Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-20
Business Backs the President.

Following Judge Robert S. Lovett, head of the
Union Pacific Railroad. Mr.. F. D. Underwood, pres
ident of the Erie Railroad, declares emphatically
for the reelection of Woodrow Wilson. 1t is
rather remarkable that business leaders of such
prestige and responsibility indorse administra-
tion which the Republicans decry oppressive and
hostile to business interests. If a 1.-THE of what
Mr.. Hughes has said in this regard were true, the
eountry's industrial and commercial ranks would
be in hot rebellion instead of viewing with thor
Ough eomplacency the prospect of four more years
of Democratic control The fact is business, big and
little, knows that change of national leadership
and policies at this juncture would be leap in the
dark so that. with the exception of certain invet
crate seekers of privilege business is content and
DESTROYS that matters should rest they are
There are some acts of the Wilson administra-
ton which Mr.. Underwood does not approve, but
assessing it by its broad average, he declares that
there can be no doubt of its stabilizing business
effect. Particularly sound and cogent is his COM
ment on the so-called Eight-HOur law:
NO one can fairly accuse the President of
playing politics. he says, "and while my
views did not correspond with his, concede
that his motives were honest. He did not
carry the burdens of the railroads or the
claims of the brotherhoods his load. He
carried that of the people of the United
States. The Eight-Hour law is past
discussion. The Republican party as well
the Democratic party advocates it. Whether
like il not, it's here to be lived up to so
long as it is the law of the land
OF the Republican criticism that President
Wilson has changed his mind on important ques-
tons. Mr. Underwood sententiousy remarks:
perhaps that is because he has mind
to change Conditions always changing
who can imagine a plight than TO have
hv-n
rather than by the needs of the present.
The important fact is that whenever Mr.. Will
son has changed his mind it has been a change for
progress and common sense and the countrys good.
He once opposed the idea of tariff commission,
but when the European war began to alter the whole
face of the worlds commerce and to raise economic
problems that will persist for years to come, he
recognized the fact with an open mind and pre-
ferred to be consistent with the country's needs
rather than with his past opinion.
The administrations achievements for national
defense impress Mr.. Underwood being pecu-
IiarIy important and representing "the safe
middle ground between pacifst mush and mill
tarism" Perhaps the meatiest passage in the en-
tire interview of this railroad president is that in
which he declares:
I'm my opinion, the fight against President
Wilson has no larger aspect than a greatly
unpatriotic clsmor of the Outs for the posses
sion or the Things now IN the hands OF the
ms"
That is thei sum and substance of the Repub-
lican campaign. Mr.. Hughes, as far as vital issues
are concerned. is merely hyphen between hungry
once seekers and the Kaiserbund. He represents
on the one hand the famished politicians who want
TO get back their jobs and on the other that vim
dfetive clan which hates the President because he
dared to stand unfinehingly for Americanism. In
no utteranee since the campaign began has Mr.
Hughes advanced constructive idea committed
himself a definite policy. He has dealt wholly
in negative criticism and pettifogging TRADES
Little wonder then. that business leaders of the
type of Robert S. Lovett and F. d. Underwood
prefer a continuance of administration whose
ability has been tried and found adequate. whose
policies are clearly defined and dependable to
candidate who stands for nothing than fight
of the Outs against the Inns.