The sun., 1916-09-07
REPUBLICAN CENTRE
FIRE ON 8 HOUR LAW
For Arbitration, Compulsory
II Necessary, but Not In
timidation, Weeks Says.
MANY PROTESTS HEARD
Massachusetts Senator Asserts
He Has Received 1000
VOicing Opposition.

Fresh from the Republican agh. In the
Senate against the tanning through
Congress Of the eight hour legislation at
the demand Of the brotherhood chic fs.
Senators John u. Weeks Of Massachu-
sets. and George T. Oliver Of Pennsy..
vania, conferred for three hours with
Chairman Wilcox yesterday. going over
the part which this issue is to play in the
Republican campaign offensive. Senator
Weeks acted as spokeman when they
came out from their conference and were
asked IL they favored making his an
issue.
I'm the first place. said Senator
Weeks. this hould be called, not the
eight hour law. but the raised wage law.
II Is the most revolutionary thing ever
done In this country. II is Soing to
De- IN my judgment. one OF the most i'm
portant issues Of this campaign.
The issue to he made will not be with
reference to the law itself. but on the
method OF obtaining 1t. The people gen
orally feel ashamed that any body Of men
can dictate that Congress shall do a
certain thing Within IA certain number
OF days. That 70 coercion"
Many Wire Protests.
In the twelve years ne has spent In
Congress Senator Weeks said he had
never received SO many letters and tele-
grams az he had on the railroad bill.
senator Oliver said his experience had
been the same. The only messages i'm
approval" added Senator Weeks, "cane
from labor unions. They were couchcd
In almost exactly tho same language,
showing that they had emanatcd from
samuel Gompers in Washington. on
tne other hand. we received messages of
disapproval from all classes OF peopl,
small storekeepers and business men who
pay the freight. Some even came from
railroad men who might be expected 10
reap the benefit OF this legislation. They
All started about the same way I hang
my mead In shame sc. | think | H.
ceived over a thousand.
Il do not blame the railroad men q,
THIS country. but President Wilson took
up the matter and passed the buck To-
'ohsress. If Congress can regulate TN,
wages OF railroad men IL can re- sulctc
'ne wages oil all classes OF employees
engaged IN Interstate commerce. ard il
can regulate them up or down.
This legislation. mine YOU. Affects
only 20 per cent. Of the men engaged
IN the railroad business. In that busi-
ness 'bere are a great many men under.
PAID l believe. men getting less than So
" day. f"r whr-n no consideration was
shown at all. From my talks with Sen
ators on both sides | want To- say that
l am sure that had every Senator voted
as he believed there would not have
been more than fifteen votes cas-, IN
favor OF IL.
The Republicans are for arbitration,
compulsory " necessary. hut for arbi-
tration instead OF intimidation. And IN
this matter the Republican party intends
to stand solidly behind MIR Hughes"
II was learned yesterday that before Mr.
Hughes made his Nashville speech, in
which he assailed Mr.. Wilson for yielding
TO tyranny and force. some. of the leading
Western Republicans sent urgent mes.
saHes to him suggesting that in view OF
the temper OF the country. as they had
observed II. the railroad legislation bo
touched upon in the strongest manner
possible al once. \ perfect Nav. 81 re.
sentiment is sweeping the country. ac.
cording to MESA ses received at head.
quarters here.