The Yale expositor., 1916-10-12


ton and Running True to Form Will
In November as at Many Previous
Elections Indignantly Smite Those
Who Without Justice Lay Claim to
Its Gratitude-Even the Much Tout
ed Federal Reserve Law Is Based
Entirely on the Statistical Research
Of a Republican Administration.
| That mo class is more instant than
labor to condemn and punish those
who without foundation lay claim to
| its gratitude" is the assertion of John
| Williams, ex-commissiOner of labor,
apropos of certain false claims set
| forth by Vance Mccormick, Democrat
ic National Chairman, In behalf of his
party.
Chairman Mccormick caused to be
published in the New York Times, on
July 81, an appeal for Progressive and
Labor support, based on twenty
measures enacted by Congress while
President Wilson has been in the
White House." and for which he
claims credit for the Wilson admins
tration and asks Progressive approba-
ton. Commenting on this statement
the former Commissioner of Labor
says:
students and promoters of sound
social legislation will do well to ex-
anime this list for it contains a num-
ber of items of unusual interest.
ave may well believe that 1t was
with a great deal of pride that Mr..
Mccormick contemplated the record
of his party and that he drew vivid
mental picture of Progressives flock
ing to the support of Mr.. Wilson be-
cause of the things claimed on behalf
of this administration.
"It Is a pity that in the interest of
truth, which knows neither Democrat,
Progressive nor Republican, we must
mar this remarkable statement. New
ertheless, 1t is our duty to call atten-
ton to the fact that In his effort to
induce support for Mr.. Wilson the
Chairman of the Democratic National
Committee has fallen into a glarng
error We have no desire to disparage
the achievements of the Wilson ad-
mnlstration, but we must enter EN-
phatic protest against any attempt
10 pad the Record.
+ "Mr. Mccormick claims twenty
measures enacted by Congress while
President Wilson has been in the
White House. This claim we dispute
More than one-half are measures en-
acted under q Republican administra-
ton and were approved by eX-Presi'
dent Taft, and for others the Demo
, cratic administration deserves nc
credit.
Lest anyone think that this is a
groundless assertion we herewith fur
nish the record which can easily be
verified:
From among the twenty pieces OF
legislation cited by Chairman McCor
mick, select the following:
% Eight hour law on government
work. In effect March l, 1913. Signed
by Mr.. Taft.
(2) Eight hour provision for posi-
Office clerks. In effect generally Au
gust "a. 1912.
(3) Eight hour provision applicable
, to the manufacture of ordnance for the
government. In effect January 1, 1913
Signed by Mr.. Taft.
(4) Chlldren's Bureau. In effect
April o, 1912. Signed by Mr.. Taft.
(5) Industrial Commission Law "a
investigate Industrial relations. Ir
effect August %, 1912 Signed by Mr.
Taft.
(6) The PHOSPHORUS match law
Enacted in 1912, effective as to the i'm
portation of white PHOSPHORUS match
es January /, 1913. and as to the man
ufacture of such matches July
1913. Signed by Mr.. Taft.
ca The Department of Labor Law
creating a department with a secre
tary who shall be a member Of the
Presidents Cabinet. In effect Marcf
T. 1913. Signed by Mr.. Taft.
(S) The Parcel Post Law. In eff
feet January 1, 1913. Signed by Mr.
Taft.
(9) The Federal Reserve Law
2 which, while passed during this ad
!. ministration, is based entirely on the
vast work of investigation and com
pilation done by the Monetary Com
mission, during the Taft Admlnlstra
= ton, and closely follows, except ir
certain details, the legislation recon
nended by that commission.
Q0) The eight-hour law for the
District of Columbia, was fatheret
and put through by Republican, Sen
ator la Toilette.
The, antitrust law antedates the
Cleveland Administration although
4 President Cleveland never enforced Il
: From time to time, as with all grea
s legislative acts, 1t has been necessar,
II 70 amend or add TO II, and the anti
d trust law of the Wilson Administra
tion was merely such an amendment
a logical development Of the origina
: act.