Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-27

whatever. to raise the wages of men
working on railways of the country.
hoods. I am very proud that I am an
honorary member Of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Enginemen and Fire
men. When 1 was President 1t was my
good fortune to stand by the brother
hood. So far as can recall. on every
question, where they were concerned.
1 stood by them because they were
right.
Toward the close of my administra-
ton. twice had to use the power Of
employees. The first case was in a
suit to determine he constitution
atty Of the workmen's compensation
act. This law was opposed by the
interviewed. and the government as
sumed the burden of the suit and sue
cessfully maintained it.
Blocked Cut in Wages.
Shortly afterward the Louisville
and Nashville railway announced that
it intended to make a 10 per cent cut
in wages. I directed the interstate
commerce commission to examine the
books of the company, and in an open
letter to the Attorney General an
nounced my intention, under the Erd-
CATION by disinterested men. The an
nouncement put a stop to the intended
move. and the Louisville and Nashville
people informed their employees there
would be no cut in wages.
THE Adamson case furnished exactly
the kind of case in which this Louis
Vile and Nashville case should be
treated as precedent. In the Adam
son case the men demanded an in
crease in wages precisely as the Louis
nd a Sh ho1 hof
1t intended to decrease wages. In both
cases 1t was the right of the govern
ment, inasmuch as the interests of the
people of the nation were gravely con-
cerned. itself to take action; but 1t
was its duty first to obtain full knowl-
edge of the facts
1.-The President of the United States
stood over Congress and demanded
that the government of all the people
should pass law for the economical
advantage of one-half of / per cent
of the people, without giving the rest
their day in court
ct was the President who terrorized
Congress, who surrendered his obliga-
ton and duty as the President of all
the people in order to become the
partisan for the economical advantage
of small group of the people. and
who did this because he was seeking
votes in national political campaign.
For the first time in the history
of this country the President of all
the people took an industrial contro-
versy from the economical field and
placed 1t in the political field for per-
sonal advantage in the campaign. I do
men who acted under the pressure of
the chief magistrate of the United
States, who came before them alleging
a great national crisis which threat
ened the economical and industrial life
of the country and the food supply
of the great cities, and who demanded
of Congress this law, under pretense
that it was a justihable social well
fare law.
Abandonment of Duty.
"It is he and not any leader of the
brotherhoods who is primarily to
blame. for the brotherhoods acted as
they did only under direct Indictment
of the President. In other words, the
law was passed under duress and by
threats and the President yielded. as
he had yielded before. to outside threats
in international matters. l hold that
such yielding was an act. not merely of
timidity. but grave abandonment of
duty.
The farmers union demands investi-
cation whether the hours of work and
the compensation of the railroad men
compare unfavorably with those of the
farmers: whether the farmer is finan-
cially able to Withstand his proportion
of the burden of the increase. The
farmers want to know the facts before
a law which may gravely
their interests.
II wish to see wages everywhere as
high as possible, provided the raise is
compatible. with justice to all vitality
concerned. I wish to see the eight
hour day as the ideal toward which we
should arrive. but many considerations
must enter into our decision as to how
this ideal is to be achieved. We must
strive to achieve justice, but we must
do 1t by exhibition of common sense"
Roosevelt Laughs at "Big Stick"
When Col. Roosevelt began his speech
last night chorus of cheers delayed
him several minutes. The crowd
shouted and yelled and waved their
flags until the colonel obtained a
minutes silence and begged to let him
begin. He laughed at a huge club
labeled Tho Roosevelt Big Stick" that
was handed him. and declared that
President Wilson, Instead OF carrying a
big stick. had spoken harshly ana car
rfed q powder pun.
The colonel was interrupted only
onoe. q voice from tho rear Of the hafl
calling. How about Germanyf' 20 he
was discussing the Mexican situation.
Iuetg IAlf QuoStlon, ne answered,
and I'll toll you Immediately.
III had been President would have
basis than the too-proud-to-
light standard that there would have |
been no trouble" He repeated that he
would have seized every informed Ger
nan ship Immediately after tho Falaba |
Ind Gulflight incidents and then let the |
Germans bargain with him on how 1
much he should concede them instead |
II bargaining with them.
Wood in there and told him to do 1ust |
Is we did in Cuba, to avoid trouble If |
10 could, but II he couldn't not to sian |
lnybody's wrist. And II there was war
when 1t was over 1t would be over. Al
t 10, peace still RACES in Mexico"
Cheered by the Women.
Chicago women cheered Col. Roose-
'eit yesterday when he appealed to
hem not to be Influenced by the plea
hat President Wilson had kept the
alton out of war. Whom he told them
hat he would fight at the drop Of the
at. II necessary to stop the murder of
Tomen and children, they met the an
ouncement with a chorus Of applause
hat delayed the speaker. and he walt
q while they rose and waved handker-
hiefs and fiags.
The colonel closed his western tour
ere today with two speeches, the irst
xciusively to women. with not more
han a scant score OF policemen and
eporters in the audience. He had |.
cen asked. he said, to appear spe-
ally TO the women who had been In