Evening star., 1921-08-15
Editorial Digest
World Peace and Panama Tolls.

cussion of perplexing international ques-
tions at the disarmament conference. in
jected into the ancient subject Of Pana-
ma canal tolls, has brought forth a new
sheaf Of comment from the newspapers.
The Brooklyn Eagle Independent
democratic) thinks that, once having
laid it aside, the President certainly
ference without destroying any under
standing that may be reached" and the
Louisville Courier-Journal (democratic)
hopes that "postponement of the plunge
into dishonor will give time for soberer
reflection and wiser counsels. which in
the end may prevent the plunge alto
gether" The majority Of the American
people," in the opinion of the Rochester
Times-Union Gndependent), will sup
port President Harding in the position he
has taken despite the fact that it is a
frank reversal of the views he formerly
expressed. Senator Borah has announced
that he will press his free tolls bill for
passage. If he does it is hoped that the
President will veto it just as his prede-
cessor did"
1T is one of Senator Borahs principal
diversions nowadays to remind the DOM
inant group Of his party of the bad
promises they made during the cam
paign and have failed to keep. This
matter Of the repeal of the Panama tolls
Is another Of those bad promises which
were made to be broken and which are
now being broken" says the Charleston
News and Courier (democratic). "Borah
sees no conflict between free tolls for
coastwise ships and the Hay treaty"
says the New York Evening Post lin
dependenD. The British government
THAT free tolls through the canal for
American coastwise vessels was not a
contravention Of the treaty. The British
government made no such admission"
AS to the expediency governing the
Presidents request for delay, the Provi-
dence Tribune Gndependent republican,
thinks ut certainly does seem silly to
weaken, and perhaps imperil, great
cause in order that we may grant free
use of the Panama canal to those en-
gagged in the coasting trade when they
already have a monopoly OF that trade y
THE reason Is entirely valid" says the
Columbus Dispatch independently. NOR
will its validity expire after the coming
conference shall have been held Moth
ing but a shrewd legal twisting OF words
out of their natural meaning can get
anything else out Of the treaty, and the
reputation of the country for fair deal
ing should not be sacrificed to the pri-
vate gain which a few could get out of
toll-free passage"
That something more than expe-
diency may be involved in the Presi-
dents move is noted by the Chat
tanooga Times independent demo-
cratic). His first suggested reason
for delay, the fear that the passage
of the law now might embarrass the
disarmament conference. was supple
mented by the later one which may
be regarded as the real policy of the
administration, namely, that the tolls
question should be settled by diplo-
macy and not by legislation"
The Syracuse Post-Standard ire
publican thinks. on the other hand.
that the President presumably still
holds as a matter of law We have the
right to release our own vessels from
the payment of tolls. but he realizes
that as a matter of good judgment it
is unwise to create this dispute with
Great Britain at the moment when
we are asking Great Britain to join
with US to settle questions in the
far east"
The Des Moines Register Gnde-
pendent republican, says: ut is a
plain misstatement of fact to say
that the canal was built in any ex-
elusive way for the benefit and pro-
| lection of America. America was to
benefit by the canal just as everybody
else was to benefit. The record is
| written in too many treaties and Off
| cial documents to permit of doubt"
The Spokane Spokesman-Review
! independent republican, states that
| the republican position is that the
| treaty simply means that the United
States will treat all other nations
| equally. having as owner of the canal
a right to make any terms 1t pleases
| for American ships"
The Borah bill will be opposed prin-
cipslly. according to the New Bedford
! Standard (republican). on the ground
Of whether this government could
remit tolls without violating its
pledged word. "It is interesting to
note, however, that the middle west
| is opposing it on the material ground
| that the inland communities of the
nation will be taxed to subsidize
| water carriers which will injure
business in the interior to the ad-
\ vantage of the country's seaports.'
Now we have the reinforcement OF
selfish interests to bolster up. our
argument of morality and honor
says the Columbia State (deEocratic)
I'VE welcome even such a reinforce
| ment Any port, even a lake port. in q
storm. If the selfish interests of the
middle wet can help the nation keep
its pledged word in a solemn treaty, II
| morality may rely upon selfishness at
a stanch ally, then the Borah enor-
l nifty may be wiped off the record