The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-06-05
WILSON CRIT|C|zES
CONGRESS FOR ITS
\. C.L. INACTIVITY
Must Be Evident to ALL"
President Wires Brother
hoods, That Dominating
Motive Political ExpedlenCy

WASHINGTON, June PRESIDENT
Wilson, In a telegram today to officials
Of the railroad brotherhoods criticized
congress for falling to take action with
regard to the high cost of living, the
conclusion Of peace and important do
mestiC legislation.
The telegram was in reply TO a mes
sage asking the president to prevent the
Adjournment 1f congress today. .
The executive said that in the light
Of the record of the present congress,
Il have no reason whatever to hope
that its continuance in session would
result in constructive measures for the
relief Of the cconlmlc conditions to
which you call attention"
1T must be evident to all, the presi-
dent said, that the dominating mo-
tive which has actuated this congress
is political cXpediency rather than lofty
purpose to serve the public welfare"
The president declared that he had
accepted come of the legislation en-
acted by this congress because no
"despared Of anything better"
The text Of tho presidents telegram
follows:
Il received your telegram OF June 3.
You call my attention To matters that
| presented To the present congress in
special message delivered at a joint
session Of the two houses on Aug. 8,
1913. In nine months this congress has,
however, taken no important remedial
he cost Of living on the lines indicated
"a that address or on any other line.
Not only has the present congress failed
70 deal directly with the cost Of living.
but II has failed even to give serious
consideration to the urgent appeal, oft
| repeated by me and by the secretaries
Of the treasury, to revise the tax laws
which in their present form are indi-
recty responsible in part for the high
cost OF living. The protracted delay IN
dealing with the problem OF the rail-
| roads, the problem OF the government
owned merchant marine, and other Sim
ilar urgent matters has resulted in un-
necessary burdens upon the public
| treasury. and ultimately In legislation
| 50 unsatisfactory that I could accept Il,
| if at all, only because | despaired OF
anything better The present congress
has not only prevented the conclusion
| of peace in Europe, but has failed to
| present any constructive plan far deal
| ing with the deplorabte conditions here,
the continuance Of which can only re-
| fleet upon us.
In the light OF the record Of the
| present congress. I have no reason
| whatever TO hope that its continuance
In session would result in constructive
meaRures for the relief of the economic
conditions to which you call attention.
| ~ must be evident 10 all that the dom
mating motive which has actuated this
congress is political expediency rather
than lofty purpose to serve the public
welfare"
The letter to the president from the
brotherhood chiefs said:
"As the responsible heads OF railroad
| labor organizations representing more
than two million workers we protest
most earnestly and most emphatically
against the proposed adjournment OF
congress next Saturday in accordance
with the plan reported in the public
press We call attention to the fact
that despite the revelations as to the
proiiteering scandal congress has done
nothing TO check the evil or to punish
the evlldoers; that the cost OF living
| continues to advance without single
| remedial measure having been passed
and that there has not been even seri-
Qua consideration OF constructive legis-
lRtiOn dealing with the serious problem
| Of industrial unrest.
| TN the circumstances II appears to
us Incredible that the respon sible Lead
| ers OF the government at Washington
can assent TO this seeming agreement
| TO continuation Of a do nothing policy
which means that the grave economic
Rroblems OF the people are TO be made
the plaything Of politics and politicians
| fBr the next five months II invites
political chaos and business disaster.
Congress should remain in session"