The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-29
WILSON WAGE RULING UNFAIR, BRYAN ASSERTS Nebraskan in Washington; Is Believed Candidate
 For Presidency. NECESSARY TO
 RATIFY TREATY Suggests Senate Resolution Looking to Changes In Future by the League.

Washington, Aug 2s-wiIIiam
 Jennings Bryan is believed by many politicians here to be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Presf- dent again on a platform appealing strongly to labor. Colonel Bryan was willing to talk on the peace treaty when he arrived in Washington yes terday afternoon, but the moment he concluded his views on that he said
 he would like to talk about the wage
 decision of President Wilson. He criticised it more sharply than he has commented on anything President Wilson has done since MT. Bryan re- signed as Secretary of State during the Lusitania controversy. Mir. Bryan says the workers were not fairly treated in this decision. Promising them something which may not materialize, and on which cer-
 tainly no guarantee can be given, he said does not solve their problem.
 They should be given advance com m mensurate with the increase in the cost of living, and then if the cost of living is brought down later their wages can be reduced in proportion. As a result of the rumor that Col
 onel Bryan was to be a candidate for the Presidency on a platform ap-
 pealing to labor he was questioned
 about political conditions.
 T have heard no talk about candi-
 dates that I think important enough
 to repeat" he replied.
 How about your own hat being thrown in the ring again ?'
 That is too utterly unimportant to
 talk about" he smiled.
 Some people here think 1t quite important"
 Well, you see I said what had
 heard about candidates of other men
 was too unimportant to mention. It
 would be very presumptious for me
 then to talk about my own candi-
 dacy."
 Discussing the Presidents wage
 scale Mir. Bryan said:
 of the wage decision Is based on
 the theory that the cost of living had advanced more rapidly than the wages, so that when measured by
 purchasing power tho wages are real ly lower than they were before. 1t seems to me no reasonable answer has been given the demands of the wage-earners.
 '"The Presidents proposition does not meet the situation. To say that
 we hope to reduce the level of prices does not relieve the situation; first, because no guaranty can be given that the cost of living will be reduced;
 second, because the temporary injus- tice is not cured and no one Is able to say how long the temporary injustice will he continued.
 "A fairer plan would be to find out as quickly as possible the exact l change in level of prices and, there fore the increase in wages needed | that ought not to take many days and then allow an increase sufficient 1 to cover that on the condition that 1t | is tampoFary and will be proportion ateIy reduced as the cost of living is reduced. This gives the men an i'm mediate remedy, Yet it makes 1t only temporary if the level of prices is re- duced."
 Colonel Bryan said of the fight on
 the peace treaty;
 'aThs man whose vote compels the raconvenIng of the Paris conference ar iniects now questions into the council of the other nations at this time assumes very grave responsibili- tias He may kindle a flame that he cannot nut out and the trouble which
 he nav cause will he trouble to the
 whole people end not to himself alone. s'It is wiser I think, to follow the ' DrecedentS than 10 take d flsN UT 4S opsninS to discussion concluded at Paris.
 If a majority of the Senate desires any change in the treaty or the cove rant of the league of nations, the Sem ate can express it's opinion in a reso- lution looking to future changes by the league-a resolution which would i not have to be acted upon by any i other nation.
 "A majority of Congress can deter- mine. with the concurrence of the President Ga two-thirds majority, in dependent of the President), how the | delegates to the league of nations | will be appointed and can instruct thern. There is no doubt that our | delerates. acting under such :Hstruc- | tiors. can secure within the league any changes that could be assured by reservations unless we assume we | can obtain by threats what We can rot procure by argument This plan i will reach the same end without the I risk involved ia delay !n ratification" "