Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1916-10-06
HUGHES DODGES ISSUE
ON EIGHT HOUR LAW
Attacks Wilson's Plan, but Won't
Say What He Would Have Done.
ONLY WAY TO AVERT STRIKE.


Republican Nominee 10 Asked 70 ps.
clare " He Would Have vstosd ths
Bill With the Certain Assurances of
industrial Disaster TO the Country.
30 busy has been Charles q. Hughes
criticising the deeds of the Wilson ad-
manistration that he has had little
time to tell or has purposeIy evaded
telling the public what he would have
done had he been president under sim
liar circumstances.
Lately Mr. Hughes has turned his
attacks upon President Wilson's sue
cessful settlement Of the crisis In the
railroad world by causing to be passed
by congress the Adamson eight hour
bM- Mr.. Hughes has characterized
this action as surrender to force;r
he Is opposed to being dictated to by
any power on earth before the facts
are known" and he would not act un-
II he had had ''fair Investigation and
candid treatment"
Taking issue with the Republican
candidates attitude, the New York
Times In an editorial asks: sWhas
would Mr.. Hughes have done7"
"Well, what way would Mr.. Hughes
have takenr continues the Times.
What would he have donef Here
was Mr.. Wilson's position: The broth
erhoods refused arbitration; the rail-
road presidents would not accept tho
settlement Mr.. Wilson proposed, grant
ing the eight hour standard day, with
provision for an impartial inquiry into
its working. There was no law on
the statute books to enforce srbitra-
tion.
The president knew, knew with GER
tainty and beyond question, that be
could not get such law from tho
congress now In session. Tho surs
and inevitable alternative TO his 40.
osptancs Of tbs sisht hour standard
day measure was strike, the suspsn.
slon OF railway service, freight and
passenger all over ths country, begin
ming on the morning Of Sept. 4
Would Hughes Have Done its
-Mr. Hughes would not surrender
to anybody in the country. Thsn he
would have surrendered the country 70
the disturbance, unreasonable loss and
peril Of . strike. Would he, In fact,
have done thatf Had he been presi-
dent, confronted by that situation.
would Mr.. Hughes have brought ON
strike by refusing to sign the bill
granting wage increase2
"There was the strike in plain sight,
q few hours away. sure to come.
Would Mr.. Hughes have vetoed the
billf On the contrary, would he not
have done just what Mr.. Wilson did.
sign itf
"The Republican candidate stands
for two things first, for the principle
of fair. impartial. thorough, candid
arbitration, and, second, for legislation
on facts according to the necessities
Of the case Mr.. Wilson stands for
those two things and, much more, has
pledged himself to uss all his Influence
10 secure them.
"What more could Mr.. Hughes dot
Would 4, be too much to ask the Re
publican candidate to put little COM
mon fairness into his speecbes7 IL he
afraid to tell his audiences what the
president actually did urge upon con-
gressf
"As true champion Of arbitration
President Wilson recommended that
arbitration judgments be made records
,f q court Of law In order that their
and enforcement may
not lie with the parties to the dispute,
but with an impartial and authorita-
i've tribunal 1t was his purpose 10
provide against future emergencies TO
what he nearly succeeded In doing In
he White House conferences would
put such face upon the matter that
prevent the recurrence of such dangers
10 then confronted him and the coun-
~. n
s4rhe people Of the United States areI
lot going to be put of with the mis-
as to what the president
lid to avert strike and to prevent the
hreat OF future strikes. We have rea
Ion to believe that the full revelation
II what he did, what he tried to do and
Republican efforts to make an issue OIL
/ would fall entirely fat
Advice to Railroads.
but the people do know. for Il was
before them In the presidents address
70 congress, that hc proposed. not .
Jingle emergency act, but a broad pro
gram Of legislation to meet public
need and permanently remove a public
ianger. 1t was a program which we
IRE convinced the railroads would be
rery wise to accept In its entirety.
Certainly It seems to US that they
ire III advised to pray for the election
II Mr.. HUGHES. who. II we take him al
IFS word. would have brought on the
Itrike, with all its irreparable injuries
o the country's business and peril fox
-.