The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume], March 05, 1914, Image 1

About The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917

Image provided by: Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT

                
You Can't Unlock the Mystery,
Until the last line of
SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE
The FARMER Every Day
THE WEATHER
Snow Tonight And Friday
VOL. 50 NO. 55
BRIDGEPORT CONN., THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1914
PRICE TWO CE2TT3
U.S.; WAITING
FOR CARRANZA:
TO INVESTIGATE
"WAS MY LIFE
RESIDENT URGES ME
tove
OR HIS,"
Arrest Illegal
w Move To
TOL
EfflPTIONS
HIS COUNSEL
ENTERS
DEMURRERS
Main Contention Is That
State Has 'Not Connected
llellen Directly '"
TDTJSON REFUSES
TO JOIN ISSUE
Special Demurrer Sets Torth
. 19 Counts "Why Railroad
Man Should Be Freed
The . second step to save
former President Charles S.
Mellen of the New Haven rail
road from being tried on the
charge of criminal responsibil
ity for the "Westport wreck, was
taken today when Attorney
Homer S. Cammings filed two
demurrers in the criminal su
perior court. One is a general
demurrer containing but one
paragraph but the special de
murrer has 19 counts and gives
that many reasons why the
former president should not.be
held on the 5 manslaughter
charge. The main contention
is thai the state ' has shown
nothing to cormectMeflen' di
rect y with the wreck.
When arguments on the de
murrers were started this af
ternoon Attorney Cummings
wanted State's Attorney Judson
to join issue. He had stated
that the state's irtformatidff Wis
insufficient to hold. Mellen and
he wished the state to declare
the information sufficient. The
state's attorney would not agree
to do this. Attorney Cummlngs
said itwas the custom in the'
Bridgeport City Court to join
issue oa a demurrer but the
state's attorney replied that he.
would have to be shown better'
authority than the City Court
before 'he would agree to that
view. ' y - ' '"''
Judge Tattle stated that he
was not sure what the practice
was and he would look wie mat
ter up before giving a decision.
Attorney , J. Nickerson of
Cornwall then started the argu
ment to show why the demur
rer should be sustained. '
x The demurrers are as . follows:-
...
Sarvtng and reserv4ng' ail maunxter off
ficgpttons to irregwiaratiee; liaegialJtles
sad iniorcn&HtiieH beretoflare epoetins.
the defendant. Charles Mellen. '' In
ModT, clfrfVaruis, ipfleadu ezwi soys that
the said taformoition expd. mattere
therein contained ore lutsuXBc&ent in
Jsaw. Wneretrpon iter prajye Judgment.
eavias and reserving oSH wneomerc of
exception -to iSae irregxttarltaes, Illegali
ties sad ' faiformalitlee heretofore
exnsfclngi xthe klefemdianit, Onarles S.
Mellen, to. addition to the cpenenal de
murrer herein filed, specially demurs
to the. IrrfoTnrafekxn and says tlhe same
to ineufficisnt in taw and for -xsaavaem
&T demnrrer pecially assigns &s lol-
' -
1. fibOd information ' taSHe to Mate
urtth sofBolent certainty t?ie mode end
maimer in wnicii the deceased! came to
doa,th-
2. Said itttormaMoa. Cadis to state
twcbm ehowtng the ocmmiieion of man
rfKUgliter 4y any act of the . defend
ant. .
3. Said Information does not state
iwth sufficient certaftirty the crime
wtitcSi it la alleged the defendant com
mitted to ena!Me the defendant to
properly prepare bis defense. .
4. In so Cartas Uhe ln?formei.1njcm el
aeg&a orhninal negligence i-t Is defec
tive in thait there are no allegations
f any duty on the part of the de
t ehda-nfc with respect to the eaid Jane
IDoe and cf a violation of such duty
reeoltfn? to her eadd deattn.
6. Said inf ormaftton - does not fairly
give to tbe defendant notice of tho
facts whldh will be . attempted to be
yruven against him.
