Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-09-11

tors Messrs. Key Pittman and Francis
C. Newlands. both men OF unusual
ability, figured prominently. but in diff.
ferent roles, in the debate on the rail.
road eight hour bill, which passed the
Senate Sept. 2. Mr.. Pittman strongly
supported the bill as IL came from the
House, thereby strengthening the
Presidents legislative programme.
Mr.. Sewlands introduced an amend
ment, which may justly be termed a
joker, aimed at the employees and in
the special interest OF the railroads.
Mr.. Newlands and Senator Under.
wood of Alabama had openly put their
heads together and each had n joker
for the House bill. The Underwood
amendment was designed to defeat the
Presidents legislative programme.
Senator Pittman took the floor. at
the right moment, and in a brief, ring
Ing speech, summarized the situation.
exposed the nature and inevitable eff
feet of the Underwood amendment.
and closed with challenging appeal
for the immediate passage OF the bill
as ii came from the House, without
amendment and without joker.
Mr.. Pittman's speech on that ris.
toric occasion was brief. crisp. pointed.
Its delivery did not occupy more than
ten or fifteen minutes. Most of the
hot wind blew from the other side, and
was inhaled as incense by the Old
Guard Republicans and other defend
ers OF the plutocracy.
Pittman Strikes Powerful Blow
At Just the Right Moment.
Senator Pittman's speech FASTENED
the vote on the eight hour bill, TO the
great disgust of PCnrose. Sherman
Smoot and other Old Guard leaders.
each of whom did his best to prevent
the passage of the measure. Sherman
read into the Record a whole bookful
of kilograms from chambers OF COM
merce. open-shop concerns and labor
SINNERS. urging him TO oppose the
eight hour bill and the Wilson pro-
gramme.
In about two shakes of a sleeps
tail the Democrats and ProgressiveS
sent the two JokeTs into the limbo OF
forgotten things. During this climax,
the Democrats and Progressives who
put through the Presidents pro-
gramme crowded about the Chairman's
desk, creating considerable confusion.
Senator Penrose. a great, burly giant,
sprawling at his desk, let out howl
like a wounded aurochs, charging that
that was no time for n Democratic
caucus, lie even challenged the sigma
ture Of the president OF the Senate up.
on the bill and the lesser lights OF the
Old Guard chartered like magpies, fol
lowing his cue.
Penrose RudeIy Suppressed
BY Independent Majority.
The Democrats, ProgTessives and
Independent Republicans met these at
tacks with derision and ContcmptuOus.
ly applied the rules. suppressing Pen.
rose and his gang. Ii was spectacular
and joy-inspiring--even the dry &C.
count in the Congressional Record
For the first time in the Senate's his
tony, ii Is free from the domination
OF the representatives of the pluto.
Cracy.
Throughout the debate. Senator
Pittman was the administration lead.
or. At one point an Old Guardsmau
rose TO argue that President Wilson's
outline OF the Legislative system ncces.
sary to avert the strike involved com.
putsory arbitration. He didn't get far
before Pittman was on his feet. In O
few terse sentcnces-.a nutshell argll
ment woven together around the cen
trial fact with the power of n Calhoun
the Nevada statesman proved ths
critic q falsifier and silenced him com
pietciy. No one dared afterward at
tack the President In like manner.
NewIands Hurls 6roadslde
Through PiutocTstie N. Y. Times,
While the eight hour bill debate was
In progress. while the President was
striving TO avert the calamity OF a gen
eral strike, with Pittman and all Other
loyal senators supporting his efforts
Senator Newlands OF Nevada. chair
man of the Senate Committee on Inter
state Commerce, hurled broadsde n
the President. In behalf of the rail
roads. through the p1utocratic New
York Times, in It's Issue of August 81
II was an authorized interview" witt
Mr.. Newlands' picture. Thousands o
copies, In supplement form. were dis
tributed i'm Washington and all owe
the country The Independent over
received one. The supplement also
contains q wretchcd and contemplate
cartoon OF President Wilson. Oui
copy was mailed at Washington
probably from the railroad lobby's pub
llcity bureau.
Since Nevada Is responsible for Mr.
Ncwinnds, Il is necessary 10 review
briefly this audaclous attempt by Mr.
Newlands to hamper the President
efforts IN the midst Of n grave national
crisis
With All Due Respect for
Mr.. NewIands' Great Abilities
Mr.. Newlands' efforts TO establish q
modus vlvondi until the real facts OF
the railroad problem can be estab,
lished are admirable, from his stand
point, but unfortunately. no time was
left for the working out OF his peace.
full and evolutionary system. Had the
solution been attempted, by his meth.
DDS, ten years ago, when tho danger
and certainty of railroad employees
federation first appeared. II might by
this time have been successful. per.
haps, and there would have been no
controversy no strike crisis.
Mr.. Newiands ls one OF the ablest