The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-09-07
Mr.. Hughes and New Issue.

Mr.. Hughes in his address at Nashville, said;
Il believe in and | stand here firmly for the
principle of arbitrating all industrial disputes,
and would not surrender 1t to anybody in the
country ! stand for two things: First for
the principle Of fair, impartial, thorough, candid
arbitration; second, for legislation on facts &C
cording to the necessities of the case. l am
opposed to being dictated to either in the Execu-
tive department or in Congress by any power
Sn earth before the facts are known and in the
absence of the facts"
These words form the foundation of what
probably will develop into one of the most
interesting issues of the campaign. The Repub-
licans have thoroughly Investigated the posi-
bilities of the issue and most of the leaders be-
lieve that if Mr.. Hughes properly handles the
question he will derive inestimable benefits.
Others among the leaders have been afraid to
inject the issue into the campaign at this time,
but it is stated that Mr.. Hughes delivered his
Nashville utterance without comforting with any
of his lieutenants
Mr.. Hughes considers the action of the Presi-
dent and Congress as Surrender of reason to
force and tyranny" Mr.. Hughes stand is bold
but he probably realizes that timidity will not
win in this campaign. He considers that his
record a friend of labor is safe and he may
be expected to so frame his words that he will
not lose the friendship of labor Mr.. Hughes
won this friendship when he was governor oil
New York and the Republicans proudly point
to the following statement made in the Legisla-
tive Labor News, published by John NJ. O'Han-
Ion, in Troy, N. Y, in 1910:
Nov that Gov Hughes has retired from poll,
tics and assembled to a place on the highest
judicial tribunal in the world, the fact can be
acknowledged without hurting anybodys politi-
cal coTns that he was the greatest friend Of
labon1 laws that occupied the governors
chair at Albany. During his two terms he has
signed fifty-six labor laws, including among them
the best labor laws enacted in this or any
other State. He also urged the enactment OF
labor laws in his messages to the legislature
even going far to place the demand for a
labor law in one of his messages to an extra
session of the legislature. Only I62 labor laws
have been enacted in this State since its creation
in I777-in 1873 years. One-thrd of these exceed
ing in quality all of the others, have been enact
ed and signed during Gov Hughes term of three
years and nine months With such record OF
approval and suggestion of progressive legisla-
ton in the interest Of humanity to his credit it
is easy to believe that human rights will have a
steadfast and sympathetic upholder in the new
Justice Of the Supreme Court of the United
States"
With such record behind him. it is easy to
understand why Mr.. Hughes may believe that
he can attack Mr.. Wilson's course in the rail
road trouble without creating hostility in labor
ranks. Mr.. Hughes regards Mr.. Wilson's treat
ment of the railroad quarrel as one OF the big
gest mistakes of the administration and a man
of the type Of Mr.. Hughes is certain to express
his opinion such vital question even though
he should suffer some political advantage.
We will hear more from Mr.. Hughes on this
issue and we need not be surprised if it is used
as the basis for the strongest attack that the
Republican nominee makes on Mr. Wilson