New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-08
HUGHES STIRS
MAINE HEARERS
Audiences Welcome De-
nunciation of Eight
Hour Act.
UPHOLDS THEORY
OF ARBITRATION
Candidate DenOunCeS Law
making Without In
vestigation.

From a star correspondent ~ Tie InnuheI
Portland. Me. Sept. :. -Deprecating
the victory OF force over reason,
Charles Evans Hughes to-day de-
nounced the Adamson eight-hour law.
He declared here that no action should
be taken under pressure until the facts
are known and the requirements OF
Justice met. and that he would sooner
be defeated than yield this principle IN
the slightest.
IL would rather stand with that prin-
ciple." he said, land be defeated. than
Weld one jot or title of IT to get an
Office. That is fundamental. Our pro-
grammes are vain. Nothing amounts
to ANYTHING if we are to decide accord
ing to pressure instead of in accord
ance with the dictates of judgment"
Mr.. Hughes declared that the meas
ure was not really an eight-hour act,
but simply a wage increase, and that
the very wording Of it showed that its
trainers knew it.
The excitement of the state cam
paign seemed 10 have a bracing effect
on Mr.. Hughes, for his old time punch
began TO show itself as he warmed up
in his talks. He dropped generalities
and discussed facts in a stra ghtfrom
the-shoulder manner. To all intents he
was headed for the path laid out by
Colonel Roosevelt in his speech of a
week ago, and his friends said he would
surely reach it before he finished his
tour o, the state.
Mr.. Hughes found enthusiastic audi
ences every time he spoke IN the Pine
Tree state. They were friendly audi
ences. and their enthusiasm seemed TO
reach him. for those who heard his dis
cussion Of Americanism, the tarifi,
the eight-hour law and his own labor
record declared it was the best OF his
whole campaign.
York HARDER. a shore resort. was the
first Maine town 10 hear the Repub-
lican candidate. more than two thou
sand persons being clustered about the
grass OF the open air theatre dotted
with trees. 1t was at night. however.
that ne got his greatest reception.
There was an old-fashioned torchIieht
Tarade here. such as was the fashion
twenty years ago, and as Mr.. Hughes
rode from his hotel to the City Hall,
where he spoke. the crowd was lined
up six deep on the sidewalks in the
mile Journey. At the Hall he received
one Of the most spontaneous oyations
Of his whole trip. II was one of those
rallies for which the Republicans OF
Maine are famous and as he looked
into sea of American flags and gaudi-
~ uniformed men. il seemed TO make
him feel that a real Republican vic
tory in Maine was at hand.
Mr.. Hughes preraced his attack or
the eight-hour law by a recital Of his
labor record as evidence Of his friend
Illness 10 that cause. He spoke Of his
Gesire for reasonable hours of work
and for reasonable distribution OF
the profits and then went on /:
1T is because | am so solcitous viii
respect 70 the progress 10 be made in
that direction that | deeply depore. in
the name of labor. in the name Of
Justice. in the name Of American
ideals. the surrender Of the Executive
and Of Congress 10 force. instead OF
permitting reason 70 reign.
Eve have one priceless treasure in
this country, and that is the reign of
good judgment after public discussion.
according to our views of the merits of
the case.
at is said that the measure TO which
/ have referred was an eight-hourda
measure" he asserted. 1T was not,
properly speaking, an eight-hour-day
measure. 1t was wages measure. II
was plain proposition for a change in
the wage scale.
81 do not speak of the equity of il.
That is a matter TO be fairly consid-
cred. | want what is just and right.