The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-09-19


Plain Dealer has the following to say
concerning President Woodrow Will
son and the eight-hour day law;
o
Emboldened by the results OF the
Maine election, Judge Hughes propos-
es to make the Adamson eight-hour
law one of the cardinal points of his
campaign The former justice will tour
the central west within a few weeks,
preaching his belief that congress,
when it acted to avert the general rail
road strike in the only way the strike
could be prevented, acted under COM
pulsion and contrary to the public in
terest.
So far, however, the judge has neg
lected to say what he would have done
had he been president instead of
Woodrow Wilson.
But let us examine this Adamson
law and the situation that led TO its
enactment. Did congress act under
improper compulsion? Was the pas
sage of this law in contravention of
the public interest?
The controversy between the rail-
roads and their employees had its be-
ginning months ago. The men had de-
manded an eighthour day for those
engaged in the operation Of freight
trains, together with pay for overtime
at rate one-half higher than the
rate for the eight-hour day. This de-
mand the railroads rejected. Long
negotiations failed to bring the parties
to the controversy anywhere near an
agreement. A general strike was i'm
minent.
Here the president of the United
States stepped in. The railroads had
their spokesman and the brotherhoods
had theirs; the American public, great
er than either of the other parties to
the controversy, was not represented.
The president became the spokesman
and representative for the millions who
would have been the chief sufferers
had strike materialized to paralyze
the commerce of the country.
President Wilson's first effort was to
bring the railroads and their employees
to an understanding. He interviewed
each side In turn, seeking to get them
upon some common ground for settle
ment. The railroad presidents were
obdurate. Upon the main issue-the
eigbt-hour demand - the men were
equally unwilling to compromise.
AT this point the railroads made
much of their Willingness to arbitrate
but their insistence was conditioned
on the mems agreeing to include with
In the scope of the arbitration mum
ber of points already conceded them
in previous controversies. The rail
roads demanded that these old ques
tions be reOpened; that victories pre-
viously won by the men be jeopardized
by new negotiations.
The men refused. In the midst OF
the critical situation, while the pres
dent was still laboring for peace, q
positive strike order was issued. The
men were to go out on the morning
of Labor Day. 1t was then that Presi
dent Wilson turned to congress t.
save the country from the commercial
paralysis of a general strike.
Congress- acted promptly and decis
lively Upon the presidents earnest
recommendation. 1t enacted the Adam
son law making eight hours a days
work on American railroads. 1t die
not, however, confirm the demand fol
time and half for overtime
The strike was averted, But tn,
| Adamson act did more than avert thu
strike. II paved the way to an inquiry
into railway hours and wages which
coupled with legislation scheduled fo
action at the next session, should &,
far toward preventing in the futur,
such a tense situation as the countr!
experienced for the few days proceed
ing Labor Day. II should make I'm
possible any such paralysis of Ameri
can commerce through tie-up of thu
railroads as was imminent during thu
first days of September.
! Would Judge Hughes have permit
ted this strike to materialize rathe
than lay down IA program of preyen
tion like that of President Wilson? ID,
the followers of the Judge now critic
izing the president for urging thu
Adamson act, subscribe to the llughe
doctrine that strike would have beef
preferable to such an enactment?
President Wilson prevented tn
; strike by the only possible metho
+ available Those who argue that thi
3 eighthour act should not have bee
D enacted put themselves on record a
I declaring in effect that they are sorr
, this threatened strike did not come {
r blast the commerce Of the country