South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-14
g. Efforts To
Discredit Work of
Congress, Farcial
Rr willis s. THOMPSON.

Seeking 20 make as little favora bic
comment as possible on the work OF
the congress which has just adjourn
ed. the indianapolis News admits
that not since the civil war times
has congress been as busy as during
the Wilson administration" Still
further the same editor says that
taking the records as a whole, IL
must be said that congress has dealt
with many subjects of very great
Importance The amount Of work
done is remarkable. II certainly has
not been a do-nothing congress"
An attempt is made TO belittle all
the good things they- have accom-
plished, but even the belittling pro-
cess is an admission that some OF the
laws were excellent. The worst the
editor can possible do is 10 assign
selfish motives. For instance. the
editor says, the tariff commission
and child labor bills, both undemo-
cratic in principle, were passed as
bait 10 the progressive voters"
Here the editor should have re-
cited from speeches of Candidate
Hughes in which he pronounces his
opposition TO child labor legislation,
which may be why Albert jeremiah
Beveridge, advance agent of child
labor legislation, advocates Hughes.
The farmers credit act" says the
editor, was designed to beguile the
farmers. and the employees compen-
sation act 70 have a similar effect on
the wOrkingman" Still further the
editor says. of course, much of this
legislation is meritorious, but il is
doubtful If the democratic majority
would have violated party principle
TO such an extent if there had not
been an election pending. We are to
have a tariff commission and il is 10
be hoped better roads as "a result of
the new roads law"
The Indianapolis News and the
indianapolis Star can neither of
them quite recover from the shock
received when congress passed the
eight-hOur law. They pretend 10 re-
fleet the outraged sentiment of a
business and commercial community
on this subject AS the New York
World expressed il at the time of the
passage Of this law when chambers
of commerce were imploring con-
gress not to take this action, ii a
strike should occur as the result of
non-actiOn on the part of the admin
stratiOn there would not be ears
enough in the nation TO hear the
screams of the same chamber of
commerce, manufacturers associa-
tiOns and their individual member
ships, when the business of the
whole country was paralyzed and
more than half Of these individuals
millions of people were thrown out
of work for weeks or months"
While Pres't Wilson and congress
were wrestling with this most serious
situation which has confronted the
country in many years. candidate
Hughes and his smaller Indiana
state echoes were very calm. Not
one Of them had a thing 10 suggest
that would assist. When the final
settlement was made II was all
wrong. Still not one OF these high
minded patriotic candidates has yet
suggested what he would have done
if placed in a position of responsible
ity. Mr.. Hughes has been asked il
he would have vetoed the eight hour
bill if il had been presented 10 him
as president He has not answered.
He has been asked if he should be
elected president. with a republican
congress. would he recommend the
repeal OF this law. He ignores the
question entirely
Mr.. Hughes is also proclaiming
very loudly that he would take nc
action unless he first thoroughly in
vestigated. What investigation has
he made of the eight hour law that
ne so vigorously denounces it's pro-
visions. He even ignores the fact
that the law itself is the most prac-
teal investigation Of its workings
that could possibly de devised. pro
vision being made for a full report
to congress on its evils or virtues al
the end of six or nine months.
Republican national leaders are
now regaling the country with
speeches. maintaining that the re-
publican victory in Maine is an ex-
preston Of the people against the
eight hour day The republican
victory in the nation. as they view
it. will be accepted as a national re-
pudiation of the eight hour law. and
in this respect will be a guide 10 the
president and congress 10 move
backward on the question.