6. Jit n no way appears hww or in
nrtoat way or (by what means the de
Cetvdaant caused tihe saiid fire aawi smoke
-to come in con-tact with said Jans
Xoe. -
7. It does not appear in what way
the defendant brought or kept the de
ceased In contact with the said fire
and smoke.
8. rt does not aptxear by what
mean said fire or smoke was caused.
9. It does not e-pipear that the de
fendant In any -way caused said fire or
smoke.
10. Said Information contains no al
legation of amy act wfhdh the defend
ant, Gtaarles S. MJellen, as SH-eeriderrt of
the ?T. X.. N- IT. ,H. ft. R Co., did
orpermtted wtoidh caused the said
Jane Uoe. who was '.In a oar, then
txurroin, to be choked, suffocated or
tnai'iKtii as n toe information eet forth.
11. It appearo from the information
that -Che Jiajne Doe , there referred to
wtas by means of - the smoke and
Ramea thereof choked, suffocated and
Aram vbiatk wirin. suffooat
lug and ibmrndss dhe instantly died and
saJd 4n formation cozxtains .no allega
tion showing tn what way the de
fendamtt, Charles S. Mellen, president
of sadd railroad oompaaxy, caused the
said Jane Doe to be In said car or In
the fire then burning- .therein, or in
any way connecting- the defendant in
dtviMiuiaMy or as preaident of said raJJ
road company wdth eaOd fire which it
is cha!rsed caiused the death - of the
said Jane Doe.
12. Said Inlformationi contains no al
legation of any act done or committed
by tare defendant which caused 'the
death of the said Jane Doe tfaere re
ferred to. -
la. It aippears from sadd ' mforma
tSon that the said. Jane Doe was
choked, suffocated end instantly killed
by meanei of a ' fire then . and there
burning in a oar and no act of the
defendant, Charles S. JfcHen, ' is .al
leged, which conineots him with said
fire or the death of said Jane Doe by
means thereol- '
14. . The acts set out in tihe Informa
tion in the desoi-iprtdom of' the offense
show that under some circumstances
those acts do not constdtoite an offense-
- ' t
15 . The said information fails to
charge the offense attempted to be set
forth with such clearness and certain
ty as to apprise . accused ' of the
crime for which he is called to answer
and to enabae the 3-wry to deliver an
intelligent 'verdict, the court to render
a proper judgment and. the accused to
plead hie conviction . or acquffittal in
bar of another prosecatdon tfor the
same offense. ' ;'"'. ' . "
16. Sadd tofonmaiaon contains no al
legation showdng' any conneotion be
tween the assault therein referred to
and the death' of said Jane Doe. '
17. It appears from the fcTormation
that the choking, " stiffocating -. and
tamin g of the said Jane Doe was by
a fire then burning in a car in which
she then was and not by reason of
an assault made upon 4er by the de
fendant." ' - " " i
18. Said faftmuBHm eotttaino no al
legation showing any ccmneotion be tween
.the assault therein referred to
ana tbe fire then burning fi sa4 oar
and which Is alleged to have- eaused
tbe , Instant , death of the said - Jane
Doe. - - - ;- ,,5
19-. ; Said ' Information charges . the'
defendant,- Qharles Sb .Mellen, with
having romnitttal rruirftonj-oT- fa. his
official oapacBty : as presddeot of the
N. T.. N. ;H.;& HI R. JR. Co. ' , ,
FfRElEM NEAR
EXPLOSION TO
SAVE TREASURE
Car Laden "With. 1 Vast
Amount of " Currency and ,
Ammunition In Flames
DESPERATE DASH TO
- CITST SAVES CARGO
Ignorant , of Their Peril,
"Firemen Join Trainmen
. and Quell Flames I v
That members of the. Bridgeport fire
department "Joined with express mess
engers and train men- in a desperate
fight against fiames, threatening a car
laden with explosives and 'a vast
amount of currency, in the Bridgeport
station before daybreak yesterday, be
came generally known today when the
nature of the contents of the car was
divulged. -
In the ar were many shipments of
paper money, consigned to the U. S.
treasury department at Washington,
to foe replaced with new paper money,
or to go through the federal laundry,
the innovation by which used bills
which have not been torn, are fresh
ened and disinfected. . '
But with -the shipment - of treasure
was a load of explosives, also con
signed to-Washington. Bad the names
reached these, there inevitably would
have been a tragic result. .
