Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-05

receiving the approval Of society In
doing 70 would bo 20 adopt a new
principle into our Jurisprudence which
/ take n for granted We are not pre-.
pared 10 Introduce. But the proposal
that the operation ~ the railways OF
the country shall not be stopped OF
interrupted by the concerted action ot
organized bodies of men uutil public
investigation shall have been Instituted
which shall make the whole uues1ion
az issue plain for the judgment Of the
opinion OF the nation 10 not TO propose
any auch principle. n IL based upon
the very different principle that the
concerted action Of powerful bodies of
men shall not BE- permitted 20 stop the
Industrial processes of the nation, af
any rnte bsfoys the nation shall have
had an oppurtukiiy n acauaint Itself
with the merits of the case as between
empioye aud employer, time 10 form
It's opinion upon m impartial statement
Of the merits, and opportunity 60 CON
slider all practicable means of conelllR-
tIop or arbitration. I can see nothing
ip ihat proposition bnt the luatinable
safeguarding by society Of Tho nsoea-
snry processes Of u. very NE. There
ls nothing arbitrary or unjust In II
unless It he arbitrarily ARID unjustly
done. 10 can and should be done with
n gul and scrupulouB regard for the
lntcteNs and liberties of all concerned
as wol ~ for the permanent interests
uf aocioty Itself
MONEY ~ ELECTIONS
Three matters of capital Importance
await the action ~ the Senate which
have already been acted upon by the
House of Representatives: the bill
which seeks 10 extend greater freedom
a. .H#.4 Lea o. rrH
promoting the foreign commerce OF tho
country than ~ nov thought by home
tu be legal under the terms ~ the laws
against monopoly, the bill amending
the present organic law Of Porto Rico'
and the bin proposing n moro thorough
and systematic regulation Of tho eN-
pendlture of money In elections, COM
monty called tho corrupt practices net.
] need not labor my advice that these
measures be enacted into law Their
urgency les In the manifest clrGum'
stances which render their adoption
AZ this time not only opportune but
necessary Even delay would Heriously
leopard the interests Of tho country and
Ol The Government
Immediate passage OF the bill to
regulate the expenditure Of money In
elections may accm 10 bH less neces.
gary than tho Immediate enactment OF
because at lcHst two years will clapsr
before another election In which Fed.
eral Offices are TO be n'lcd. but 1t would
greatly relieve the public mind II this
important matter were dealt with while
the circumstance and the danEcrB to
the public morals Of the present method
of obtaining and spending campaign
funds stand clear under recent obser.
walton and the methods al expenditure
-. III. -
present experience; and u delay would
have the further very serious disnd
vantage OF postponing action until an.
Other election was nt hand and some
special object connected with II might
BE- thought to he In the mind OF those
who urged H. Action can he taken now
with facts for guidance and without
suspicion Of partisan purpose,
shall not argue at length the desr-
ability Of giving frccT hand in tho
matter Of combined and concerted effort
20 those who shall undertake the essen
tial enterprise of building up our export
trade. That enterprise viii presently
Will Immediately assume. has indeed
already assumed. a magnitude unprec-
cdented IN our experience. We hnYs
not the necessary instrumcntnllties for
rs prosecution: II rs deemed to be
doubtful whether they could he cTeRted
upon an adequate scale under our
present laws. We should clear away
al legal obstacles and create basis
II undoubtcd law for II which viii give
freedom without permitting unregulat-
ID license. The thing must be done
now, because the opportunity IL here
and may escape us II We hesitate or
alay
PORTO RICO's DEMANDS
The argument for the proposed
amendments OF the organic law OF
Porto Rico is brief and conclusive
rhc present laws governing the island
md regulating the rights and privileges
" it's people are not just. We have
reatcd expectations of extended priv
lege which we have not satisfied