The sun., 1916-10-01

usually md In some OF his words an out
limo Of the position we ought to have
taken; but almost without exception,
these fine words have had tho meaning
wcaseled out Of them by other words;
and usually there have been no deeds
whatever. Take. as an instance, the
question OF preparedness, and OF the
means necessary to secure II. In the
fourteen months extending from Dec. s.
1914. to Feb. 10. 1916. there were fifteen
messages. letters m speeches Of Presi-
dent Wilson which I have read. In
these fifteen messages. letters and
spt shes, during those fourteen months.
Irs .ident Wilson took forty-one different
positions about preparedness and the
measures necessary 10 eecure II: and
each OF these forty-one positions contra
dicted from one to six OF tho others.
I'm many OF his speeches the weasel
words of one portion of the speech took
all tho meaning out Of tho words used
In another portion Of mat speech and
these latter words themselves had n
weasel significance as regards yet other
words. He argued for preparedness, and
against preparedness.
when tho President argued every
which way, and stood on every side OF
every proposal. 1t vas no wonder that
Congress vas puzzled. Public opinion
wat hot led by the President. He fol-
lowed It In sharp zigzass. now in n
direction. n now In another. as he be-
llcvcd 1t at tho moment to be going.
Eight Hevr Law . Test.
Il ask you to test the character and
courage OF Mr.. Hughes and Mr.. Wilson
by comparing their. attitudes a regards
tho demands Of the Railway Brother
hoods. which eliminated recently In the
t,,ic,allAd ntDhN hAta An AZ
Washington.
II believe In labor unions. But I be-
lievc first and foremost In liberty and
justice obtained through the Union to
which all OF US belong. tho union of all
tho people of tho United States. be-
love In the eight hour day Us the general
rule toward which we must strive but
I recognize that special needs must DO
met In special industries; and that In
all such cases there must be very care
full consideration Of all the conditions
before n action Is taken. In this case.
however, tho eight hour day Is not the
issue. The issue IL an increase Of wages,
given by law. without previous invest!-
cation or knowledge. The principle OF
the eight hour day is not at Issue and
Is adroitly invoked merely to cloak the
real issue.
Tho ease at Issue r. preem!nently
ono that comes In the category OF those
that can be settled only after careful
investigation n full consideration OF
many important conflicting elements. I
believe In the eight l,our day, on moral
and sociological! grounds. as being tho
idea, toward which we should strive.
believe In wages being just as high
in any business as Is compatible with
square treatment to tho other parties
In interest. But II the Government is to
intervene In order to secure shorter
hours and better wages II must do 80
only after full knowledge and not merely
' ader tho duress OF threats.
Must state Issue Honestly.
Moreover the Issue must he honestly
stated. Tho Government u not be
used ally to get higher age when
the nominal n surface demand seems
to be for fewer hours OF labor. II ap-
pears tina what In this case Is de-
, rnanded is not really II day OF eight
hours labor, but a higher ratio OF pay
for tho eight hours. or u higher rate oi
overtime pay beyond eight hours. In
, other words Il is not a law 10 limit hours
Of labor IN the sense that We use IN
speaking Of AZ eight hour day Tor
women or an eight hour law for three
shifts in continuous industry. IL 10 pri-
marily n bill to secure an advance ir
wages: the securing OF an eight hou
day is wholly secondary. and as regards
many employees would probably not b<
brought about or desired.
''when any labor trouble becomes o;
such size as TO involve tho public the
public has a right to interfere. TO .nshe'
that there shall be no Interference VIII
the welfare and safety OF the public
and therefore 10 insist on arbitration
that Is for Just decision By the Govern
meni after an investigation conducted
through a commission which will get al
the facts and lay them before the OK
ecu.ive and legislative representative
Of the public for what action they deen
necessary.
There must be one law to 10 ap
oiled In these cases, and to he yielded
10 by all alike. To yield TO the threats
OF a great organized body OF workers
is lust as evil n cowardly a th!nt
in the public man. as to yield to TN
influence Of representatives or Grea
organized capital and In the long rui
Just as dangerous to the country.
"Now, I wish II distinctly understood
tina, I am not IN the least prepared q
| saw that this demand liz wrong. II ina!
be absolutely right. My point Is tina
without full Investigation We annot sa.
whether II is right or wrong. Presidcn
Wilson yielded to tho dictation or tn
heads Of tho Brotherhoods. and made n
effort TO nnd out whether the deman'
was right or wrong. lie made no enor
to find out whether Il could be compiled
with without raising freight rates. u
made no effort to find out all the equitie
in the case. those affecting the mcr
, those affecting the stockholders. thos
affecting the shippers. He took his order
from that ono of the parties In !nteres
which he most feared. lie insisted tina
the law be passed without Inquiry. An
then lie deferred the operation or tn
law until after election. which OF cours
could only have been lone FOR policca
reasons.
THE question at issue was not tina
OF an eight hour day AT all. Tho ques
ton was whether the President an
Congress should enact "a law. withou
Investigation and without knowledge. I
give increased wages to a certain por
ton Of the body Of WACO carners. TIL
labor leaders on this issue. without re
gard TO tho right or wrong of the mat
ter, first coerced the President, and the
with his aid coerced Congress. Tho quef
ton at Issue was not ono of the hour
OF labor. IT was one OF wages. An
II was settled by tho President and Cor
gross without investigation and withou
, knowledge. The settlement was du
partly to fear and partly to hope Of pc
, lltical profit.
president Wilson In his speech o
September :3 sought to explain an
! Justify his action. lie stated his Who'll
case with probably unconscious acct
racy when he said that before lie under