The weekly soliphone., 1915-02-26

James P. Clarke of Arkansas, who
has been severely criticized for op-
posing the bill to authorize the presi-
dent to purchase ships for carrying
American exports to foreign coun-
tries, tells why he opposed the meas
ure and in part replies to the attacks
that have been made upon him. The
senate had under consideration an
amendment to the original bill to
! make the measure only temporary
one to tide the shipping interests over
the present emergency. Upon this
subject Senator Clarke said:
Mr.. President l ask the senate to
indulge me at this point for a few
minutes. A great many things have
been uttered during the course of this
discussion that under ordinary cir
cumstances elsewhere would provoke
reply, but | established for myself
when | came upon this floor certain
ideals that I intend to maintain, and
l have accordingly appeared to over
look many things that probably were
intended for my notice. There are
better places and other times when
such things can be dealt with, if any
one feels disposed to there enlarge
upon some of the suggestions that
have been made. So much for that.
If it was the purpose Of my asso-
ciates on this side of the chamber to
find out how the seven senators who
felt unable to support the bill in it's
present form or in any of the various
forms in which it has, from time to
time, appeared here stood with refer
ence to any provision contained in it,
there was an easy way readily open
to them. Some of them have seen
proper to postpone to this hour the
making of inquiry about this provis-
ion concerning the entrance of the
government owned ships to the coast
wise trade For myself l never as
lsumed that | had more wisdom than
all of them, nor that my sense of pa
triotism was better developed than
theirs. l differed from them pro
foundly about certain matters of poll
cy and principle concerning the oper-
alton of government owned ships.
determined that, in the present state
of the situation TO be dealt with, my
views were not such that they could
be taken from me by caucus action
by others as the result of any i'm
piled obligation l assumed when l be-
came a member of the senate through
the agency of the democratic party.
| may be permitted to say, in pass
ing that am probably one of the few
men on this floor who never sought
nor received republican vote in his
life for anything, anywhere, or any
time, and I have enjoyed as many
honors at the hands Of the demo-
cratic party as any citizen of his
state. and many times more than |
deserved. I hold certain views of
public policy and principle which are
just as essential a part of my nature
as any part of my physical body, and
| have cultivated the habit of insist
ing upon these respectfully and with
in the limits of my rights, candidly
and completely recognizing the equal
rights of every other person,
do not take offense at the eXces-
siye earnestness and emphasis of SEN
ators who deal in more spectacular
manner with political and public
questions than do. My range of OBJ
servation in the world has been a
wide one. | have been called upon
to touch humanity at many points
and to judge it from many angles.
AS the result of all this, l am forced
to say that l find there is much of
real honesty and sincerity among all
classes, and much sound philosophy
, at the bottom of nearly all the politi-
cal contentious that are made by or
ganized groups in this good country
of ours. | have therefore grown ex-
ceedingly tolerant Of differences of
political opinion, not only with my
J own party associates but with those
} with whom 1 do not affiliate in the
matter of party alignment. But did
not intend to drift off on that sub
ject. I want to address myself just
for few minutes to this particular
amendment to the shipping bill.
1t seems to me most monstrous at
this time, of all times, when the cur
rent expenses of the government are
; being paid out of an emergency tax
war tax-levied upon the people,