Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-20
NO TOLL EXEMPTION.

Editor Every Evening: Both WI
minPton and Philadelphia papers have
given me space TO sound the alarm
against the disaster Of having pan
anna toll exemption again fastened
upon our country. IrreconciIables are
pushing the bill and IL IN now reported
favorably by the committee and IL
before the Senate for action. II n
time for the people 20 vigorously spaak
on this question. It was properly
defeated IN 1914 and world conditions
now make II absolutely unthinkabie
When civilization II calling for har-
mony and just action il is no time
for America to go back to barbarian
darkness.
The North American on June is III
one Of ifs comprehensive pamphlet
editorials attempts 10 condone and jus
tify the toil exemption propaganda.
II can find nothing new in the very
midst Of world advancement, but Il
still browses around in the same old
barren pasture fields. We own the
canal and have complete sovereignty
over IL. and foreign powers paid moth
ing to help build IL. This is the inane
cry. Why should we not let our coast
ships 20 through without charge? The
argument should condemn itself. An
America built the canal for air our
people. common sense clearly says
that which was built by all should be
for the profit Of all and not be do
mated to a special. select class Of ship
owners! Only hoggishness would seek
to appropriate to the special use of
a few that which belongs to the whole
body of our people. A beautiful theory
all build and only a few TO enjoy. II
is a very exclusive idea and based
on careful selection. II is the clear
est case Of robbing Peter 70 Pay Paul.
priated by a few.
That is the domestic side Of the
case; but the world problem comes
as a whirlwind to sweep away this
selfish and dish0norabIe plea for toll
exemption. The Kaiser has been de-
throned and interned and we hope
that the doctrine that treaties are only
scraps Of paper has gone into the dis
card with him. Shall We now re-estab-
lish the heinous doctrine in this coun-
try7 How can we fight TO maintain
the sanctity of treaties and so soon
revive the diabolical German doctrine.
We are bound in conscience to main
tain our treaties and the civilization OF
the world.
Who could favor a league of ma
tions or even an association OF ma
tions for the worlds uplift. and then
in stupidity conceive OF toll exemp-
tion7 yociferate for world peace and
justice and then expect TO have these
through violation Of treaties and cul-
tivation OF world injustice and war.
President Harding heralds the idea
that we must help TO lead the world to
better things, and Secretary Hughes
but yesterday proclaimed that Aneri-
cans fought for lofty ideals" Toll ez-
emption is debasing and not lofty
ideal. The world moves on and casts
toll exemption into the discard.
Political expediency injected toll ex-
emption into the Republican platform
OF 1920. II did the same with the
Democratic platform OF 1912. Wilson
saw the trap and smashed it rather
than be caught in it VIII President
Harding gain wisdom from Democratic
history or viii he fall into the politi-
cal qusgmire? We should all hope
that he may be 50 inspired as to save
the honor of our home people and the
civilization of the world.
We want no more scraps OF paper
theory OF foreign engagements. We
want 20 do justice TO the whole world