Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-10-06
H,Ii;f,ES {)l).,l;ES 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 to Dc.
clare If He Would Have Vetoed the
Bill With the Certain Assurances OF
industrial Disaster to the Country.
So busy has been Charles 2. Hughes
cEiticising the deeds Of the Wilson ad-
ADMINISTRATION that he hes had little
time to tell or has purposely evaded
telling the pubic what he would nave
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
iby congress the Adamson eight hour
ibN. Mr.. Hughes has characterized
this action as surrender to forces;
ne Is opposed to being dictated to by
any power on earth before the facts
are known" and he would not act un-
Il he had had a "fair investigation and
candid treatment -,..-s~-<se.-.'--,-,
/ Taking issue with the Republican
candidates attitude, the New York
Times In an editorial asks: "What
would Mr.. Hughes have done?"
"Well. what way would Mr.. Hughes
have taken?' continues the Times.
s'What would he have done? Here
was MI. Wilson's position: The broth.
|erhoods refused arbitration; the rail-
road presidents would not accept the
settlement Mr.. Wilson proposed, grant
Ing the eight hour standard day, with
provision for an impartial inquiry Into
llts working. There was no law on
lthe statute books to enforce arbitra'
tion.
'AThe president knew, knew with GER
ltainty and beyond question, that he
could not get such law from the
congress now in session. The sure
and inevitable alternative to HE 40.
esptanes Of the eight hour standard
day measure was q strike, the suspsn.
sien Of railway service, freight and
passenger, al over the country. Begin
ming on the morning Of Sept. 4.
Would Hughes Have Done it7
"Mr. Hughes would not surrender
Ito anybody in the country. Then no
would have surrendered the country 60
sle disturbance, immsasurabIs loss and
lperil o. q strike. Would he, in fact.
have done that? Had he been presi-
dent, confronted by that situation,
would Mr.. Hughes have brought on .
strike by refusing to sign the bill
granting a wage increase?
"There was the strike In plain sight.
h few hours away, sure to come.
Would Mr.. Hughes have vetoed the
Ibnl1 On the contrary, would he not
have done just what Mr.. Wilson did.
Isign It?
ssThe Republican candidate stands
for two things-.first, for the principle
of fair, impartial thorough, candid
arbitration, and second, for legislation
ION facts according to the necessities
of the case Mr.. Wilson stands for
ehoss two things and, much more, has
Iplsdaed himself 60 use all his influence
20 secure them.
ssWhat more could Mr.. Hughes do?
Mould ! be too much to ask the Re
tpublican candidate to put little COM
mon fairness into bis speeches? 10 he
afraid to tell his audiences what the
|president actually did urge upon con-
lGress?
sAs q true champion Of arbitration
President Wilson recommended that
arbitration judgments be made records
be q court Of Law in order that their
Interpretation and enforcement may
not lie with the parties to the dispute,
bat with an impartial and authorita'
dive tribunal It was his purpose to
provide against future emergencies to
what he nearly succeeded In doing IN
khe White House conferences woulo
nut such a face upon the matter that
nrevent the recurrence Of such dangers
q then confronted him and the coun
Try.
s.The people of the United States are
not going to be put OF with the mis-
information as to what the president
ala to avert strike and to prevent thu
threat of future strikes. We have rea
pon to believe that the full revelation
e What he did what he tried to do anf