Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-09-28

Organized Labor Resents This pscep-
ton and Running True to Form viii
In November as at Many Previous
Elections Indignantly Smile Those
Who Without Justice Lay Claim to
Ita Gratitude-Even the Much Tout
ed Federal Reserve Law 10 Based
Entirely on the Statistical Research
of a Republican Administration.
That "No class Is more instant than
labor to condemn and punish those
who without foundation lay claim to
its gratitude" is the assertion Of John
Williams. ex-commlssloner OF labor,
nj opos OF certain false claims set
forth by Vance Mccormick, Democrat
ic national chairman, In behalf of his
party.
Chairman Mccormick caused to be
published IN the New York Times, OH
~ 81, an appeal for Progressive and
Dor support, based on twenty
measures enacted by congress while
President Wilson has been In the
White House" and for which he
claims credit for the Wilson admins
tration and asks Progressive approba-
ton. Commenting on this statement,
the former commissioner of labor says:
students and promoters Of sound
social legislation Will do well to exam
inc this list, for It contains number
of items OF unusual interest.
1--WE may well believe that 1t was
with great deal Of pride that Mr.. Nc
Cormlck contemplated the record OF
his party and that he drew vivid
mental picture Of Progresslyes focking
TO the support Of Mr.. Wilson because
of the things claimed on behalf of this
administration.
at is Il pity that IN the interest OF
truth. which knows neither Democrat,
Progressive nor Republican, we must
mar this remarkable statement. New
ertheless II is our duty to call atten-
ton to the fact that In his effort to IN
duce support for Mr.. Wilson the chair
man OF the Democratic national com
mittee has fallen into glazing error.
We. have no desire to disparage the
achievements of the Wilson admins
tration, but we must enter emphatic
protest against any attempt to pad the
record
"Mr. Mccormick claims twenty
measures enacted by congress while
hnr In thn
White House. This claim we dispute.
More than one-half nre measures en-
acted under Republican administra-
ton and were approved by ex-Presi-
dent Taft. and for others the Demo
cratic administration deserves no
credit.
Lest any one think that this is "A
groundess assertion. we herewith fur
nsh the record, which can easily be
verified:
prom among the twenty pieces OF
legislation cited by Chairman McCor
mick select the following:
al Eight hour law on government
work In effect March I, 1913 Signei
by Mr.. Taft,
"t2l Eight hour provision for post
Office clerks In effect generally Aug.
"a, 1912.
"(3) Eight hour provision applicable
to the manufacture of ordnance for the
government. In effect Jan /, 1913.
Signed by Mr.. Taft.
"(D ChiIdren's bureau. In effect
April 0. 1912. Signed by Mr. Taft.
"(5) Industrial commission law to In
vestisatc industrial relations. In effect
Aug. %. 1912 Signed by Mr. Taft.
"(6 The PHOSPHORUS mat h law.
Enacted in 1912, effective MS to the i'm
portation " white PHOSPHORUS matches
July /. 1913. and rs to the manufac-
ture of such matches July /, 1913,
Signed by Mr. Taft
ga The DEPARTMENT Of labor law
creating u department with n secretary
who shall lie a member Of the presi-
dents cabinet In effect March 4, 1913.
Signed by Mr.. Taft.
"(S The parcel post law. In effect
Jan. /. 1913 Signed by Mr. Taft.
tIf It iANttif AtNNih Y law W blNiAf
while passed during this administra-
ton. is based entirely on the vast work
of investigation and compilation done
by the monetary commission during
the Taft administration AMI closely
follows. except in certain details, the
legislation recommended 10y that com
mission.
"1M The eight hour law for the his
trict Of Columbia was fathered aud
put through by Republican, Senator
Ia Toilette.
The antitrust law antedates the
Cleveland administration. although
President Cleveland never enforced Il
From time To time rs with all great
legislative acts. IL has been necessary
to amend OF adj TO It. and the anti
trust law Of the Wilson administration