Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-09-08
OPPOSED S.HOUR BILL.
Representative Greene Protest.
ed the Passage of the Bill
although in Sympathy
with the Men.

with the Men.
Representative Frank L. Greene
during the general debate in the
House in opposition to the passage
of the Adamson eight hour bill made
vigorous speech. He said in part:
Il am opposed to the passage of
this legislation at this time. If we
were to have an opportunity to go
into the merits of the case, if we
were to have an opportunity to ex-
ercise something like the same
judicial and magisterial duty toward
the parties to the controversy that
we enjoin upon and demand from
courts that this Congress creates,
then it might not be unlikely that
testimony and evidence so submitted
would convince me that there was
some truth and justice on the side
of the men who demand an eight
hour day.
1--WE should keep in mind however,
throughout all this discussion-as
has been several times intimated
here-that this is not demand for
an eight-hour day which shall limit
the hours of physical labor to eight
hours day, but it is a demand for
an eight-hour basic pay day, conse-
quently placing it on an altogether
different footing. However that
may be, it seems to me that the only
thing that presents itself here to US
today, as men entrusted with the
responsibility of government and as
men upon whose shoulders for the
time being (however unworthy in
dividually we may be), is this: When
any man, or set Of men, whether
they be friends, ,schoolmates, fellows,
companions, trusted confidants, or
kinsmen, hold up the Congress of
the United States and say that they
shall have certain legislation passed
between this hour and Saturday
night or they will bring a national
calamity, bloodshed, suffering ,starv-
alton, misery and want upon this
land, it is time for somebody to
stand up in the United States and
say that the government of the
United States is greater than any
combination of men under it.
This principle it seems to me,
confronts us here in this issue, and
it rises pre-eminently above the
mere details of the merits of the
controversy. Instinctively and by
reason of my early surroundings,
from my education and environ
ments, | am in sympathy with men
who are toiling for wage.
| could tell you something about
it if it were not of a peculiarly per-
sonal character and had a real bear
ing on this issue. | could possibly
convince you that | am speaking
sincerely when | say that, but | say
today that as we stand here facing
this proposition, that the real merits
Of this dispute are not involved until
the Congress of the United State
asserts its dignity and self-respect
and refuses to be held up by anybody
at any time, under any threat, or
under duress. Once begun, where
is this surrendering to end? Men
may say under these circumstances
it is necessary to have this emergency
legislation because by doing this un-
der pressure and under duress in the
very few hours that remain to US we
will avert a strike, sorrow and blood
shed. Who will be responsible for
the bloodshed and sorrow and want
and privation that may follow be-
cause of it? Will we be held re.
sponsible for those who set out to
bring about national calamity on
the land because we do not yield to
them and grant their demands under
terror of threat? Where will the
moral responsibility rest when the
people of the United States wake up
and find out who did this thing?"