The central record., 1914-04-23
Rates For Political Announcements

With every undertaking of President
Woodrow Wilson crowned with success
since he entered the White House and
with a united and victorious Democracy
applauding the mention of his name. and
the trusting masses every where will
ing to follow in his lead and hailing him
as one of the wisest and safest sages
who ever occupied the chief executive s
chair of the nation, after one years
such service he came before the joint
session of Congress on March 5, 1914,
and read message, the following Of
which is part:
Gentle men of Congress: | have
come TO you upon an errand, which can
be briefly performed, but | beg you
will not measure its importance by the
number of sentences in which | state
it. No communication | have address,
ed to the Congress carried with 1T a
graver or more far-reaching implica-
tiOns as to the interest of the country.
| have come to ask YOU for the repeal
of that provision of the Panama Canal
Act of August p. 1912. which eXempts
vessels engaged in the cOastwise trade
of the United States from payment of
tolls and to urge upon you the justice,
the wisdom, and the large policy of
such a repeal with the utmost earnest
ness of which | am capable ask this
of you in support of the foreign policy
of the Administration. ! shall not
know how to deal with other matters
with greater delicacy and nearer con-
sequence if you do not grant it to me
in ungrudging measure.
A bill was very promptly introduced
in Congress to carry into effect the
Administration urgent request anC
after due time for debate a vote was
taken and every member of Congress
from Kentucky voted to uphold the
Democratic Administration and the
Presidents recommendation, except
Caleb Powers, John Langley, Republic
cans, and Harve Helm of this District
But We find our worthy contemporary
and good friend, Mr.. Louis Landram
of the Danville Messenger. commend
Without entering into the merits OF
the Panama Exemption Repeal Bill, We
beg to say, as Presi dent did, that it i!
debatable. Therefore, no censur(
should attach to any Congressman fol
the position he took on the question
This is especially true of those who
were in the minority, for they certainly
did not seek the favors or good will Of
any one, but acted in accordance witt
their best judgment, the dictate oi
conscience and We're true to the oath
of Office.
Mr.. Helm is in congress by the grac,
of the Democratic party ard for him t.
daily when the President thinks tn,
administration is facing a crisis, and t
desert when the party is in peril, ma!
not be deserving censure but we Opin,
that both congressman Helm and broth
er Landram have job to convince tn
democrats of the district to the con
trary.
How great the open censure will b.
against Congressman Helm for thi
vote by the Democrats of this Distric
is yet to be observed, but we feel JUST
fed in saying that when our presen
representative again submits his CLAIM
to the people for support he will se
that Democrats will prefer to have
representative in Congress who cal
present the side of this debatabl
question with the approval of conscience
as requested by the President, and ap
proved by the entire Democratic dele
cation in Congress from our State, in
Guiding our popular Senator, Ollie NJ
James
The Democrats Of the Eighth Dis
trict, will likely prefer representative
whose Judgment Is more in accord witt
the Presidents and whose judgmen
and conscience does not lead in the pat
of Caleb Powers and John Langley
The suggestions made by Congressman
Helm, that he is being congratulate,
by the Democrats of this District upol
his vote against the Administration ,
policy, puts in issue, in way, whethe
the party of this District will take 1T.
stand with Congressman Helm or ap
prove the course of the Administration
He may not be censured for his vote
We will be surprised if he is not fo
taking the latter step, and We will
wait to hear from our neighbor upol
the latter proposition.