West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-09-28
In Speech Before Large Gathering
OF Representative Business Men
President Wilson Clearly States
HIS Views Regarding Measure
Asked Passage Because Right

ASBURY PARK. n. j., Sept. %
From his porch at Shadow Lawn, in
his first address since he accepted re-
nomination. President Wilson this af-
tclnoon declared the eight-hour rail-
road law had been enacted not because
the railroad men demanded IL but be-
cause 1t was right.
Answering Republican candidate
Hughes claim that the facts" should
have been ascertained before the bill
became law. the President asserted
that no facts could be ascertained un-
I'll the law had been put into opera
ton and Its workings observed by the
commission appointed.
The railroad executives. il develop
ed from a detailed account Mr.. Wilson
furnished OF his negotiations with
them and labor heads. set up a con-
t~ltion similar to that OF MIR. Hughes
To th"m the President recalled he had
said:
"A"d are asking that the result of
the eight-hour day be predicted and
asking for an arbitration OF a conjec-
ture, OF an opinion. OF a forecast OF
the figures OF experts based upon an
entirely different experience, and II
you were to ask me personally to ar
bstrate such a question. l would say
that | am not competent to arbitrate
It,"
f. wilson, who talked TO upward
OF 1000 persons. mostly business men
O. h.s native state. headed by the New
Jersey Branch of the National Busi-
l'css Mons League, fortified his argu-
hicit hy reference TO the s0=cent gas
las passed by the New York legisla-
tt.e. II was carried TO the United
States Supreme Court on the ground
q ~ t was coniscatory legislation.
The court. Mr. Wilson explained. told
"A gas companies:
Nobody can tell until you try to
manufacture gas at 80 cents whether
IL Is confscatory or not"
Other points made by the President
IN behalf Of the eight. hour law were
that the principle of such law was
not arbitrable; that labor is not com
modify, but "a form OF cooperation"
that he asked Congress to enact the
law regardless of whether either side
to the controversy favored IL. and that
Congress. in the supplemental legisla-
ton to come next session, will do equal
justice.
These men," said the President.
referring to the railroad executives
and the employees. were dealing with
one another as II the only thing to
settle was between themselves, where
as the real thing to settle was what
rights had the hundred million peo-
pie of the United States"
Mr.. Wilson intimated that in the fu-
ture the public. which was the main
partner" in the negotiations. would
hav much more to say, although in
the past it had frequently been left
out of the reckoning.
In a passing reference to the Fed
eral Reserve Act, the President said
II had taken the shaekles from the bus
iness men and "apprlsed you that you
are no mems servants" He added:
Reaction In this matter would shut us
up like a province"
The enthusiasm accorded the Pres
ident's detailed explanation OF his
handling Of the eight-hour law and
settlement OF the threatened strike led
his political advisers tonight to urge
further discussio nof the issue in a
speech to be made during the next
tive weeks
PRESIDENT WILSON'S SPEECH
''Mr. Chairmen. gentlemen of the
Business Mems League, ladies and
gentlemen need not tell you what
q sense of qualification It gives me
that you should come bearing this
generous message which I have just
heard from your chairman. There is
a sense in which the business men OF
America represent America because
America has devoted herself time out
of mind to the arts and achievements
81 peace, and business IS the organiza
tlon Of the energies OF peace NO one
American business at the present mo-
ment can fail to realize that new
breath and spirit have come into the
business OF America
There have been times when Il
looked as n America we're interested
only in herself. but in these recent
years American business men have
lifted their eyes 10 more distant hori-
ssns and have seen how the markets
OF the world were waiting for their
service; and as they have sought and
obtained entrance into these markets
q new vision had come TO them. OF
what the development OF the resources
OF America means; OF what the organ.
ization OF American efficiency means
Of why Il was that American mer-
snsnts and American manufacturers
and American miners and ali the mul.
titude Of men who have developed the
peaceful industries OF America were
planted under this free policy in or.
der that they might look out upon the
service Of mankind and perform II.
There never was a time when the
pulse Of energy and success beat 80
strongly in the veins OF American bus.
mess a. n beats today, and yet I hops
that ali business men Ia America real
ize that we are only at the heginnins