Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-30
WILSON RESENTS
CHARGE Of DEAL
President Calls Act of Mr..
KnoWIand "CroWning Insult
of a Number of Insults"
REGARDS TOLLS FIGHT
SLAP AT ADMINISTRATION
Palmer and Others Deplore Sugges-
ton Effort Will Be Made to
Get Clark's Scalp.

PRESIDENT wilson clearly regards the
tolls fight as having degenerated into
an attempt to dscredit the democratic
administration-from what quarters or
actuated by what motives he does not
say. However, the President is willing
that the public shall be the judge of the
contest. and that the people shall set
tie the differences at the polls at the
next election
To callers today the President express
ed keen regret that what promised to
be dignitied contest over principles,
and with reason as guide, has changed
into fight upon the administration. AS
an outcome of this the President regards
the result as more certain than at any
time in the past.
At the same time. as already stated
in The Star, the President shows no
ill feeling. and his friends abstain from
threats. The Presidents strongest re-
sentiment appeared today to have been
directed at the charge of Representa-
tive Knowland of California that the
administration had made some sort of
deal with Sir William Terrell, sec
asked specifically today about this
charge of Mr.. knowland, the President
said;
"Of course. that answers itself. 1t
is just the crowning insult of num-
Der of insults which have been intro
duced into this debate.
This whole thing reminds me of story
I used to be fond of telling of a very ef-
fective debater-I need not say where
this happened-who sent challenge down
into country very hostile to him to de-
bate. The people down there did not like
the job very much, but they put up the
man they liked best and who was gen
orally put up on such occasions, great
big husky fellow whom they all called
Tom. The challenger was given the first
hour of the two hours allotted to the de-
bate, and he hadn't got more than half
way through his speech when 1t became
evident that he was convincing the audi
ence. when one of Toms partisans in the
back of the room cried out, Tom. Tom,
call him liar and make it fight. That
is the stage this has reached
The Presidents auditors asked him II
he was going to fight and he smilingly
answered that he did not need to.
"only One Way Of Thinking"
The conference with the newspaper
men developed number of opinions
the President entertains about the tolls
contest, but he made it plain that he
did not ask Congress to pass a repeal
because of his opinions. No matter
what differences of opinion there may
be in this country on the question of
repeal, the President said, there was
only one me way ,ss of 1d thinking in all other
unanimous in its views.
The President said there is absolutely
no doubt that exemption Of coastwise
vessels from payment of tolls is a
subsidy.
While he stood vigorously by his
party platform there were two phases
of the platform to be considered d-one.
reiteration of the lifelong policy of
the democratic party against subsidy of
any kind, a principle SO long established
as never to be denied by democrats. and
the other the plank favoring free tolls.
The two were plainly inconsistent with
each other.
good humor during his newspaper con-
ference and told several good stories.
He exhibited no bitterness and did not
appear to draw party lines as much as
IT had been though he would do.
Not After Clarks Scalp.
Representative Mitchell Palmer and sew
eral other close congressional friends of
,he President who saw him during the
da! left the executive offices deploriny
suggestions that the friends of the Presi-
uSht expect 10 start out from now on for
the scalp of Speaker Clark Of the House
Ihey declared that no suggestions of this
Kind had arisen from friends of Mr. Will
son, ana that the suggestions were evil
IDENTIFY from directions hostile to the ad-
ministration and seeking to destroy the
party harmony that has existed Mr.
Palmer declared that retaliation was far
from the thoughts of democrats; at least
retaliation within the party.
Many repu blicans are trying to make
this party ISSUE said Mr.. Palmer
but they cannot do So as all the parties
are divided on it Nobody is going to be
able TO destroy the cohesion of the dem
ocrats, either, when questions arise that
the country Is more deeply concerned
about than this one of tolls
No Understanding, Says Sir Edward
LONDON, March 30-Sir Edward Grey.
British foreign secretary. in the house of
commons today denied the published al
| legations that the action of President
| Wilson in regard to the question of
| Panama canal tolls was the result of an
| understanding between the governments
of the United States and Great Britain.
| 1T has been asserted, he said, that
| under the terms OF the understanding
| Great Britain had undertaken to assist
| President Wilson'S policy in regard to
Mexico There is no foundation what
| ever for these reports, and l am glad
| to be able to take as early an oppor-
tunity as possible for saying So
1