The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-13
WILSON LIABLE TO
ERR, SAYS O'GORMAN
Hopes to Retain Presidents Re-
spect Despite Tolls
Fight.
SEES VICTORY IN SENATE
Country Will Rise to Meet Any
Foreign Crisis, lie
Asserts.

The country probably never had
more patriotic and devoted President than
Woodrow Wilson. but even he will not
claim that his Judgment is always In
faliible."
Senator James A. O'Gorman. at home
for Easter. used this sentence In a talk
with q Sun reporter yesterday regarding
tho fight for Panama Canal tolls exemp-
ton. He returned last night to Washing
ton, where as chairman OF the senate
Committee on Interoceanic Canals and later
as leader of the forces opposed to the
President In the great Senate debate that
will soon engage the attention OF the two
Americas, Europe and Japan he will be
In the thick OF the struggle for free pas
snge for coastwise ships Of the United
states
The interviewers question was: "Sena-
tor. what Is your comment on the popular
belief that President Wilson and yourself
have drifted apart and that there Is now
a distinct cleavage In the Democratic
party This was Senator OGormans
answer:
ANY difference between US cannot AFFECT
my respect for President Wilson and me
high office he occupies. An injustice Is
done to the President by those who think
that agreement with his judgment In
every instance is necessary TO the mainte-
nance of friendly relations.
Most men have moro respect for those
who do their own thinking than for those
who are willing to echo the views or
others. recognize the right OF the Presi-
dent to form his own judgment on i'm
portan. public questions. | am sure he
sees the proprety of other public officials
charged with great responsibilities regu-
lat,ng their conduct by their own judy
ment."
And then came the statement that leads
this column.
Sees Majority Against Repeat.
The Senator said that the Senate would
refuse to repeal the tolls exemption act,
but he would not hazard a guess ne to the
size of the vote. As to the Washington
report that the repeal forces are sure
OF hfty-one Senator's he saN
The estimates on the number OF votes
for repeal are unreliable and | know
them to be in many instances untrus,-
worthy. Just how the Senate will stand
cannot be determined until the discussion
IL concluded and II vote taken"
He gave THE SrN an outline of what
apparently will be his argument on the
floor of the Senate.
THE assertion that exemptng coast
wise vessels from tolls is a subsidy is re-
garded by many as a mere subterfuge,"
he said. 1T IL the old story of drawing a
herring across the trail! Millions are
being spent annually for the operation and
maintenance OF other governmental canals
in which no tolls are exacted OF any YES
sci using them. This has never been
objected 10. and the policy has been APP
proved by many who are now shouting
subsidy
More than 100000 900 has been ex-
pended in the construction and operation
of the canals connecting the great lakes.
Why should not an American coastwlse
vessel have the same rights to use the
Panama Canal without payment 90 tolls
Ihey don't have TO pay to pass through
the Lake It. Mary Canal. II IT'S "A sub
sdy in one case why is ii not in the other
or course II is not a subsidy in either
case, because all the canals are MAIN
tanned and operated principally to regulate
rates Tor freight on competing railroad
lines