The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-09
BRYAN KNEW OF
TOLLEXEMPTION
Senator Walsh Declares
Secretary Had Plank
Amended at Baltimore.
~ EXCLUDE K. Z. SHIPS
Provision Had Careful Study
\ttpr Senator OGOlman
Offered 1t.
NIXON ~ CONFERENCE
Big Rumpus Expected in Con-
rrpss. Where the Feeling
Is Already Bitter.

t,,lms,ed that the plank was smuggled
into the platform and that Mr.. Bryan. who
gas chairman OF the resolutions com
yni,tpe at the Baltimore convention, knew
nothing about it until later
Chairman Adanson Of the House Com
n,.ee on Interstate Commerce charged
IN effect in formal statement yesterday
mat the plank had been slipped in as
Joker and that neither the resolutions COM
,ni,tee nor the Democratic convention APP
p-ov.d 1, with IL full understanding of
what had been done.
Secretary Bryan has declined to say
how the canal tolls provision was IN
serted In the platform. but ne has been
quoted IN private interviews az having
insisted that II had been done without his
full knowledge OF the circumstances and
the intent OF the plank
Senator Walsh OF Montana. who was a
member ofthe conventio 8 resolutions COM
m,tee and It's secretary as well. gave out
y statement tonight In which he says
that Mr.. Bryan not only assisted IN the
preparation of the Gree tolls plank in
the Democratic platform but suggested IA
Modification. which was agreed to be-
fore the plank was approved
senator Walsh as secretary or the COM
m!ttee put the views OF tho subcommittee
nto writing. His recollection of the prep
Aration and adoption of the canal tolls
Plank was very clear, he said. There was
no objection to it in the subcommittee
OF In the full resolutions committee.
! subcommittee of -four reported the
ANA. tolls plank. II was composed OF Mr..
bryan and Senators Pomercnc. oGorman
ana Walsh.
The senator from Montana declared
G.4.- ',as no suggestion that the plank
Jas = joker or that It got into the plat
o-gl surreptitiously.
according TO Senator Walsh the free
l.- plank was offered by Senator p,ior-
..... and accepted after Very .ittiv drbatc.
senator Wnlsh's statement.
81 do not believe that Secretary Bryan
has said to anybody that the canal tolls
.i4r; got into the platform surreptiiiousiy
or o a Joker" said Senator Walsh
'Whlc have regarded the transactions
'aa' went on within the Resolutions Com
-ltJee az Baltimore as more or less con-
hden,.al 7 am willing to give my recoi-
iection ot the steps by which the free
tolls plank became Il part of IN" Balt.-
more platform OF 1872,
The recent Implications IN the news
papers may tend TO create the impression
that there vas something disingenuous,
mysterious or sinister in regard To this
matter. There was not. On the CON
,.ary, there was nothing contested with
Il Th!ch affords Ia. slightest foundation
tor sucI Il charge or suspicion.
AS ! remember IL the plank approving
the clause In the Panama Canal act eX-
eMpting American coastwlst vessels from
The payment OF tolls was ntfeyed IN the
slo-committec OF eleven by Senator
0Gorman. Opinion in its favor seemed
70 unanimous that there was practically
10 debate.
a. the suggestion of Mr. Bryan ships
owned 10y railroad companies were barred
from thu use of the canal and III. fact
taat JA!s latter suggestion Is 10 be foun':
"a III. platform along with the approval
~ FREQ tolls for coastwsc vessels shows
plainly that the subcommittee was fully
Cognzant Of the existence of the free tolls
Iianl.
These matters along with all others
"ere tnsn referred to IL sub-comm!ttee OF
tour of the Subcommittee of eleven. The
iour w.rc Mr.. Bryan. Senator Pomerene.
senator oGorman and myself.
Approval Of the Planks.
''N, exported back on all the planNs
nov IN the platform and I was assigned
4 put thu sections into their proper Sc
quencc. did this including the tolls
PROVISION; the subcommittee OF four
heard and approved them; the sub-conl-
mite. of eleven heard and approved
them and then the entire Resolutions
Committee vas called together, the plat
form Was read. approved and later adopted
.. Ia. convention.
- that each plank passed through
several e'ages Of preparation and could
cor lave failed 10 have been known to
a. VINO attended the meetings OF the
committee or It's various Subcommittee s.
In" suggestion that the free tolls plank
va ia spuo manner slipped into the plat,
ie.n could Indicate that the sub-com-
d''t'' of four or myself amanuensis
a'lgu' T., job the committee or the con-
'"a'ioH, Since the circumstances of the
'-'roipc,!ou, consideration and adoption
b. a. Ills plank were 20 open AMI 50 Well
faoN. 10 so many members OF the COM
M'r'o think all implications to the CON
mary ia. L. stand
''' charges that are being made in
Is''1 - this feature Of the Baltimore
'e|or' ar stirring up much bitter feel