Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-09-14
PRESIDENT WILSON SIGNS
new EIGHT-HOUR MEASURE
DANGER OF RAIL STRIKE AVERTED BY
PROMPT ACTION.
Settlement, However, Regarded as Temporary; as Ran
Heads Declare Law observation-disclosures
Journals Comments.

ed law under duress. The men who
yielded to this coercion or for one
reason or another abetted it-and
these include the president of the
United States-will attempt to OBJ
sCure it.
Chicago Examiner Qnd): The pres
ident has acted with courage and wis
dom and his decision is right.
Washington Star Ind): The coun-
try has been spared the calamity OF
general strike on the railroads,
which would inflict enormous injury
to every interest, entail immeasur-
able suffering upon great numbers OF
people and perhaps precipitate physi-
cal violence. A terrible experience
has been averted.
Washington Post Qnd): 1t was
better to do what was Immediately
necessary and then proceed to the
framing of legislation designed to
prevent any recurrence of the situa-
ton.
Washington Times Qnd): 1t was
the one way to avoid calamity to
the nation. A legislative program
that would more adequately have met
the emergency and stood for broad
principles rather than frank yielding
under necessity might have been
framed if there had been time. There
was not time.
Boston Globe Qnd.): True, the
brotherhoods never asked congress
to pass an eight-hour law. They
didn't have to ask. They did some
thing which made asking superflu-
Gus. They held a revolver in one
hand and stop watch in the other,
Baltimore American Rep): Neither
side is satisfied with the efforts vol
UNFAIRLY made by Mr.. Wilson to
bring about an understanding with
! the men. The public by no means in
dorses either the method or the re.
suits of the activity of Mr.. Wilson
and the public will register it's ex.
! pressions in due season.
Baltimore Sun (Dem.) 1t is a palli-
alive, a makeshift, a stop-gap. The
presidents program has not been
carried out; it hassb shorn of the
| provision for future arbitration and
of all positive safeguards against a
repetition of the present crisis.
st. Paul Pioneer Press Qnd): The
strike is off. That is all that most
people will see in the events of the
past few days, and they look no
content for the present to look no
further. But whether the real diff
Guilty has been met and conquered
is entirely another proposition.
Denver Rocky Mountain News: To
railroad executives and to those that
hold the constitution is above politi-
cal eXpediency, what has been done
by congress under compulsion and
without much investigation appears
bad example and a poor piece Of
business. The bill to the people may
be quite big. The country has gained
a breathing spell. 1t will pass judg-
ment in November.
Philadelphia Press: Whatever may
be thought of the legislation congress
passed under menace rather than
dictated by jdgment, the avoidance OF
a strike will give universal relief.
Even a partial strike means loss and
suffering by those who are not par
ties to it. The unoffcnding public
are the worst victims. To avoid
strike of this kind is in its immediate
effects a great public benefit.
The Public Ledger: Just what con-
gress has done by passing the eight
hour bill even the men themselves
do not know. Legislation so import
ant was never before rushed through
in such an unseemly manner. The
brotherhoods have shown their pow
er. They have bent the government
to their will and they have the re-
sources Of ordering a strike in the
event this holdup does not realize ex-
pectation. No one can say how far
or in what direction the paths upon
which we have entered will lead.
Kansas City Star: On the insis-
tence Of the president, almost with
out debate, congress has voted to in
crease the wages of a group of rail-
way employees. Possibly wages should
have been increased. The Star does
not know. But neither does con
gress. The Star does know that such
legislation could not possibly have
been obtained except in a campaign
year. 1t is a humiliating spectacle
Arbitration of labor disputes is OF
tremendous Importance. In the long
run its only alternative is war. The
presidents action is the most serj-
GUS setback, the cause Of arbitration
has received in years.
The Milwaukee Free Press: Tho
government gave in with the strike
order pistol at its head So nasty
situation is temporarily tided over.
New York American: President
Wilson has shown great ability by
the decisive part he took in the rail-
road crisis, and congress is entitled
to the thanks of the country, not only
: for preventing a strike that would
: | have been national calamity hut