The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-10-02
INTERESTS OF THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES
HAVE NOT BEEN PROTECTED IN EITHER MEXICO OR
IN THE EUROPEAN WAR-STRONG INDICTMENT.

I specifically took the view that be-
fore: final action was taken on the
points as issue, We must have full in
formation, given to the public and the
representatives Of the public by an un-
biased body after thorough study
of the situation: that the power OF
the Government must be used 10 make
effective the findings OF this body, and
that. pending its finding. the work OF
mining must go on, because the public
need so demanded: and that therefore
l would use the entire power OF the
nation to see that the work went on,
that there was an arbitration by dis
passionate experts, and that the con-
clusionS of this arbitration were ac'
cepted. When the mine owners, back.
ed by the most powerful financial IN
.tereSts in New York. refused to arht-
trate, | proceeded 10 appoint an arbl-
tration commission without regard 70
them, and l secured the assent of a
political opponent. Mr. Cleveland, an
eN-President of the United States, 10
serve as head of that commission. |
saw the Lieutenant-Gcneral Of the
Army, and arranged with him that, 4
necessary, / would put the army IN
possession of the mines and would
u CcI 14lii S1o 'AC lCNSANSI ~ uit SAN
mines. and to see that neither side in
terfered with the running. Fortunate
ly. when it became evident that |
would put my program through at no
matter what hazard or difficulty, :he
hazards and difficulties both vanished,
and | was able TO secure an agree
meEt for Arbitration and for the re-
turn of the: men to work pending the
result Of the arbitration.
Believes in Unions.
believe In abor unions. But be-
lieve first anu foremost in liberty and
Justice ob:ailcd through the Union 10
which all OF, Us belong. the union OF
ali .he people OF the United States. 1
believe in the eight-hour day as the
general rule toward which we must
strive: but recognize that special
needs must be nct in special indus
tries: and thar in all such cases there
must be very careful consideration of
all the conditi3ns BEIGE nina! action
is ,taksnsrefn nSfIis> >case, <however, the
eight. hour day is not the issue. The
issue IS an increase of wages. given by
law. without previous investigation or
knowledge. The principle Oh The
ei"ht-hour day is not at issue and IS
adriotiy invoked merely 10 cloak The
real issue.
Eight hours may be the outside limit
OF proper work time III Mr. FOrd'$ fac
tory. where ne man is all the time
working at just one thing intcnsively,
and without vacation: but eight hours
that Includes periods CT doing nothing
but sit around. and also change Gf oc-
cupation. may not De long enough.
Moreover there are occupations Of in
termi;tcnt activity where to limit the
total time on duty in any one day TO
eight hours would be an absurdity;
and there are others where excessive
activity on one day is compensated for
By complete leisure on the daTs
The case at issue is preemincntly
one that comes in the category OF
those that can be settled only after
careful investigation and full consid-
Grafton of many important conflicting
elements. believe in the eiCht-hour
day. on moral and sociological grounds
AS being the ideal towards which we
should strive. | believe in wages be-
ing just rs high in any business as is
compatible with square treatment to
the other parties in iterest. But if the
Government is TO intervene in order
to secure shorter hours and better
wages il must do so only after full
knowledge and not merely under the
duress OF threats. Moreover the issue
must be honestly stated. Tho govern
ment must not be used really TO get
higher wages. when the nominal and
surface demand seems to be for fewer
hours of labor 1t appears that what
in this case is demanded is not really
a day Of eight hours labor. but high
or rate OF pay for the eight hours, or
a higher rate of overtime pay beyond
eight hours. In other words it is not a
law to limit hours OF labor in the sense
thar we USE in speaking Of an eight
hour day for women, or an eiSht-hour
law for three shifts in continuous in
tluStry. II IS primarily bill to secure
an advance in wages; the securing Of
an eight-hour day is wholly secondary,
and as regards many employees would
probably not be brought about or de-
sired.
Public Has Rights.
When any labor trouble becomes of
such size as To involve the public. the
public has right to interfere. to in
SiSt that there shall be no interference
with the welfare and safety Of the pub
lie. and therefore TO insist on arbitra-
tion. that is, for just decision by the
Government, after an investigation
conducted through Il commission
which will get all the facts and lay
them before the Executive and Legis-
latiye representatives of the public for
what action they deem necessary.
These were the principles which by
actual decd. when | was President, I
upheld in the teeth of violent opposi-
tion from the most powerful corpora
tions in the land, representing the en-
ployers' interest. The opposition of
these great employing corporations
was asserted in every possible way
against me throughout the period
when l held pubic office or was can
didate for public office. absolutely
disregarded it. because thought that
only by disregarding it could | do my
duty to the country. In just the same
way. and from just the same motives,
| shall now disregard any opposition
By the representatives of misguided
labor unions to the principles which I
then put into effect, and which they
then a2plauded ne for putting into
effect AS I said when ! was Presi-
dent, I believe that the welfare of the
laboring man with the sole exception
of the welfare of the farmer. is more
important 70 this country than the
welfare OF any other citizen; | shall
do all can TO secure his permanent
we1fa ru. 7 shall do everything in NV