The amount of money in the" car
is not known- - Sometimes the ship
ment in this particular car reaches
as much as one million dollars, accord
ing to express officials!. Rarely is-it
less than $100,000. . ;
This train left Boston the previous
night with one car especially assigned
to pick up the currency and ammuni
tion going to the federal government.
Large cases of explosive shells were
taken on at New Haven. - All the bills
collected for some weeks and in trans
it to. the mint at Washington for re
demption were in packages in the car.
Between New- Haven and Stratford
the top of the car caught fire from a.
lighted lamp. The express messenger
who dared not leave the -car fought if
until Stratford was reached" where the
crew also engaged in battle with the
flames which had spread through the
interior of the top.1 ,
A record run was decided upon to
Bridgeport where, at the station the
chemical truck was in waiting. With
the fire-fighters busy In the car a large
force of clerks silent as to the explo
sive contents and money quickly - re
moved the preoious cargo, while the
firemen were left in ignorance of their
danger.
The ammunition boxes were all re
moved without the fire reaching their
contents. A new car was substituted
and the train proceeded. The firemen
slept in tolassf ul ignorance of what they
had been through as they fought the
spread of the flames. Members of the
train orew say. there was' enough ex
plosive to have wrecked the train and
station.
Lull In Benton Probe Only
Temporary On Part of
America
BEBEL LEADER'S-LIEN
INQUIRE INTO CASE
English Papers Point to
Change In Policy of This
Government I
Washington, March 5 The appar
ent lull on the part of, the United
States in pursuing its inquiry into the
death St William S. Benton, a British
subject, and into the inysterious dis
appearance of Gustav Bauch, an
American citizen, is only . temporary,'
according to those well informed on
the intentions of the Washington ad
ministration. 'The government, it was
believed today, was merely awaiting
the outcome of the- investigation in
stituted by General Carranza..
Outwardly, it was apparent that
Carranza.' s determination to supply in
formation about, the' Benton , case,
though technically denying the. United
States the right to ask iW was favor
ably received here. His prompt or
dering of the inquiry into the Bauch
case likewise was welcomed.
Upon the result of the. investiga
tion and Carranza' 3 subsequent action
depend In a large measured the policy
which the American government will
pursue toward the Constitutionalists.
Much evidence of a conclusive char
acter about Benton's death already
has been gathered. Should the Car
ranza inquiry contravert.; the impor
tant points satisfactorily, proven here
it -is .unlikely that the President will
remain- silent oh the question. There
is every likelihood too that if Bauch
was wantonly murdered, , as reported,
a satisfactory explanation of the In
cident and the punishment of the of
fenders will be demanded. .
Persons familiar with "the inaccessi
bility of the territory in - which. Car
ranza will be isolated for . the nest
10 days or more during -his overland
Journey to Chihuahua City do not ex
pCfc ihatthere will be .anyreport oo
tJMTBubJect for another f of tnighfr"
; Though the Huerta government has
promised a full and complete, explan
ation of the reported killing of Cle
ments Vergara an American citizen,
near Hidalgo, Mex., ynothing of a sat
isfactory nature has as yet 1 been re
ceived by the state department. Gov.
Colquitt's efforts to obtain trie extra
dition of those responsible for Ver
gara's disappearance are .being watch
ed here with much interest.
GOV. COLQUITT ISr ,
"GOING THE LIMIT"
Dallas,' March & tGov. O. B. ' Colquit
of Texas, announces he has -wired the
Mexican Federal authorities in Nnevo
Leon State, Mexico, for the extradi
tion of Apolonio Rodriguez .and the
five Mexicans, charged . jointly with
him- with the kidnapping of Clemente
Vergara, an American citizen. - The
requisition is based on a charge of
horse theft. Vergara was afterward
killed.
