The sun., 1916-10-15
Not Futile for . Cleveland,

NJ Wilson announced that Il was
futile to stand firmly against these
improper demands. IL would not have
been futile II a Democrat of the stamp
OF Andrew Jackson or Grover Cleve-
land had been President. The futility
inferred solely IN Mr.. Wilson himself.
II President Wilson had stood by the
honor and the interests Of the United
States In this matter IL he had insisted
upon a full investigation before action
II he had insisted upon arbitration and
had ~nnounced that II there was any
attempt to tie up the traffic of the
United states he would use the entire
power OF the United States TO keep the
arteries of traffic open. I would have
applauded him and supported him. But
to take such action needed courage. IL
needed dislnterestedness. 1t was neces-
sary that the mar taking It should put
duty TO the nation first and political and
personal considerations last. What
President Wilson did was to permit the
overriding Of Justice by appeals TO
brute force.
He says that II would have been 'fu-
tile to show courage and stand up for
the right. From the standpoint of the
nation the worst type OF futility in a
President Is TO fail to stand up for the
right. President Wilson felt IL was
futile to oppose these men exactly as
President Buchanan. his spiritual for
bear, felt In 1860. that 1t a futile to
oppose secession. That type Of futility
gives the real measure Of the man who
practises II. What Buchanan considered
futile Lincoln made heroic.
Il champion Mr.. Hughes as against
Mr.. Wilson because In every such ca isis
Mr.. Wilson by his public acts has
shown that he will yield TO fear. that he
will not yield to Justice whereas the
public acts Of Mr.. Hughes have proved
him to- be Incapable of yielding In such
u crisis TO any threat. whether made by
politicians. corporations or labor lead
ers.
Labor leaders who are shor,slghted
may at the moment get from n man
In public Office who IL not sctuated by
Justice more than from a man who is
actuated by Justice. But the laboring
people as a whole cannot afford to ac-
cept such gains. II unjust legislation is
given them for improper reasons then
unjust legislation against them may be-
enacted for improper reasons. More
than any other people In the country the
wage workers should insist on lust and
fair action. There Is grave reason to be-
lieve that in the course President VIII
son has followed he did violence to his
w real convictions. Until he BEGAN,
q candidate for Office he was n bitter
~ungenerous and often unjust critic OF
labor unions"
Tells of Wilson'S Criticism.
The Colonel here gave numerous ex,
cerpts from Mr.. Wilson's speeches and
books In which labor and labor unions
were criticised.
"Since he went into politics." continued
Col. Roosevelt. "he has again and again
necessarily and continuously, reverse,
himself on what he had professed TO b.
his deepest convictions prior to cnterin,
politics. and In each case the
change Of conviction agreed with VIVA
at the moment seemed to be his politica
interest.
III IT is alleged that President Wilson
has been actuate only by principle 1,
connection with the Adamson law, the,
ask why he has failed to apply IN,
same principle TO the railway pos,a
clerks. where he has full power. Esti
mating six days to the week, these posta
clerks operating between New York an,
Pittsburg are required to run 2O5 mile
a day (for the present Administrative,
has reduced the number OF crews from
six to fve). whereas the present train
men y agreement requires only 1855 mile
"A day. which Ii 10 he reduced stili fur
tl,er by the Adams"n lnw tt" only pos
sible explanation of Mr.. Wilson's action
In me case and i~nac,iou in the other Il
case where the Government has fuitcon