Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-09-02
THE EIGHT-HoUR LAW

OF the elSht-nour legislation
which President Wilson is forcing
through Congress. Conservative rail-
readers who have made a study of the
proposed law are themselves doubtful
of its constitutionality. They believe
that it is in the nature of makeshift
and the comment is widespread that
the Presidents activity in securing this
legislation has not been so much
prompted by devotion to the eight
hour principle as by an overweening
desire to further his own political am
bitions.
1t is intimated that the law is likely
to fail in a constitutional test before
the Supreme Court, in which event the
great railroad brotherhoods will be
compelled to make their fight all over
again under aggravated conditions.
President Wilson cannot escape the
suspicion that politics has had more to
do with events of the past week at
Washington than real interest for the
welfare of the railroad trainmen. He
has been openly accused of insincerity,
and the fact that the proposed meas
ure applies to only limited number
of the millions of employees Of inter-
state public utilities has weakened the
confidence of the people in the honesty
of his attitude toward the great indus
trial principle involved.
Naturally, there will be discomfort
among the army of railway employees
who are not benefited by the law
These will not be able to discern spe-
cial merit in legislation which pro-
vides a day of eight hours for one
class of railroad men while falling to
recognize the justice of extending the
same benefits to themselves. This is
the most unfortunate defect of the
law, from the standpoint of the rail-
roader who is outside the pale of the
proposed eight-hour regulation. Thou
sands of railroad men will rejoice, per-
haps, in the recognition of the eight
hour principle, but they will regret
that its application is so limited in its
scope, especially in view of the fact
that President Wilson just as easily
could have induced Congress to adopt
avoid a probable controversy in the
courts, with the possibility that the
whole law will break down on consti-
tutional grounds.
1t will be contended by those who
are urging the reelection of Presi-
dent Wilson that he has achieved i'm
portant results for the railroad men
in the present crisis. but the fact that
not be overlooked among unbiased
and thoughtful men that all signs have
pointed to partisan political activity
throughout the discussions at WASH
to establish upon firm foundations an
enduring principle that would stand
the test of time. 1t is believed that
the legislation now being forced
through Congress is a postponement
rather than a final adjustment of the
controversy between the railroad COM
panies and the four big brotherhoods.
One cannot escape the conviction that
the whole purpose and motive of the
Presidents program in this matter
have been actuated by a desire to de-
fer the conflict until after election day.
OF course, his supporters will insist
that no such thought was in his mind,
but the attending circumstances of the
spectacular conferences at the White
House lead to the inevitable conclusion
that the interests of the railroad men
were not so much under consideration
as were the political interests of Pres
ident Wilson and the Democratic
party.
OF course, 1t will be the sincere hope
of the public at large that the Iegisla-
ton proposed will be the forerunner of
lasting industrial peace, but the man
ner of its enactment and the large
doubt as to its constitutionality make
that prospect far from bright.