Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-10-28

tho ii has given US two little inglorious
wars, inter1a;naule nu6tiement and Sc
rious loss of prestige, has reflected tne
presidents wise determination not to
yield an inch to the arrogant demands
OF the annexationists. II has shed upon
the nation no luster save that result
ing from the rejection of the elemental
sin OF blind covetousness.
II was in his method OF dealing with
the strike threat o: the railroad broth
erhoods that President Wilson most
clearly disclosed his policy of govern
ment. That perilous policy OF following
the line OF least resistance is shown
here in its perfection. Here also is
shown the destructiveness OF the form
of craftsmanship which deals with a
crisis by postponing the day OF settle
ment and at the same time. by weak
ening established safeguards, augment
ing the elements of danger contained in
it, Confronted by the fact that leaders
of certain railroad employees had re-
fused to arbitrate the question of high
er wages and had rejected the proffered
help OF the federal board of mediation
and, Cancellation. President Wilson
chose to assume that the question in
voived was that of the establishment OF
the eight hour day, tho the eight hour
day in reality had nothing to do with
it. He chose to assume also, withou.
making any effort to prevent that
threatened outcome. that a nationwide
strike tying up railroad transportation
from coast to coast would result speed
lily unless ne secured by law within a
few hours settlement to the liking OF
the men who had engineered the strike
order Instead of saying to those men.
This nation Will not be coerced into
passing a law increasing your wages
without investigation" he fastened to
reward them for first refusing arbitra-
ton and then setting their scanty time
limit Of hours in which congress might
establish by law their minimum de-
mand of a % per cent increase in
wages, VIGOROUSLY branded by the
president the eight hour day. The ma
tion's chief executive rejecting all pleas
to the contrary, thrust aside the prin-
ciple Of arbitration. thrust aside all
questions of right and wrong and yield
ed to barefaced holdup in derogation
Of justice and orderly government. To
give his action q shadowy excuse. he
demanded one thing while calling II
another thing. A stampeded congress
carried out his orders in Jig time.
Here was q shameless, a destructive
surrender to threat Of force made
with deliberate purpose by an organ
lied minority. On the part Of tht
president: 1t was at once a display OF
timidity and craft. 1t established a
precedent both dangerous and humili-
ating. Throughout the amazing trans
action the larger interests OF the great
fhnoreanized American public counted
for nothing. The facts, known and I'M
known, were ignored. The president
employed an easy method of PROTECTING
q present difficulty into the future ant
| of gaining profitable friendships fol
himself while sowing q crop Of dragoni
teeth for his country. whose interest:
he was set to guard. This appallin'
! display of unscrupulousness illuminate
like q searchlight the character and tn
| thought processes OF the chief magis
trate of the nation. The American
people should take warning from tn
painful exposure.
In the opinion OF the Daily News tn
safety of the nation and the integrst.
! OF its institutions cannot wisely be in
/ trusted 70 President Wilson for anothc
term.