The Caldwell tribune., 1916-11-03

The second kilograms which I RI
ceived were to vote against compu
sorry arbitration law, and / am wit
them on that proposition, but do ye
know that when you pass law b
which the Congress of the Unite
States fixes your wage or creates
tribunal by which your wage Is fixe
that that is the grst step towards com
pulsory arbitration, and you are boun
to get to II, just as sure as the man
bound to go to the bottom when h
jumps over Niagara Falls.
The President submitted to US tn
third proposition, to-wit: Making
a penal offense, criminal offense, fo
a man to strike during the investiga
ton. What is that but compulsor
arbitration? And yet, my friends,
say to you 1t is logical. The Presiden
fixing wages by the government, tn
government will see that these wage
are lived up to, and for that reaso
/ SHOULD have voted against any fix
ing of wage by any government tribu
nal of any kind whatever, because
leads inevitably to an enforcement G
the wage as the government fixes it.
The President said at Shadow Law
the other evening, and l have his state
ment here upon the desk, that whe
Congress met in December he propose
to see that this provision with refer
ence to making it criminal offens
to strike, and making the decree O
the tribunal a decree of the Court,
carried into effect and made a part O
the law.
1 don't know how you think
about 1T. i want to say to you
that 1 am just as much opposed
to compulsory arbitration as was
opposed to the government of the
United States fixing the wages,
and II the working men of this
country are entering upon the
proposition of the government
fixing the wages, either through
Congress OF tribunal, they will
take the next step which the
President of the United States has
outlined in his message to Con-
gress.
In the first place, therefore, it
Is not an eight-hOur day, but
wage question. In the second
place, it is fixing the wage by
Congress, which in my judgment
1t leads to compulsory arbitra-
ton. In the fourth place, COM
pulsOry arbitration leads to In
voluntary servitude, all OF which
Is un-Amerlcan and contrary to
the best interests of the working
men of this country. (Applause.)
But, my friends, this law expires
Of its own force a few months
after the election. Why should it
be necessary, II you are establish
ing principle as an eight-hour
day, principle of humanity or
justice, as an eight-hour day, for
it to expire in few months? Will
it be any less an act of justice or
humanity in nine months as 1t is
now? You will be precisely in a
year from now where you were at
the beginning, with this excep-
ton, that you will have establish
ed the precedent of government
fixing wages, which 1 venture to
say the working men of this
country will never accept when 1t
is finally understood in all it's con-
sequences.
MEXICAN SITUATION.
Now, my friends, Fastening on.
want to discuss for a few moment
certain phases Of the foreign affairs
the Mexican question. 1 do not desir
to detain you too long. but 1 do no
come often. I want to discuss this
and then shall have told you as lon
as 1 think in good conscience l can.
Will you read another plank from
the Democratic platform adopted a
Baltimore: I'VE pledge ourselve
anew to preserve the sacred rights O
American citizenship at home an,
abroad" A fundamental principle o
government. "The constitutions
rights of American citizens should pro
tect them on our borders and go witt
them throughout the world, and ever,
American citizen residing or having
property in any foreign country |
entitled to and must be given the full
protection of the United States govern
ment, both for himself and his prop
erty."
believe in every word, sylla-
BILE, phrase and sentence of that
platform. The government of the
United States is under obligation
to protect its citizens and their
property SO long as they owe al
legience to the Republic, upon
whatever part of Gods footstoOl
they may stray. (Applause.)
That Is the Mexican platform. Il
discussing this Mexican question,
am going to deviate from the bette
rules of public discussion to a certai
extent by referring, in a brief way t
my own attitude upon this question
l do SO not for the purpose of exhibit
ing any supposed wisdom which ma
be contained in it, but for the reaso
that 1 do not think 1t would be fai
for a man that has had the honor t
be member of the foreign relation
committee of the Senate to sit idl
by and be silent while the Presiden
was dealing with such an importan
question, and make no suggestion O
principle or proceeding and then afte
the history has been written to criti
else 1t. I would deem myself estoppe
in this campaign from Offering an
suggestions now had I sat entirel
silent as member of the foreign rela
tions committee while in the heat o
this controversy and had not spokel
when i was under obligation to speak
1t is for this reason that I refer t
some matters concerning myself, j.
order to place me in a fair attitud
before this audience.
AS stated, / have had the honor O
being member of the foreign rela
tions committee of the Senate for tn
last six years, and all these question
come Immediately before our commit
tee. During the early struggle witt
the Mexican question, at time whel
they were seeking to get rid of Huerta
the President invited the foreign rela
tions committee to the White Hous