Gov.' Colquitt said: . "I have Just
begun my fight to ..uphold the. rights
of the citizens, of. Texas. .To .say I
am going the limit to protect the
Americans In Texas from any harm
from foreign - invasions but mildly ex
presses it." -
The State of - Nnevo Leon is prac
tically controlled by the Mexican Fed
erals, although ' there . are scattered
bands of rebels there. ; Gov. Colquitt's
requisition will have to go tovthe
Huerta governor "at Monterey...
NO DAMAGE DONE IN
. FIRST NAVAL BATTLE
Nogales, Mexico, March 5. The first
naval engagement of the present Mex
ican revolution" ended yesterday at
Topoiobaorupo, after a (half hour of in
effective firing between the rebel gun
boat; Tampico and the Federal' gun
boats Morelols and Guerrero, which
steamed down from Guaymas for the
attack.' ' '' . .
' ' The "Tampico remained at , Topolo
bampo After tts -orew had mutinied
and turned the little . vesrel - over . to I
the Carranza forces. The MorefoiH
and Guerrero .arrived off Topolpbampo,
and opened- fire at. long 'range. The
Tampico remained inside -the harbor
while the Fedleral ships took positions
out in the Gulf of CaftiforndiaV
The Tampico' a guns seemed to (have
a longer range than those of the Fed
eral gunboarts ' and the -. latter drew
away. No damage was done on either
side. ' - : : ,
English Paper Sees '
U. S. Shift Front
" London, March 5 The policy, of the
United States toward Mexico today
again occupies leading place in the
editorial, columns of the English
newspapers. ' . ' :
The Evening Standard "discovers"
a marked change in the whole trend
Of American foreign policy.
"Instead of 'haughty isolation' bas
ed on the strict letter of the Monroe
doctrine the United States is now be
coming anxious to stand well with tho
European powers. The government
at Washington is apprehensive lest it
became involved in intervention - In
Mexico, Japan might seize the occa
sion to carry ambitious designs. on the
Philippines and Hawaii into -effect
and believes that Europe, if so Mis
posed, could lay an embargo on Jap
anese ambitions."
TC? KENT above St. Vincent's hospi
tal, cottage, hen house and barn,
also 2 small farms for sale. J. A.
Keenan, 123 -Harmony - St. - ap
TELLS POLICE
Threatened and Starved, She
r Says, -Until NDrivenv N
- To Killing.
NEW BRITAIN WOMAN 1
SHOOTS HER HUSBAND
Without Food Three Days and
- In Constant Fear of
1 Death, Her Story.
New Britain,, Conn., March 5
Fearing that her own life was to be
taken, Mrs. Theresa Sato Bufflno, aged
3 3,-shot and killed her husband, Lu
ciano Ruffino, aged 39, at their home,
131 Lafayette street, "at 8:10 o'clock
Chia .morning. She is being held by
the police - on a charge of murder. -
According . to the woman, she and
her husband had quarreled for a week,
during which time she says, he threat?
emed to kill her off numerous occas
ions. She also, charged him with try
ing to starve her to death and told the
police she had partaken of no food
for three days. , V
For the past four "or five nights,
Mrs. Rum no says, her husband slept
with a loaded revolver Tinder -his pit
low, telling her he' intended to use it
to take her life. - v - ; i
When they arose this morning, they
continued their Quarrel of several
days' standing and the wojman alleges
her husband reached under the pillow
and drawing the revolver announced
that he would kill her on the spot.
