New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
Their Difference in Character

Nothing could more clearly show
the fundamental difference between
President Wilson and Mr.. Hughes
than did the Republican candidates
discussion of the so-called eight-hour
law with hecklers at Sioux City.
That difference is precisely the diff
ference between q man who surren-
dered and q man who refuses to sur
render to anything but facts ascer-
tanned after complete investigation.
President Wilson accepted the
statement Of the brotherhood chiefs
that they would not submit their case
to arbitration. He thereupon made
himself their advocate In their de-
mand for ten hours pay for eight
hours work. When the railroad
executives refused TO comply with
the demand, he recommended legisla-
ton which forced compliance, and
Congress surrendered as he had
done.
The President legislated first and
provided for investigation afterward.
For better or worse, that law is a
part of the statutes, and, as Mr..
Hughes pointed out, there is no pos
sibility of its repeal before it has run
its course and the belated investiga-
ton has been conducted. No mat
ter what the investigation may show,
the members Of the brotherhoods will
have had their raise in pay for sew
eral months. Then the question Will
be reopened. If the report shows
the raise TO be unjustifed at the
present income of the railroads, the
country will have to face the pros
pect Of another general strike, or
agree to a raise in freight rates to
compensate the railroads for contin-
uing this raise to the brotherhoods.
If the investigation should show the
raise to have been justified for the
work done by the men, and within
the income Of the railroads, consid-
ering their expenses for betterment
of service and the like, the Presi-
dents course will have been vindi-
Gated. But it will be a vindication
comparable to that of the gambler
who succeeds in picking the thimble
under which the elusive pea turks.
That is not the way Mr.. Hughes
has done business in the past, and
it is not the way he believes the pub
lies business should be conducted.
"Show me an industrial griev'
ance," he declares, "and / will go II
the very bottom Of it with the desire
that justice shall be done according
to the facts. Show me a grievance
affecting capital, and will 90 to thu
bottom Of it with the desire that
justice shall be done according Il
the facts; but l won't move an inch
for labor or capital before / know
what justice requires"
President Wilson had every oppor
tunity TO bring about investigation
before legislation. The Chamber o.
Commerce Of the United States ap
pealed for an inquiry. Business mer
and commercial bodies all over the
country sent messages TO the Presi
dent and 20 their representatives. II
Washington, urging arbitration Of
the wages dispute, or at the very
least an inquiry by impartial gov
eminent agency. The railroad execu
tives time after time demanded ar
inquiry. The President turned {
deaf ear 10 all. He went into com
munion with himself, to announc,
somewhat later that society sane
toned the eight-hour workday-ant
to force through Congress, with tn
hrotherhoods' help, bill which doe
not by any stretch Of the magma
ton provide for an eight-hour work
day, but only for an increase II
wages.
Whatever society has sanctione'
as TO the number Of hours a work
man should toll in the twenty-four. l
has not yet sanctioned the extortioi
Of money, either by labor or by CAPT
tai, either in wages or in profit, sim
ply by application Of a club. Tha
was what the President connived a
and took part in when the pay-rais
ing bill was janmed through Con
gress while the labor lobbyists ga
in the galleries and held stop-watcl
on the legislators as they voted.
Society has not yet manifested an!
general approval Of that measure
false IT. name as 10 was vicious II
the manner Of It's passage. Rail
road workers themselves are IA
from satisfied with 1t. The brother
hoods number 400 900 engineers, con
ductors and trainmen in their mem
bcrship-about 70 per cent Of tn
great army Of railroad employees Of
ths country RepTesentalyes Of th'