever may be our own differ
ences of opinion concerning this much
debated measure, it's meaning is not
debated outside the United States.
Everywhere else the language of tue
treaty is given but one Interpretation,
and that Interpretation precludes the
exemption / am asking you to repeaA
Consented to Treaty.
I'VE consented to the treaty; its
language we accepted, II we did not
originate it; and we are too big, too
powerful, too self-respecting a nation
to interpret with too strained or re-
fined reading the words of our own
promises just because we have power
enough to give us have to read them
as we please. The large thing to do
is the only thing we can afford to do,
voluntary withdrawal from a posi-.
ton everywhere questioned and misun.
derstood. We ought to reverse our
action without raising the question
whether we were right or wrong, and
so once more deserve our reputation
for generosity and the redemption of
every obligation without bubble or
I hesitation.
81 ask this of you In support of the
foreign policy of the administration.
l shall not know how to deal with
other meetings of even greater deli
cacy and nearer consequence If you
do not grant 1t to me in ungrudginG
measure"