New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-27
Mr.. Wilson's Sophistries.

failings as a statesman. They have lee
him into the fatal habit of improvisation
Of taking snap judgments on matters OF
the gravcst Importance and of throwing
of facilo phrases. ignoring what he has
said or done in the past and committing
himself 10 things which he has no idea OF
doing in the future.
These two unfortunate qualities have
been responsible for the waverings and
contradictions in the Presidents European
policy and in his Mexican policy. They
have lain at the root Of his many reversals
Of attitude on the issue Of military pre-
paredness. They are responsible in large
part for the sophistry Of most Of his
speeches-for his resort TO fimsy misrep-
reservations when hard pressed to defend
his diplomatic and legislative blunders.
In his last two addresses he has strik-
ingly illustrated the loose thinking and
reckless talking which have discredited
him as political leader. On Saturday at
Shadow Lawn he repeated the old mis-
statement that the law with which he and
Congress purchased peace from the four
railroad brotherhoods was an "eight-hour'
law. The dispute between the trainmen
and the railroads was not, in his opinion,
arbitrable, he insisted once more, because
It involved the principle Of the eight-hour
day.
Everybody who has read intelligently
the law which Congress passed, and which
the President signed, knows better than
that. The Tribune and every other well
informed newspaper in the United States
has shown from the very beginning that
fhe eight-hour principle was not involved
in the legislation thrown as a bride TO the
hrotherhoods.
Mr.. Hughes said at Dayton, Ohio, on
Monday: "No one in this controversy has
any idea of establishing an eight-hour
work day. ! protest against any
ondeavor to confuse the thought of Amer
Tea BY talking about an eight-hour work
day, when nothing Of the sort has been
enacted, nothing of the sort proposed, and
che only thing enacted was change in
the schedule of wages
That is an absolutely accurate and judi
cial Interpretation Of the effect and pur-
pose Of the Adamson law. What are the
tests Of an eight-hour day? There are
two. If the eight-hour principle is strictly
applied no work in excess of eight hours
in any day is permitted If it is more
literally applied, charge is made for
overtime which is materially higher per
hour than the regular hour rate. That ex-
cess charge is properly imposed in order TO
deter employers from working employees
more than eight hours.
Mr.. Wilson himself showed some apprc-
citation of the real meaning Of the eight
hour day when, stating the contentious Of
The brotherhoods. he said at Shadow Lawn
81 learned that the men demanded an
eighthour day, and that in order TO make
the eight-hour day work they demanded
that the railroads pay them one-haf more
overtime than they paid them for the time
in the regular day, the men alleging that
that was the only way in which they could
obtain a genuine eight-hour day
But the Adamson law does not meet
either Of the above tests. 1t does not re-
strict work on any day to eight hours or
less. It permits overtime work and does
not provide higher hour rate Of pay for
that overtime work. It says distinctly that
"for all necessary time in excess Of eight
hours such employees shall be paid at a
rate not less than a pro rata for such
standard eight-hour day"
The brotherhoods accepted the miscalled
"cight-hour' law because it raised their
wages. i gave them for eight hours
\ work what they had been getting for
ten hours work. If a trainman was
4 getting 81 day. his compensation per
hour was raised from 40 cents 20 80 cents.
For overtime he would get 30 cents in
stead Of 30 cents an hour-and he ex-
occted 20 work frequently overtime. 1t
vas a wage increase proposition pure and
simple.
Yet Mr.. Wilson continues 70 say in the
face Of these plain facts that the eight
hour principle was involved and that in
bis opinion the dispute between the men
and the railroads was consequently not
@arbitrable."
At Baltimore on Monday the President
descended 20 similar Misrepresentation
In regard TO the effect Of the government
ship ownership law. lie said that the
country needed delivery wagons" 10 carry
American goods over new sea routes 10
South America and that the shipping bill
provided such delivery wagons ave
will carry your goods one way 10 South
America), when We have 10 come back
tmpty the other way and lose money on
The voyage, and when there are cargoes
10th ways and it is profitable 10 carry