The Washington herald., 1914-04-13
PLEA FOR REPEAL
MADE BY BRYAN
: CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE


OF the friends of free tolls asked fol
more than that before the rule was re
ported.
What are the facts? When the subject
first game up the Opponents of the repea
measure asked for eight hours. and Il
was granted them. They then asked that
the time be extended to fifteen hours. and
this was granted. Later, they asked that
the time be made twenty hours, and this
was granted. The charge that the time
was unduly limited cannot fairly come
| from the friends of free tolls, for when
the free tolls measure was under con-
sideration in 1919 the debate on 1t occupied
less than three hours. 1t will be seen,
therefore. that seven times as much time
was given for the discussion OF the re-
peal measure as was given for the discus
sion of the original measure giving free
tolls to coastwise vessels
] In the discussion of the repeal meas
ure il was impossible to confine its op-
ponents to a discussion of the merits Of
the question. They stoutly contended
that they were standing upon the plat
form adopted at Baltimore, and assumed
10 themselves a superior sort OF virtue
because of the sanctity with which they
invested this particular plank of the plat
form.
To Encourage Merchant Marine.
There are three facts to be considered
facts which the friends OF free tolls
have refused to discuss First that there
was another plank in the platform, or
rather another clause, which was prac-
tically a part of the same plank which
contained the free tolls declaration. This
clause had TO do with the encouragement
Of the merchant marine and reads:
n hal in
tional regulation of commerce. the growth
of a merchant marine, which shall de-
velop and strengthen the commercial ties
which bind us to our sister republics of
the South. but without imposing addition
al burdens upon the people and without
bounties or subsidies from the public
treasury
The merchant marine includes all the
ships belonging to American citizens,
and II will be seen that the Democratic
party expressed a deep interest in the up
building Of the merchant marine, and yet,
Notwithstanding the Importance of the
subject and the anxious concern felt by
the party for the rehabilitation OF the
merchant marine. it specifically declared
against bounties and subsidies as a means
Of aiding the merchant marine.
But while the friends of free tolls are
able to overlook the plank above quoted
"AAi It's NitdE ana IlTRlnk DECLARATION
against subsidies and bounties. they re-
gard as sacred the following lines in
which the party endorsed free tolls:
We favor the exemption from toll
OF American ships engaged in coastwise
trade passing through the canal
Means Carefully Concealed.
The secret of the strange power ex-
erted by the little plank is to be found
Nhg foot
means by which il is to be carried out
Had the word subsidy or bounty been
inserted in this plank, it could not have
secured the Endorsement OF the conyen-
ton, because the contradiction between
this plank and the larger plank would
have been Immediately apparent.
Second: But even If the platform had
not contained within itself a complete
refutation of the position taken by the |
advocates OF free tolls, the President |
would have been justified in the position |
that he took by the changed conditions |
which confronted him. A platform is a |
pledge and is as binding upon an official |
as the command of a military officer is |
upon subordinate-the statement can
not be made stronger. But the subordi- |
nate officer is sometimes compelled to |
act upon his Judgment where a change
OF which the comma nding officer is not |
aware mas ldhen place IN cOnOltlOnS- IL |
is not only the right of the subordinate |
to judge the situation for himself where
conditions have changed since the order
was given, but il Is his duty to do So III
the disobedience of the subordinate Off
GER is due TO CowardiCe or to the sub
Stitution of selfish for a patriotic in
terest, he is condemned; but he is like
wise to be condemned IL. either from
9owardice or because Of selfish inter-
est, he permits the interest of his coun-
ry to be jeopardized rather than live
Ip to the responsibilities which his po-
'ition imposes upon him. In the case
Inder consideration, the President takes
he responsibility for an official act
which he regards as necessary to his
ountrys $ welfare, and the people must
iecide whether or not he is justified.
Change in situation.
such a change has taken place since
he Baltimore platform was adopted
lad the Democrats in convention as ,
embed been confronted by the condition
Thich now exists and had they known
that those now know who voted fur
epeal, no such plank would ever have ,
cen placed in the platform. The con- ,
ention's attention was not even brought
D the fact that a majority of the Demo-
rats in the House had voted against the
rec tolls measure. and that it had. in
act, been passed by a combination of a
minority of the Democrats and ma
1rity Of the Republicans.
Third: Moreover, this plank of the =
latform deals with an international
uestiOn and must be accepted with the
that we act jointly with
ther nations in international affairs
"Eyen II the plank had not been !
by another plank In the
latform; even II IL had not concealed
subsidy policy rePugnant to Demo-
ratio principle and history; even n
had not rebuked the Democrats In
Ongress; even II conditions had not /.
hanged, still. dealing with an inter- +;
ational question, IL should be taken .
\ the expression of wish rather than
: the expression of n determina tion;
n no nation can afford to purchase
small advantage in the face of a