The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1914-04-04
ON Canal.
Standing on the Party Platform, He
Does Not Uphold President
on Canal Tools.

followers of the head of the party.
today came out in statement that
burns those who propose to disre-
gard the party platform on Panama
Canal tolls without first having
submitted the question as to
whether there should be reversal
to the people who voted the DEM
ocratic ticket.
II have no more respect for the
integrity of a,man who will violate
a pledge made in the performance
of public function than | have
for man who accepts a bribe to
control his official conduct" de-
clared the Mississippi Senator.
"'I agree with Mr.. Bryan. con-
tinued Mr. Vardaman, THAT man
who would win Office on platform
and then violate it after getting
into office. is an embezzIer OF
power and guilty of a crime of as
great moral turpitude as the SOL
dier who would betray his country
in time of war. =
Not content with such an ex-
coriation. Senator Vardaman in
tends to follow it up with a speech
in the Senate on the sacredness of
pledges, no matter whether made
by man or party. The vigor of
the Mississippian's language in his
statement is taken to mean even
greater vigor in the speech. He
said that he would not break the
platform pledge even if he stood
alone in the Senate He deplores
the position taken by the Presi-
dent, but cannot conceive of a sit
uation that would make it possible
for him to follow him into what is
coming to be called repudiation
1T is not that love President
Wilson lesss" said the Senator.
but that | love the people of the
United States and my obligation
more. have taken great interest
and pride in the wise adminstra-
tion of the affairs of his Office by
President Wilson Every speech
and every message he delivered to
Congress, up to the last one, en-
hanced my admiration of the man
/ always came from the House of
Representatives feeling better and
more hopeful for the success of the
administration.
When the question of repeating
the law permitting American ships
lengaged in the. cnastWise trade,
to pass through the canal free of
tolls came up. / was curious to
know what the President was CO.
ing to say in explanation of his
change of front on that subject, 1
listened with avidity to every word
he uttered in delivering his ad-
dress. looked forward to a mas
terful discussion of this great
question thought he would take
the Congress into his confidence
and that we would reason together
about the matter.
But when be simply said that
we should do this because he asked
US to do it, and do it 'ungrudging-
tly,' was sorely disappointed. /
regard the message as an affront to
the intelligence and the patriotism
of every member of Congress. 1t
reminded me of the schoolm aster
who tells his pupils to go to their
classroom. ask no questions. but
leave the matter to the superior
intelligence and patriotism of the
professor.
II was a member of the plat
form committee of the Baltimore
convention. This canal toll ques-
tion was considered carefully, along
with the other pIanks in the plat
form--and it was the mature
thought of the convention as much
as any other plank in the platform.
After the convention, the President
discussed and approved it. Mr..
Bryan approved it. The American
people have approved it, and now /.
to ask Democrats elected on that
platform. to betray their consti-
Ituents and violate instructions
Igiven by them in their votes at the
ballot box. is asking a little more
than my sense of right and loyalty
to my constituents will permit me
to do.
NO. continued Mr. Varda-
man. after hesitating a moment to
choose his words. II cannot do it..
| / cannot follow the President in
this instance. When he says that
I've ought to reverse our action
without raising the question
whether we are right or wrong.
and so once more deserve our repu-
tation for generosity and the re-
Idemption of every obligation with
lout quibble or hesitation. would.
Idirect his attention to the fact
| that we cannot be true to our
selves, true to the voters of Ameri-
ca. true to our platform promises,
and reverse our action without first
obtaining consent from those who
sent us here and commissioned Us
to perform the functions Of our
Prospective places. Il isn't our
province to be generous we are
trustees Of a great power and func-
tion. and we can only be just.