The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-27
Tralnmen Should Heed.

All the TailrOaQ trainmen and organ
ICED labor Of every class has to do TO
got the right angle on the Adamson
bill. and Just how It took away from
lamor unions their rights TO decide
matters for themselves, even II they
have to strike to do so, Ia to note thai
certain railroad presidents have al
ready come out and endorsed the Adam
son bill, among these the presidents
OF the big Erie and Southern Pacific
systems. The wonder is that they let
their statements get away before cleo
ton. for the fact that railroad presi-
dents, who had fought for arbitration.
now endorse the Adamson law, ia in
Itself enough to cause railroad brother
hood members to look a little deeper
intothe law itself, and the four recon-
mendations which Wilson sent to Con-
gress with II, which he says he will
put through Congress at the next ses-
sion.
Ever since Hughes started out on his
campaign following the passage OF the
Adamson bill, he has been trying to
show the brotherhoods themselves and
all labor that they had been handed
lemon by the president and Congress.
He has persistently told labor that he
favors an eight hour day for AL labor
where this is possible but he just as
persistently attacked the Adamson bill
because while it is called an eight
hour bill" II does not give the train
men eight hours at all, while al the
same time it takes away from the
brotherhoods the right of collectively
bargaining and vests in Congress
precedent Of power which gives Con-
gress the right to regulate labor,
whether for hours OF work or for
wages-certainly the thing labor in
this country never has asked for and
never wants to see in force. Adamson,
the author Of the bill which bears his
name, himself. gave out an interview
a few days ago In which he said that II
labor did not follow the provisions of
the bill Congress would take hold Of
the whole matter and regulate IL"
This statement. and the statements
Of the president Of the railroad systems
should be enough 10 convince the
brotherhoods and all laboring men
that Hughes Is right now doing as he
was when he was governor OF New
York. and when he was the leader in
the regulation OF the big insurance
companies, namely. fighting for the
real rights Of the labOrinC classes. lie
will be the more admired from now ON
because he did not shrink from taking
an open stand on a measure which
seemed 70 many right at the time the
Adamsan bill was passed. to be the
shrewdest political trick Wilson had
ever played. and one which many
'hou"ht had lost Hughes votes. Hughes
saw the real disadvantage to labor in
Ne Adamson hill when many others
did not He risked the heckling Of
labor in man cities 10 explain to labor
Ing men just how they had been trick
ed, and deceived. hui he will be all the
stronger by November :. because he
was not afraid TO speak out.
Thousands OF railroad brotherhood
men saw the lemon inside the Demo
cratic balloon which had gone up from
the very first day the bill wen,
through Congress- and was signed by
Wilson, and every day adds to the our
crv warning labor Of its harmful pro-
visions. Railroad presidents now rush
in 10 say that II is good thing II is
for tho railroad presidents. and man
ayers. for they want nothing in this
world more than to see the power OF
the union as heretofore exercised
turned over to regulation by Congress.
Not only would this be the deathknell
10 organized labor on the railroads. but
II Congress can regulate the unions in
Interstate traffic on railroads. the
states can regulate labor unions In
coal mining, mills and factories; and
II Congress can regulate the unions
on the trains It can regulate every 9th
er trades assembly and laboring union
in the land.
Republican administrations never at
tempted anything quite so harmful to
labor. Republicans instead have
fought for protective tariff to keep