Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-10-05


Who Without Juotice Lay Claim to
Its GratitadS-Even the Much Tout
cd Federal Reserve Law Is Based
Entirely on the Statistical Research
of a Republican Administration.
That "No class Is more instant than
labor to condemn and punish those
who without foundation lay claim to
its gratitude" is the assertion Of John
Williams, eX-commissioner of labor,
apropos of certain false claims set
forth by Vance Mccormick, Democrat.
ic national chairman, IN behalf Of his
party.
Chairman Mccormick caused to b.
published in the New York Times, on
July 81, an appeal for Progressive and
Labor support, based on twenty
measures enacted by congress while
President Wilson has been in the
White House." and for which he
claims credit for the Wilson admins
tration and asks Progressive approba-
ton. Commenting on this statement,
the former commissioner of labor says:
students and promoters Of sound
social legislation will do well to exam,
Inc this list, for It contains number
of items Of unusual interest.
1--WE may well believe that 1t was
with great deal Of pride that Mr.. Nc
COrmick contemplated the record OF
his party and that he drew vivid
mental picture of Progressives fiocking
to the support of Mr.. Wilson because
of the things claimed on behalf OF this
administration.
ut is n pity that in the interest of
truth, which knows neither Democrat,
Progressive nor Republican, we must
mar this remarkable statement. New
ertheless 1t is our duty to call atten-
tiOn to the fact that in his effort to In
duce support for Mr.. Wilson the chair
man of the Democratic national com
mittee has fallen into glaring error.
We have no desire to disparage the
achievements Of the Wilson admins
tration, but we must enter emphatic
protest against any attempt to pad the
record.
"Mr. Mccormick claims twenty
measures enacted by congress while
President Wilson has been in the
White House. This claim we dispute.
More than one-half are measures en-
acted under Republican administra-
tiOn and were approved by eX-Presi-
dent Taft, and for others the Demo
cratic administration deserves no
credit
Lest any cne think that this is
grOundless assertion, we herewith fur
nish the record, which can easily be
verified
"FrOm among the twenty pieces Of
legislation cited by Chairman McCOr-
mick | select the following:
"d) Eight hour law on government
work. In effect March /, 1913. Signed
by Mr.. Taft.
so Eight hour provision for post
Office clerks. In effect generally Aug.
"a, 1912.
"C) Eight hour provision applicable
to the manufacture of ordnance for the
government. In effect Jan. 1, 1913.
Signed by Mr. Taft.
30 Children's bureau. In effect
April o, 1912. Signed by Mr.. Taft
90 Industrial commission law to in
vestigate Industrial relations, In effect
Aug. %, 1912. Signed by Mr. Taft.
"(6l The phosphorous match law.
Enacted In 1912, effective as to the i'm
portation Of white PHOSPHORUS matches
July 1, 1913, and as to the manufac-
ture Of such matches July 1, 1913.
Signed by Mr.. Taft.
90 The department Of labor law
creating department with n secretary
who shall be a member of the presi-
dents cabinet. In effect March 4, 1918.
Signed by Mr.. Taft.
"(S) The parcel post law In effect
Jan. 1, 1913. Signed by Mr. Taft
20 The federal reserve law, which,
while passed during this administra-
ton, is based entirely on the vast work
Of investigation and compilation done
by the monetary commission during
the Taft administration and closely
follows, except in certain details, the
legislation recommended by that COM
mission.
40 The eight hour law for the Dis
trict Of Columbia was fathered and
put through by Republican, Senator
La Toilette.
"The antitrust law antedates the
Cleveland administration although
President Cleveland never enforced it,
From time to time, as with all great
legislative acts, it has been necessary
to amend or add to it, and the anti
trust law of the Wilson administration
was merely such an amendment, a log
ical development Of the original act
"QD The Commerce Court was actu-
ally abolished during the Taft Admin
istration, although 1t has not been
demonstrated that its abolition was a
wise step.
"Any statement hereafter emanating