New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-09
Question To Be Handled
Carefully, However, by
Campaign Speakers.
PERIL OF OFFENDING
LABOR VOTE SEEN
Chairman Wilcox Points
Out Danger of Precedent
Set by Congress.

that the Wilson railroad strike settle
ment the emergency eight-hour law,
forced through a covering Congress
will be kept 10 the front as a leading
issue throughout the Presidential cam
paign if Charles +. Hughes has any
thing to say about It. Wary politicians
realize that tho issue is loaded with
political dynamite, but all admit with
apparent qualification that the Repub-
lean nominee has injected more vim
and fire into his vote-getting utter
ances since he tackled il some days ago
in his Nashville speech.
Chairman Wilcox has been preparing
his remarks on the subject with dill
gent care for nearly a week But Mr..
Hughes did not wait for any encourage
ment from national headquarters. Just
how far the Republican managers will
let other campaign speakers proceed on
the eight-hour issue is, however.
different proposition.
Issue a Dangerous One.
The eight-hour legislation jammed
through Congress must be handled with
extreme care as campaign material. The
Presidents advisers estimate it highly
as d vote getter among the labor or
carnations. At the same time they
realize that. taken with the rest Of the
Wilson legislative programme framed
as a result of the railroad strike crisis,
ii is severe blow 10 shippers, especial
" in the Western states. The pro-
gramme comedies that the railroads
will probably get freight rate in
crease. and that means added burdens
upon shippers.
So the situation that confronts both
groups Of political managers is this;
The Democrats believe they have
cinched a large part of the labor vote
by Wilson's frank cspousal of the cause
Of the railway brotherhoods. BY the
same token they probably have alienat-
ed the railroad and shipping interests.
The Republicans feel that the shippers
vote is with them. Therefore, II the
/ Democrats harp upon the labor boon,
they Will be up against 1t IN other
/ quarters. and If the Republicans do not
handle the labor end with delcacy they
will make enemies in organized .abor.
To BE Used with Care.
Meanwhile Mr. Hughes and Mr.. Will
cox have decided 10 use the dynamite,
but not to kick it about carelessly.
What Mr.. Wilcox had 20 say about il
yesterday was as follows:
"The one fact which stands out and
should be clearly understood regarding
the recent railway legislation enacted
/ by Congress on the demand of Presi-
/ dent Wilson is that in reality IL does
not provide for the eight-hour day. l.
is simply a measure providing for
rate of wages
at has been urged that the difficult
work Of the railroad employe requires
( shorter hours Of employment, so that
/ the public would get a safer and better
service from the men in charge Of rail
road trains. If such shorter hours
would make for the safety Of train
management and the welfare Of the
men. then the present legislation fails
to meet the question, for under the new
law the railroads can work their men
/ ten, twelve and even fourteen hours a
| day without let or hindrance. The ben
/ efts. therefore. Of a short day either TO
+ the men or 10 the public are not pres
ent in this act. The measure is purely
and simply an enactment for the def
mite fixing Of daily wages.
Precedent a Dangerous One.
"By this legislation a precedent has
now been established by which wage
scales in gainful occupations are to be
determined by legislation. If this
precedent can or ought 20 be followed
the state legislature could fix the COM
pensation Of employees of street rail-
roads, gas and electric light companies
or any other corporations rendering a
quasi-public service within a state; in
fact, if the principle is sound legislat-
ures should be called upon TO fix the
compensation Of employees in all occu-
pations
"Under this legislation passed at
Washington the principle of arbtra-
ton. which has always been regarded
as the real means OF a just settlement
of troubles between the claims of labor
on the one hand and capital on the
other. is thrown to the scrap heap in
order 10 meet a political eXigency in
the interests Of waning political fig
urc. BY sacrificing the principle Of ar
bitration, which is the right and proper
remedy for the settlement of these diff
fercnccs, in order 10 make possible
gain Of votes, the administration has
placed this country in a most humilia-
ting position"
Chapter for Textbook.
The Hughes managers think so much
Of the eight-hOur issue that they may
add another chapter TO their campaign
textbook. dealing with the subject in
full Their book was out before the
strike was settled. 10 would seem, in
fact. that the Republicans intend TO
make more capital out OF the legisla-
tion than the Democrats One of the
leading Democratic candidates in New
York State said yesterday he would not
mention the law in his campaign
speeches unless somebody in the back
Of the hall forced him 20 do it.
Vance Mccormick. National Demo-
cratic chairman, refused 20 get eX-
cited about what his opponents might
do. lie accused Mr. Hughes Of grasp
ing at straws and finding that most Of
them, like real straws, failed 20 hold.
lie pointed out that the Republicans
were drawing line between the eight
hour law and the rest Of the Wilson
programme on the strike and forgetting
The fact that IN 1908 an eight-hour
plank was in the Republican platform.
Mr.. Mccormick did not have anything
TO say, however, TO the fact that the
I Wilson so-called eight-hour law Is
merely an increase in wages in dis
4 guisc.