He replaced the gun without carry
ing - out his threat and when a few
minutes later he started towards her
with a hostile attitude, she grabbed
the revolver andsplacing It against his
back, fired one shot. . '; -'
There were no witnesses to the
shooting .' although the Rnfflnos - four
children,. whose ages', range, from 11
years, to one year, were In an adjoln
ing room. ,-
Mrs. Enffloo ran out' of the house
following" the shooting and appeared
at poEce headquarters where she ask
ed that her husband be arrested for
beating her In- the meantime, Che
police had heard of the shooting and
the, womanrwaw placed under arrest
and informed that her husband was
dead.- "She took . the -i announcement
calmly and made no comment other
than to say that it was a. case of" his
nie or ners. -
The - Ruff inoe are natives of Sicily
and came-' to this country nine years
ago. They lived in , New York stajte
for five years and then moved to .this
city. Besides the four children who
lived with them, they -have a child
who is living with .Kufflno's mother
in" Sicily. ' -
20 TJD 25 YEARS
FOR ASSAULT Oil
GIRL OF THIRTEEN
Judge Tells : Negro , fr to Thank
Heaven He Lived in
North. - : . :
Hartford, March 5 "I sentence you
to hot less than 20 years and not more
than 25 years .in state prison and you
may thank Heaven you live in r, more
or Jess temperate zone,- said Judge
William Case in the superior criminal
court today in passing sentence . on
Everett Brown, colored, 28 years of
age, who was found guilty by a jury
after, thirteen "minutes deliberation ot
the charge of criminal assault.
His victim is Mary Staukiewicz, who
was- 14 years old on January 12 and
who will become- a mother in about
three months. ..''"
In his argument, State's Attorney
Hugh i M Alcorn said that the ' fact
that Brown lived north of the ;Mason
and Dixon line was the reason he 'had
a trial and Judge Case cautioned the
stite's attorney not to continue fur
ther, on that line.
"Have you anything to say?" in
quired the judge of Brown. "Now
is your opportunity. It will be a good
long time before you have another."
"I am innocent," was the muttered
reply. . ' - . - -
RANK CASHIER OF
GREENWICH U1DER
ARREST FOR THEFT
William Ferris Charged
With Embezzlement of
$1,500 From Institute
Greenwich, Conn., March 5 Wil
liam L. Ferris," for a quarter of a cen
tury in charge of the books of the
Greenwich Savings Bank as cashier
and bookkeeper, was arrested at the
bank today charged with embezzle
ment of $1,500 of the bank's funds.
ONfe JUROR ILL BUT
VERDICT IS RENDERED
Because of the illness of Juror John
M. Burr -of Monroe, it was necessary
today to proceed with only 11 jurors
in the suit of the C. AChristenson Co.
of Minneapolis against Benjamin Blear
of this city. The depleted jury re
turned a verdict in favor of the Chria
tenson Oo. for $433. The action was
brought to recover payment for f lour
said to have (been ordered by the de
fendant. "
CHAUFFEUR THOUGHT
ROGERS. SAFE AND
THREW ON POWER
Driver of Death Car Tells
His Version of Fatality to
v Coroner Phelan '
Several Witnesses Testify
That Driver Brought Car
- to Slow Speed
'progress of . the - 'investigation by
Coroner John 3 Phelan into the death
cf Charles -Rogers was favorable to
Frank Derby, driver of : the Whiting
Manuiteuoturing company's automobile,
today, for it was asserted by witnesses
that - the chauffeur had ' used eveap
availabie Trwa.TWt to prevent the fatal
ity 'of Tuesday evening. ,. - :
Coroner Phelan with ' witnesses ' to
day" carefully went over the ground
in person ae is his usual custom. He
learned, that it was 7:10 p. m. when
the fiaaiitiy occurred and that Derby
bad 'turned1 into Park avenue from
Haraover street, and was driving north
near' the middle of the car traeks on
Park avenue ' with the Blue . Ribbon
garage, Fairfield anrenue, as his des
timaition. . ' .- , t
It was eadd by. the driver and sup
ported by the testimony of a witness.
