Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-09-29

he have exclaimed; America has mil
lions for tribute, but not cent for
defence of her dignity and honor
Would he have rushed to Congress
and joined his party leaders in a
frantic and hysterical effort 10 pass
law compelling the payment of the
tribute" with the proviso that the
justice OF the demand could be deter
mined later and the money returned
II It were decided that the enemy"
ought not TO have il?
He would have done nothing of the
sort. He would have used the army
and navy the entire power of the
nation TO resent the insult end punish
the offender, as he did when Huerta's
soldiers arrested a few sailors for a
few hours at Tampico.
Our recent enemy" which de-
manded tribute or the severe punish
ment OF our people was domestic
one and supposed TO control several
hundred thousand votes. Therefore
the case was different
The President undoubtedly regret
ted the situation; ne did not want TO
see the people suffer; he did not want
to offend the unions, but he naturally
cast q longing eve upon the so-called
labor vote. Again the Democratic
bugle sounded Surrender"
Slowly but firmly the four railway
brotherhood chieftains pressed upon
the Presidential brow the crown Of
thorns and delivered into his trem-
bling hands the cross Of gold. Sixty
millions in tribute is not small
cross to bear.
For his friend the "the enemy" he
abandoned the principle OF arbitration
to which he and his party were irrev.
ocably committed and for which the
railway officers asked. Apparently it
took but little pressure on the crown
of thorns to bring the announcement
that arbitration did not apply in this
case.
There was no demand that the work
should be reduced to eight hours a
day. but that ten hours pay should be
given for eight hours work; in short,
a simple demand for an extraordinary
increase in wages Evidently more
pressure on the crown Of thorns, for
the President announced to the public
that the principle of the eight hour
working day was at stake and must be
sustained In making this erroneous
statement Mr.. Wilson lost the moral
and political support of vast number
Of friends and far more votes than he
had gained
The entire spectacle was made his
torical and complete by the obseoui-
Gus attitude of the Administration
toward its new masters, who had con
descended to hear the President and
permit him to take their demands to
Congress.
Regardless of any arrogance or dis
courtesy in their attitude. the Presi-
dapt treated them with the most dis
tinguished consideration. Congress
hurriedly provided them with head
quarters in the committee room at
the national Capitol. whence they
could more conveniently WELD the
bludgeon over the peoples represen-
tatives. From the corridors of this
same temple OF liberty respectable
citizens, branded as lobbyists for OPP
posing some of the Presidents meas
ures. had been driven with a great
blare Of trumpets two or three years
before The regular business of Con-
gress was suspended. The Admins
tration leaders Wed with each other
in giving homage and service to their
distinguished guests with the alleged
100000 votes in hand.
Question: Would similar honors
have been conferred upon the repre-
sentatives of the thirty-odd million
bank depositors. policyholders and
other investors who own the railways
and their securities? We're the wish
es of this vast multitude Of owners
consulted? Not at all. They were
not organized to act at the polls.
"A fitting climax to a perfect day"
was the verdict of the President. as
reported by the press. when the news
came that the bill had passed But
the browning act of these unprece-
dented and extraordinary proceedings
came when Mr.. Wilson celebrated the
victory of his friends ''the enemy by
honoring them with the four pens
with which he had signed the con-
tract for the payment OF the tribute"
by the people.
However some good people may de-
plore 1t. and try to evade 1t, the issue
is on.
The press has printed copies of in