Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-09-21
Senator johnson on the 8-Hour Day

~ y W ISilLo VII tHC uoIial vi VIVA hSs soii'-
commodities bring in today's open market.
Failure and bankruptcy would fall to the lot OF
men who are now prosperous and contented. who
are making a good living for themselves and fam
lilies. and who are. perhaps. laying up a little
money for old age. They know these things will
come about Just as well as anv senator who sits
here today, and you can not rool them by excuses.
You can not tell them there will be no strike, be-
cause they will not believe it. and you yourselves
do not believe it. You will probably tell them
that freight rates may increase slightly for a
short time; but that will not satisfy them, be-
cause they know that where they would lose
cents in increased freight rates. should they be
imposed. they would lose dollars in the decline of
prices, should this Threatened strike occur, by
our failure to pass this bill before the time set for
the calling of it.
No, my Republican friends. you have got your
selves in a hole by your own acts. and you can
never get out and look the same again. Next
November you will be left holding the sack. ask
ing one another 'Why?'
1t seems to me that the criticism of our great
President in asking congress to enact this law is
one which will not have any weight with the peo-
pie. He has been criticized in this matter by the
press, by members of the senate. and by politi-
clans everywhere; the same as he has been criti-
cized for his Mexican policy. for the child labor
law, and for many other matters of great and
vital interest to this republic. | believe the Presi-
dent has done his duty as he sees it, and | be-
lieve he has done his duty well in connection with
all these great absorbing questions. 1 also be-
heve that tho people know it; and knowing it.
they approve the stand taken by the President on
each OF these matters, and | feel that these criti-
cisms to which, he has been subjected will have no
weight with them. but they will only tend to dis
credit those who indulge in them. and to condemn
the Republican party for all time to come.
Mr.. President, in my observations through life,
one of the things that | have always noticed is.
that when any measure of real benefit to the peo-
pie is asked for in congress or in state legisla-
lures. those opposing such legislation. always
raise the question of the constitutionality of the
proposed. If we should stop to consider snd
at all times, whether a law isiconstitu-
tional or not, fear that we would not pass many
laws that would be of real benefit to the people,
and for that reason l am willing to go on record
as a supporter of this bill and leave the question
of its constitutionality to the proper tribunals
the courts of the country to determine after
wards. because this question demands immedi-
ate action.
The great cry of the people of the country COM
ing to President Wilson from thousands and hun
dred of thousands in the past few weeks and
months has been: Mr.. President. keep us out
of war; keep US from this impending strike. He
has withstood the severe strain of these respon-
which are greater by far than any Presi-
dent since the DAYS of Lincoln has haap calIaN nm.
on to shoulder. with sublime courage and forti-
tude. bearing the burdens of the people in his
splendid effort to keep the republic from being
undermined by the selfish demands of those who
personal interests. | thank God that
he has so far succeeded. l believe that. with the
help of congress. he will today be master of the
in this country in these trying hours
now confronting us.
Our duty as men is SO plain that it cannot be
misunderstood and we will do that duty.
Mr.. President. l believe that at the next session
of congress we should go farther-much farther
this bill provides-as we do not have the
time to do it now. | believe congress should
enact and place on the statute books a law which
make it impossible for any labor union, or for
any set or class of men, to bring a great crisis
upon the United States, which would affect every
man, woman, and child living therein; and when
sion of congress in December, l. for one. will vote
for it.
If it becomes necessary for US to change the
to enact such a law. then let us
change it; and if it becomes necessary for this
government to acquire supervision Of the rail-
roads of the United States for the protection Of
its MINER and its people. l will vote for that
also. | will vote for any measure that will pre-
vent the recurrence in the future OF anything of
the kind which now oonfronts US. The great adj
of President Wilson can not be criti-
cized with any degree of justice. No man can
help but point with pride to the splendid accom-
plishments of the Democratic party during the
present administration. No political party in
the history of the country ever accomplished half
so much in the same time.
Consider. if you will, a few of the great laws
have been enacted since Woodrow Wilson
was inaugurated President. There is the income
tax law. which has come to stay; during this adj
an amendment to the federal consti-
tuition providing for the election of senator by a
direct vote OF the people was ratified by three
fourths of the states and proclaimed as the sew
W q lin SSSISIdIy
of state; a federal trade commission law, with
power to weed out corrupt business and encour-
age. help and strengthen good business, was pass
ed; the wholesome and useful piece of legislation
known as the Clayton ANTITRUST law. which car
::es g provision for checking and controlling
monopoly in various forms. was enacted during
this administration
A good roads law was passed at this session. l
admit this question had been agitated in previous
administrations but it remained for
a Democratic congress to write this law on the
statute books, which is of untold benefit to every
resident of every state in the union. A child la
Dor law was enacted and approved by the presi-
dent only last Friday. l do not wish to overlook
the preparedness legislation. which passed at
this session and which has already received the
of President Wilson by which our army
and navy has been materially strengthened in
every branch of the service.
The ship purchase bill should also be included
in the big achievements of this administration. It
has passed both houses. and, as l am informed.
awaits the signature of the President to be-
come a law. When this is done and this measure
goes into effect, the outrageous ocean.freipht
rates now charged in this country will be greatly
l would not be just to myself or the adj
ministration, were I to omit the rural credit )aw