Timothy EX J. Murphy, of 154 Clinton
avenue, who -crossed Just ahead Of the
machine, that as he n eared, the south
east corner of Park avenue and State
street, his oar was traveling at a rate
'hot exceeding 20 .miles per hour and
probably nearer . 15 miles. - Murphy
. rtde: a motorcycle and- was considered
a good Judge of -speed. '
' According to Derby and two boys,
Isidore Chaiken, 40 iState street, and
tMJorrfis XtockOwatz, 759 State street, as
tne wnatmg car crossed, tne mtersect
ing tracks : Derby blew his horn, and
as he approached Rogers, who- stood
between the tracks , in Parte avenue.
about 20 feet north of the State street
. crossing, .Derby blew hs; horn inerfs
tenuyana slowed upwn almost ts a
compe1teijst6p- and" ranso etowly-tbat
the boys could. . easily wallr abreast of
the mtachine-," . ,,-: L , .
. . Sogers was facing ' the wiest to he
either,- lurched , or" stumbled and? fell
directly itn front ' of the ' forward left
muids ' guard - of the mtajchiine which
struck, hint ' in: the left side. - Derby
testified that the instant before -strtk
jingRgers he believed Xtogers intend
ed, wadkiTig away from the path of the
oar and he had again thrown on his
power, wttih .the result that Rogers
fell beneath the iwheel and was run
over before the machine was stopped.
Some - contradiction in blief has
been disclosed by ; Detective , George
Fox, .who secured the witnesses in the
case, as to the matter of am approach
ing car from Brookflfcawn. Dertov is of
the 'belief that the ' car had already
rounded the curve as ." Rogers . was
struck, while the two boys who were
crossing State street diagonally to
wards the lrug store believe it was
still 60 feet distant from Rogers' who
might have easily crossed 'In front of
it. Coroner Phelan betfore closing the
inquest will secure', the testimony of
the motonman. . .
Information has ' been conveyed to
the coroner that the empty flask Rog
ers had may be accounted for In the
fact that he collected such flasks for
sale. It has not been ascertained defi
nitely in which direction- Rogers - at-
' tempted to go or' Why he stood so far
above the crossing. ''.' i
STRATFORD CHURCH
FILLED AT FUNERAL
OF MR. CORNWALL
Many File Past Bier for
Farewell 'View of Fa
" miliar Features :
The obsequies of Rev. Nathaniel
Ellsworth -Connrwall, ' for . : nearly 22
years rector of . Christ church, Strat
ford; were held, this afternoon In the
historic Stratford edifice, "withv an at
tendance that filled the church to
overflowing.
Rt. Rev. Chaumcey B. Brewster, D.
D., bishop of the diocese of Connecti
cut, pontificated, assisted by Rev, Al
exander , Hamilton of "Woodbury, Rev.
E. B. 'Sniff en of Stratford, and Rev.
Allen EJ. Bee man, archdeacon, of Fair
field, '
Following a brief prayer " service at
the rectory, the remains were borne
to the church. . The bearers were se
lected ifrom the wardens and vestry
men of the church, Walter Wilcoxson,
John E. Holmes, George H. Booth,
Charles F. Judson, Gilbert Y. Edwards
and A. DeForest Wheeler.
The' casket of black broadcloth was
imbedded in banks of floral tributes.
The body of the venerable pastor, was
robed in black oassock, white surplice,
and white stole. Mianj of the parish
ioners as well as other fellow towns
men filed past the bier.
. Rev. Mr. Hamilton opened the ser
vices at 2:30. After he had read the
first three sentences, Rev. Mr. Snlffen
read the Psalm. Archdeacon Beeman
read the leeoon, and Bishop Brewster
recited .the creed and invoked the
blessing. The choir sang two hymns.
Following the dismissal of the con
gregation, a guard of honor, selected
from the congregation, remained be
side the coffin, which will Me In the
church until tomorrow morning, when
the remains will be taken to Wood
lawn cemetery, StamXbrd, for toter-aetnt.
NATIONAL HONOR
ACCEPTANCE OF VIEWS HELD-
RY FNRI AN!! -ANli PM7FRS
mm m h m w mat m
Washington, March 5 Immediate repeal of the clause in
the Panama canal bill which exempts American shipping from
payment of tolls for passage through thecanal was urged upon
the members of both Houses of
by President Wilson in person.
on the fact, as claimed by Great Britain and the other powers
of Europe and the world, that the clause contravened the word
ing of the Hay-Pauncefote, treaty and was against the national
honor and reputation for generosity of the United States.
