New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-18
Declares Public Opin-
ion Would Force
Peace
WINS BIG CROWD
ON LABOR RECORD
Points Out Wilson Did
Nothing When Warned
Crisis Was Near

lYrom 4 stan Correspondent Of The Tnbunel
Sioux City, Iowa, Oct. 17.-Charles Z.
Hughes, answering a heckler who asked
him whether he would repeal the Adam
son eight-hour law if he were elected,
declared that a Surrender cannot be
repealed" Then he told what he would
have done to avert the threatened rail-
way strike.
"If arbitration had been refused" he
said, 81 should have gone right to the
American people, stated the facts and
put the responsibility where 1t be-
longed.
81 should at the same time have Sc
cured a commission Of inquiry so I'M
partial, so fair, as to command the re-
spect of the entire country and direct
ed public opinion to that end. There IS
no group of men in the United States
that would have dared hold up the IN
strumentalities of commerce If that
were done"
Hecklers in rapid succession tonight
gave Mr.. Hughes opportunities to nall
several charges the Democrats have
spread against him in this part OF inc
country. He seized these chances glee-
fully, and his answers won him IN
creased enthusiasm from the 5000 per-
sons in the auditorium.
Wins on Labor Record
The heckling on the Adamson law was
the most sensational of these incidents
Mr.. Hughes had vanquished two pre-
vious questioners who asked him about
his labor record. They stood far of
in the balcony. lie had passed on to a
OF the Adamson law, as a
menacing indication of the tendency OF
the Executive to yield TO force instead
of standing for principle.
"Will you back and back and BACK,
he asked, hoping that somewhere IN
the rear you will get courage enough TO
stand firm for a principle "hen prin-
ciple is involved, stand now. mat Is
the way" ii
"Mr. Hughes" interrupted a well
dressed man standing right down by
the stage wing, "if you were elected
President would you repeal the Adam
son bill?'
Cannot Repeal Surrender"
"My dear sir" retorted Mr.; Husnes'
"you cannot repeal surrender lou
cannot repeal what has been done py
this abdication Of authority, and' iuI-
ther, your question shows that you "a, 40
not fully understand the Adamson Dill.
at goes into effect January L theh
there is a provision that there shail De
observations of its working. SIX months
is the minor period, nine months the
maximum, and then the wages "hicn
are to be upon this new basis shaii
continue to be paid until thirty days
after the report Of the commission
viii Learn Facts First
"Now. sir, this will have been in op.
Grafton for q very long time before !
should even take the executive chair II
elected, and will have completed It's pur-
nose before Congress would have It's
session in the following December. |
do not suppose that any question OF
repeal would be involved, but | do say
that when that question arises, ~ 1t
does arise, il am elected. | will follow
ths principle that / now state and have
lust stated Of sscertaining the exact
facts and what justice would dictate
ought to be done at that time"
4 man then asked: What would you
have done in the eleventh hour TO avert
and forestall the railroad strike T.
Mr.. Hughes WAS warming up to this
kind of campaigning. he made the re-
ply quoted above and tho crowd re-
sponded wildly.
Warning Not Needed
"You would have done all this in
twenty-four hours 7" continued the
heckler.
This was q chance that Mr.. Hughes
reIisbed He walked nearer TO his in
terrogator and said:
"Why, sir, the business men OF the
United States, through the Chamber OF
Commerce Of the United States, on July
20 sent a telegram TO the PRESIDENT
asking for an inquiry. resolution
was introduced in the Senate for an IN
ouiry and was laid on the table: FOR
months the business men OF tho united
States asked for an inquiry as TO TINS
very matter, and the crisis was allowed
TO be developed, when IT was unneces-
sary that il should have been deVel-
oped. and there was adequate time 10
ascertain what the facts were"
Real Progress Republican
Mr. Hughes answered the Presidents
claim that the Democratic party waa
the party Of progress with this asscr
ton: -
at Is perfectly idle for our
opponents 20 pose as the speclai
guardians Of progress. II | were 10
recall at this time the greatest service
that has been rendered in divorcing
business from politics, in securing far
regulation Of public enterprises and IN
tbs interests of labor | should REFER
10 Republican measures passed under
Renublican administrations. which
showed that the Republican party was
trulv a party of correction and a party
Of honorable progress.
Refore the applause died away a
busky voice in the packed balcony
sbonted "By compulsion OF organized
ishorl" Immediately the house WAS IN
tumult. but Mr.. Hughes silenced the
crowd and went on' .,,
Il am very glad to take this oppoI;,
tanity. ns ! am not. perhaps, as well
tnown in Iowa as ! am in New York,
,o ycad what organized labor said OF
nv record in New York when left the
GSvernorship 10 10 upon the bench y
When Mr.. Hughes finished reading
q tbick-set, grny-hsircd man far up