The sun., 1916-09-03

= 80 'ifAN ~ wac tll''' ''N bt'''
a comprehensive discussion and con
sideration Of this entire question in good
faith for the purpose OF arriving at an
Intelligent conclusion, these men VINO
are operating the trains of the country
would have acceded and accepted the
good faith OF Congress in that respect.
will o tell me that the men who
now hold the respect Of their neighbors.
who now minsle with the best people
OF their respective communities, who are
each day entrusted with the property
and lives Of hundreds of thousands Of
u people. men who occupy positions of
exceptional trust and fidelity. would
not have accepted from the Executive
OF the United States and the Congress
the declayation that we were entering
upon this matter with the fullest intent
TO solve II, n that they would no.
have postponed the calamity?
Strike Leaders "Mistaken."
mo severer indictment could be drawn
against the patriotism and the character
and intelligence of these men tina TO
have said that. Notwithstanding this as
.surance, they would decline to give the
powers OF the country time to pass
upon this question and rather than do
80 would enter into n state ar anarchy.
Mr.. President. they would not have done
so. and these men who say they were
powerless to call Of the strike are mis-
taken.
Proceeding as we do now" added
senator Botah. " are acting with
Information. without facts. We know
nothing about these wages. and their
relationship with other wages. I would
IKE TO ask how many legislators can
legislate without facts upon which TO
form an opinion. unless We assume that
We legislate by reason of the dic;a-
ton OF another power.
Il for one. want to know before ]
vote to increase freight rates-for tina,
Is what this means-what are the in
comes Of the corporations. how is the
money 10 be obtained. inc what does
II mean to the people I represent. as well
as to union labor.
III We are up against the proposition
that We are yielding 70 the dicta,ion II
direction OF these men. then indeed the
Congress Of the United states has me,
the crisis OF Its whole history.
III. indeed. we are met here with a
demand which We cannot postpone. which
we nus execute without information
and. most Of all. sir. which We propose
to execute without information. then
indeed the spirit Of the fathers has de-
parted n the halo which has hung
about this chamber through more than
n century past. will soon be dissolved"
Kenyon Explains Negative Vote.
Senator Kenyon. Iowa. another Pro-
eressive Republican. took a strong stand
against tho legislation. He said:
This question should be decided in
a spirit Of patriotism and not partisan
ism decided by a consideration Of the
question as to how II will affect the good
OF the greatest number and not by q
consideration Of how many votes 1t will
affect
Il vote against this bill for two rca.
sons: First. II does not give the men
what II purports to. II IL not an eight
hour day bill. II is a mere. temporary
makeshift hat leaves them at the end OF
nine months In the same condition they
are at present. II IL in ny Judgment q
sham. q fraud and q humbug. Second
l vote against It because Congress hal
had no opportunity to consider It's effec'
or to investigate the facts upon which
the legislation for a proposed ten houI
pay for an eight hour day 10 based.
mo opportunity Is given to conside,
It's relationship and effect upon the wage,
OF others or as to whether the burden |,
to be passed On to the shippers and Vol
sumers Of the country. or can be saved
by economical railroad management
The verdict Of the future. especially labo,
itself. will In my Judgment verify tn,
statement that the best friends of labo
to-day are the men who oppose the pas
sage OF the BILL"
Vardaman Calls II "Anaeathetic.'
Senator vardaman. Democrat. Missls
sippi. declared the proposed Legislation
was "an anmsthe.ic." temporary. ant
would have TO be followed In Decembe
by legislation shat will place this mat
ter Of wage disputes In the hands Of dis
Interested parties"
Senator Mclean. Connecticut. Republi
can. said the proposed legislation wa
the worst form OF socialism"
Senator Jones. Washington. Republi
can. warned the labor organizations.
III we can settle one controversy b,
raising wage we can settle another b,
lowering them" said he. "If we cal
compel the employers 10 pay more In on,
case to settle this controversy, there |
no reason why we cannot require the Ia
borers TO accept n lower wage II reces
sary. to settle another that mag arise II
the future. This Is a bad precedent
! The principle we are asked to apply !
the same In both Cases"
After declaring that Congress was ''be
ing impelled to legislate by n threat.
Seantor Sherman Of Illinois. Republican
said.
II will either serve as a Senator IRE
from dictatlon or I will not serve at nj
I had rather be a dog n bay at N
moon than TO submit to such dictation.
Legislation has fallen 10 a low de
gree" added Mr.. Sherman. "f we ar
ready 80 servilely to abandon Il du;.
American politics would seem 10 has
reached the point where the few COVER
and not the many"
"a Petty Bargain for Politics."
The President. senator Sherman sale
had made "a petty bargain for pol!tic
on the eve Of election" He referred
a telegram he received from a thu
atrical organiza ton. the White Rats. !
Chicago. urging him to oppose compu
sorry arbitration.
And now It Is the White Rats I
whom we must bend the knee" said N
Senator from Illinois. "If We leRisla'
for the hremen, the engineers and IN
b%rakemen, why should we not iegisia,
for the actors at the behest OF the Whit
Rats? We must legislate for all. fro'
the transformer to the genius who po
trays human passion"
=. Sentaor Hardw!ck declared Congre.
was being held up by the throat mr.
compelled to legislate. He said It WI
deplorable and discreditable and th'
Congress sought 10 legislate In a way
; prevent n recurrence or II.
Published charges and intinatior
= that politics had entered into the ena =
: ment OF an eight hour day bill lto-da
/, aroused Chairman Adamson OF Il
House Committee on Interstate Cor
p,arce author Of the House bill,