In sustaining his request, the President said:
'.'I, ask this of you in support of the foreign policy of the
administration. ; I shall not know how to deal with matters of
even greater delicacy and nearer consequence if you do not
grant it to me in ungrudging measure."
"' The whole speech, the shortest the president has yet deliv
ered, containing but 420vWords,
Repeal Qf Exemption Clause
Necessary For Nation's Honor
v '"Gentlemen of the Congress:
"I have come to you upon ait errand uliich can be
very briefly performed but I beg that you will not measure
its importance by the number of sentences in which I state
it. No communication I have addressed" to the Conjfress
carries with it graver" or more far-reaching implication-?
to the interest of the country and I come now to speak
ipoh a matter with regard to which I am charged in
peculiar deffree ; by the constitution itself, with personal
.... " --' - -J i- " "v ' - - r . " . " --" - '
. "I have come to ask for the repeal of that provision
of the Panama Canal act of August 24, 1912, which exempts
vessels engaged in the coastwise trade of the United States
from payment of tolls and to urge upon you the justice,
wisdom; and the large policy of such a repeal with the sit
- most earnestness of which I am capable,
f- MISTAKEN ECONOMIC POLICY '
"In my own judgment," very fully oonsidered and ma
turely formed, that exemption constitutes a mistaken econ
omic policy from every point of view and is, moreover, in
plain contravention of the treaty with Great Britain con
cerning the canal concluded on November 18, 1901.
'But I have not come to you to urge my personal
i views. I have come to state to you a" fact and a situation.
- Whatever may be our own differences of opinion con
' cerning this much debated measure, its meaning is not de-
bated outside the United States. Everywhere else the lan
guage of the treaty is given but one interpretation and that
interpretation precludes the exemption I am asking you
, to repeal. ' v - . ' , " ' '
V "We consented to that treaty; its language we accept
ed, if we did not originate it; and we are too big, too pow
erful, too self-respecting a nation to interpret with too
strained or refined a reading -of words of our own promises
just because we have power enough' to give us leave to
, read them as "we please.
v; '''y ;i: DEMANDS FULL CONFIDENCE '
"The large thing to do is the only thing we can afford
to do, a voluntary withdrawal from a position every where
questioned and misunderstood. We ought to reverse'our
action without raising the-question whether we were right
or wrong and so once more deserve our reputation for
generosity and the redemption of every obligation with
, out quibble or hesitation. V '
"I ask this of you in support of the foreign policy of
'the administration. , I shall not 'know how to deal with
' matters of even greater delicacy and nearer consequence
if you do not grant it to me in ungrudging measure."
The1 Panama tolls question
for nearly two. years.: Diplomatic correspondence between'
Great Britain and the United Slates found the question unsettled
when President Taf t left office. ' . ,
Except 'for an assurance to James Bryce, then British am
bassador, when he left, the United States a year ago, that thr;
question would be taken up in the regular session of Congress,
President Wilson has never directed any official communication
to England on the tolls question.
The President recently told callers he had neveV discussed
the matter formally or informally with the British Ambassador
here, Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, because he believed the obligation
on the part of the United States to repeal the exemption clause
was' one. which this government itself should realize without
outside influence or pressure. '
' Administration leaders in both House and Senate have as
sured the P resident that, with the delivery of a message by
liim showing that national circumstances had arisen since the
measure was last debated, the President's suggestion for repeal
would be met with prompt action.
Of 74,000 locomotives Inspected last
year by the Interstate commerce com
mission, more than 48,000 were found
defective.
DEMANDS
m m s nr & a c m m& m Vs m m mm m 'w-
Congress in joint session today
The request was based, he said
is given herewith.
has been a subject of disput
Students of Hopkins academy. Had
ley, Mass., learn -to work concrete e
a regular part of their course In agrl.
culture.