The sun., 1916-09-25

mined later and the money returned
II It were decided that 'the enemy"
ought not TO have II?
lie would have done nothing Of the
sort. He would have used the army
and navy. the entire power Of the
nation to resent the insult and punish
the offender. as he did when Huerta's
soldiers arrested a few sailors for q
few hours ut Tampico.
Our recent "enemy" which de-
manded tribute or the severe punish-
ment Of our people was a domestic
hundred thousand votes. Therefore
the case was different.
The President undoubtedly regretted
the situation; he did not want to see
the people suffer: he did not want to
offend the unions. but he naturally
cast a longing y upon the so.called
labor vote" Again the Democratic
bugle sounded Surrender"
Slowly but firmly the foul railway
brotherhood chieftains pressed upon
the Presidential brow the crown of
thorns and delivered into his trem-
bling hands the cross Of gold. Sixty
millions in tribute Is not a small cross
to bear.
For his friend "thc enemy nc
abandoned the principle of arbitration
to which he and his party were irrev.
ocably committed and for which the
railway officers asked. Apparently II
took but little pressure on the crown
OF thorns to bring the announcement
that arbitration did not apply In this
case.
There was no demand that the work
should be reduced n eight hours n
day. but that ten h. IS pay should be
given for eight hours work; In short.
IA simple demand for an extraordinary
increase In wages. Evidently more
pressure on the crown Of thorns, for
the President announced to the public
that the principle OF the eight hour
working. day was at stake and must he
sustained. In making this
statement Mr.. Wilson lost the moral
and political support Of n vast number
Of friends and far moro votes than
he had gained.
The entire spectacle was made his
torical and complete by the obsequious
attitude OF h Administration toward
It's new masters. who had conde-
scended to hear the President and per.
init him to take their demands to
Congress.
Regardless OF any arrogance or dis
courtesy In their attitude. the Presi-
dent treated them with the most dis
tingu!shed consideration. Congress
hurriedly provided them with head
quarters In the committee room
AT the national Capitol. whence they
could more conveniently weld the
bludgeon over the peoples representa-
tivcs. From the corridors OF this same
temple of liberty respectable citizens.
branded as lobbyists for opposing some
of the Presidents measures. had been
driven with a great blare OF trumpets
W. or three years before. The regu-
lar business OF Congress was sus-
pended. The Administration leaders
We'd with each other IN giving homage
and service to their distinguished
guests with the alleged 400. 900 votes
In hand.
QUESTION: Would similar honors
rave been conferred upon the repre-
sentatives OF the thirty-odd million
bank depositors. policyholders and
other investors who " the railways
and their securities: Were the wishes
of this vast multitude Of owners con.
suited? MOI at all. They were not
organized to act at the polls.
"A fitting climax TO n perfect day."
was the verdict of the President. as re-
ported by the press, when the news
came that the bill had passed. But the
browning act OF these unprecedented
and extraordinary proceedings came
when Mr.. Wilson celebrated the VIC
tory Of his friends 1.-The enemy by
honoring them with the four pens
with which he had signed the con-
tract for the payment Of the tribute"
by the people.
However some good people may de-
pore It and try to evade It. II ISSUE
Is on.
The press has printed copies OF in
structions issued by the members OF
the bro~therhoods to deliver the
goods" The thirty pieces Of silver
are to be paid II possible.
Labor has repeatedly refused to vote
in a body for any candidate. Expert
ence shows that American working
men vote as individuals and free citi-
zens. with few exceptions.
No party leader can deliver" the
union vote or the labor vote in Amer
lea.
Governor Hughes Is therefore not
: swayed by the "union vote terror" He
is not afraid to take the side OF the
submerged $4,000. 900 In the matter Of
the use Of unjust and unlawful force.
He says: II am solicitous tor the i'm
provement Of conditions OF work. but
shall stand unalterably against yield
ing anything to force. The Presidents
surrender In the case OF the mis-
named eight hour bill was an unpar-
donable thing-a shameful thing. II
Is against the spirit of democracy and
absolutely opposed to the best interests
Of labor itself"
This does not spell moral c~owardicc.
These are not the words Of n spineless.
trucking. %vacillating leader. They are
the sentiments OF a leader who knows
how to answer the question: "Shall
the unions or the people rule?"
JOHN HANCOCK. Jr.
New York, September "a.
Ch~An- u~.~ f,~....