The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-11-20
THE ANSWER TO 1T

That was quite an affecting SCfLe
At the White House, Saturday, whrA
President Wilson. replying 10 the cott
sratulauons Of 4 delegation of tile
American Federation OF Labor, headed
by Samuel GomperS, said tina ali
class feeling should be wiped oul by
The establishment Of justice with Il
heart in it, He also declared that 10
one who fails TO work for this end Is
qualified to call himself true Amer
lean. II occurs 10 The lnteIliscn"et
that no one in this country has great
sr reason 10 apply these words 10 hlm-
self than the President. If he believes
his own utterances why did he encouc-
age class distinctions in forcing th4
Adamson act on Congress. increasing
the wages Of 100000 OF the highest
paid railroad employees. and ignuT;uS
1900 600 OF the lowest paid unorSaa-
lied employees And was there all!
justice with a heart in that? l. would
be well to pin President Wilson dow
to his assertions and then cUmpuie
them with the qualifications OF MS at
tons. For instance how car justice
with a heart in il" be reconciled 10
this arraignment OF the So.cal!ed aud
miscalled eight hour" law:
The &C, is unconstitutional. stucv it
IS contrary TO the spirit Of TN. Fifth
Amendment OF the Constitution u the
United States in depriv;uS he. railroad
OF property without due process Of law.
Congress IS not legally empowered
TO enforce the act.
The Jaw offers al opportunity for
inconsistent and conflicting tnterpre-
tation. and Is incapable ~ Intelligent
application
1t is not law 70 regulate hours OF
service. but one 10 increase wages in
certain preferred classes OF employees.
The act does not state in what man
ner the present standard days wage
shalt be determined. but places TINS
duty entirely upon the railroad. with
the peril OF fine and Imprisonment Il II
errs in its conclusion.
Congress had no right 70 accept the
present standard days wage as Il
basis in framing tho law. There IS
ard either ~ hours. work or wages.
The penalty % fine ami imprtson-
ment will GEORGE the railroads 10 COM
ply with the Law pending the test I'M
der the treatment "t heavy fines p!slng
up for failure 10 do so.
When the manufacturing and the
business interests OF the country read
the plea Of the President for Justice
with a. heart in II" they will no doubt
reject on the reception they were &C
corded when they plead for their very
existence during the consideration OF
the Underwood bill. being character
ICED as ''conspirators' and selfish lob
byists." and were told to 90 home aud
mind their own business, and that
they were ignorant Of business. or
words to that effect. 1t was recUI-
lection OF these incidents and the pres
ent enormous injustice OF the Adam
son act that caused the National Fouu-
ders Association, representing more
than 900 OF the leading manufacturing
corporations OF the country. last week
to declare their intention Of support
ing the railroads in their efforts 10
obtain simple justice through d con-
structon OF the real meaning OF the
Law by the courts. Some significance
is attached TO the address OF the pres
ident OF the Founders Association,
when he took occasion 10 say that "Te
have seen business men so 10 WASH
ingtoa 10 present their side OF a casa
involving serious conditions for them
We have seen them snubbed and their
protests summary rejected. We have
seen union organizers go 10 Washing
ton and make Infamous demands on
the Government, and We have seen
these men received both in the Whifs
House and in the Capitol as privileged
persons. entitled 10 ali that parental
Government could grant them"
That, we take it, is very good an
swer to Mr.. Wilson's flamboyant phras-
ing Of the establishment of Justice
with 8 heart in it,
All though the campaign. the Wilson