Evening star., 1916-08-24
WHITE HOUSE POOR
PLACE FOR COWARD
Mr.. Hughes Says the Presi-
dent Should Be Without
Political Fear.
URGES STRINGENT LAWS
FOR PROTECTION OF LABOR
Workers Must Be Contented. He
Says in Reno Speech, if America
Is to Be Successful.

RENO. New. August 24-Charles E.
Hughes, in two speeches here late
yesterday and last night. again at
tackled the administration for its Mexi-
can policy. repeated his conviction that
a protective tariff waG essential to a
continuance of prosperit.. and reit-
Grated his declaration for a federal
liability law to cover accidents to per
sons in industries engaged in inter-
state commerce.
Mr.. Hughes also declared that if he
were elected he would endeavor to
carry out his policies without favor to
any one.
NO one can hold executive office
properly who is not ready to be de-
feated.' he said. 1T is a very neces
sary thing at all times to take your
political life in your hands and to be
willing to do as you think you ought
to do. regardless of the political con-
sequences.
Contentment and Prosperity.
Speaking of improving conditions
of labor Mr.. Hughes said: Il do not
consider this mere sentimental pro-
prosperity. We cannot have a great
United States unless in the main it is
a contented country. filled with men
working, peaceable and sharing fairly
in the fruits of their labor, protected
by safety appliances. having sanitary
conditions of labor, having reasonable
hours and just compensation
"Contented America will be success
full America; disconnected America will
be unsuccessful America"
Mr.. Hughes referred to his record,
with reference to labor legislation,
while he was Governor of New York,
and read again an editorial from the
official organ of organized labor, print
ed in 1910, commencing his stand
We have in the federal field a very
important sphere of action under the
Constitution of the United States: the
power to regulate interstate commerce
This power was given in broad terms
happily without attempt at definition
The power has been exercised very
freely.
Advocates Further Legislation.
Il like to speak of the opportunities
that still exist for improvement in
these difficulties. for example:
The federal employers liability act
was an advance, but it still leaves to
the hazard of trial by jury and to the
proof of negligence. a great host of
cases where injuries have been sus-
tanned in a hazardous employment
Il like to think that in the future
we shall have not simply what the
present bill in Congress provides, a
provision for compensation in connec-
ton with employment by the govern
ment, but fair and proper scheme of
compensation for employees engaged in
hazardous occupations in connection
with interstate commerce. and there
fore subject to the regulating power of
Congress.
We need as much uniformity as pos
sible. We need to have in the use of
our federal powers a wise oversight, to
the end othat we can gather up what
would otherwise be local and varied
and perhaps clashing and inconvenient
to have 1t gathered up in uniform
system. by the wise and constitutional
use of federal power. l thoroughly
believe in that: and / desire to see that
power prudently exercised for the bene-
fit Of human living and the working
people of this country"
For Peace Of the World.
Mr.. Hughes also reiterated his declar-
alton that after the war ends world
court should be established to settle
controversies among the nations.
What we need to preserve peace of
Legislation or what corresponds to in
ternational legislation"
I'VE can have peace without trouble
! in this country" said the nominee. in
! discussing the Mexican situation. only
/ inexcusable blundering could get us
| into war. We don't want anything
| we have got all we need; we are nom
/ aggressive; we are not seeking
| trouble: we are not trying to exploit
! anybody. We simply want to go ahead
in our peaceful pursuit of our ideals
I, and have prosperity.
But that does not mean that ouI
rights are to be ignored, that we are
| TO be lacking in the protection of those
| rights that are known to pertain tc
, American citizens. Our conduct il
| Mexico in failing to protect the rights
of our citizens down there cut dowr
our international prestige, / should ay
| practically one-half 1t is a very
, serious thing for nation to be known
as willing to forego those primary oh
legations of maintaining the rights o.
it's citizens which every nation has"