Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-10
HUGHES AND COP.
FAVOR SHORT DAY
CANDIDATE MAKES. IT PLAIN HE
AND PARTY ARE FRIENDS
OF LABOR.


Hughes, republican candidate for the
presidency. delivered campaign
speech here this afternoon in which
he denounced the Adamson railroad
law and methods used by the admins
tration to get it passed in the closing
hours Of congress. He endeavored to
make clear that he is not attacking
the eight hour day principle. nor any
honest endeavors to increase wages.
He claimed that the republican party
and he himself are already on record
in numerous instances In favor OF the
eight hour day, of reasonable and fair
rates of pay, and of the best possible
working conditions. The speaker said
in part:
Record Of Republicans.
"The republican party has not been
opposed to the principle OF an eight
hour work day. Many years ago re-
publican congress provided that eight
hours should constitute days work
for laborers. workmen and mechanics
employed by the United States. In
1892 1t was provided that all laborers
and mechanics employed by the Unit
ed States. by the District of Columbia
or by any contractor or sub-contractOr,
upon any of the public works OF tho
United States, or with the District OF
Columbia, should be limited to eight
hours work day and employment for
a longer period was punishable by fine
gress directed that in all irrigation
construction work eight hours should
constitute days work. In 1912 pro-
vision was made that letter carriers
in the city delivery service and clerks
In second class pOstofices should not
be required to. work more than eight
hours day except in case Of exigency.
Improper Legislation.
Hitherto the American Federation
Of Labor has not favored legislation
limiting hours or fixing wages for
adult labor In other than government
tai employments. In November. 1914,
understand that the federation adopt
ed the following resolution:
Resolved, that the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor as In the past, de-
clares that the regulation Of wages
and hours OF labor should be undertak-
en- through trades union activity and
not by legislation. except insofar as
the employment Of women and chill
dren, health and morals, and the en-
ployes Of the national. state and muni-
cipal governments are affected
This was approved again BY the
federation in November, 1918. Not, at
the outset, did the brotherhoods seek
to attain their ends by legislation. It
was through the action OF the admin
istration that the Adamson bill was
demanded The administration threw
up its hands, abandoned the principle
of arbitration, abandoned the principle
of fair inquiry before the legislative
action, and in panic Of fear rushed
to congress to get this bill passed as
the price Of peace. The Adamson bill
thus came to embody the terms of q
humiliating surrender to duress.
Issue 10 Fundamental. 4
I'VE have here . fundamental issue.
1t Is the issue Of free government 1t
is whether we are q government OF
law, or government by groups who
dictate edicts in the form Of laws. We
cannot afford to have terrorized ad
ministration. We can solve all prob
lens II We adhere to the rule Of rea-
son; il we are fair. open minded and
determined to do justice to all ac-
cording to the facts. There is no 9TH
er way. and the attempts to turn us
over to the rule Of force should receive
the swift condemnation OF the people"