The Mena weekly star., 1920-02-26
RAILROAD MEASURE
 UP ID PRESIDENT
Passed the Senate by Vote of 1T to IT Senator Robinson Defends Bill From Attacks-Vote of House
 Was 25O to 15O.

Il
 Washington, Feb. 23 The confer ence report on the Esch-Cummins rail- road bill embodying legislation for re- organization of railroads of the coun- try with the end of federal control was adopted late today by the Senate. It passed the House Saturday and now goes to the President.
 The vote on adoption of the report taken after several hours of debate was ~ to IT.
 | In a general discussion of politics Senator Myers declared action of Chairman Hays of the Republican na- tional committee in getting together platform committee stretching all the way from a standpatter to so- ciaiists' was the rankest political dis honesty. But no doubt the Democratic party will endeavor to do the same thing
 If the issue is drawn will support any party that declares against the anti-strike provision. anti-sedition and against government operation of coal mnes and railroads" Senator Meyers declared. Party names mean nothing to me. Too many people in this coun- try vote label And want to say here that I think Mir, Gompers' threat to dominate the next congress will be largely carried out"
 ! The section relating to road earn ings was attacked as "communistic and bolshevistic," by Senator Nickel ! lar, Democrat, Tennessee, one of those who led the fight against the bill dur ing it's first consideration in the senate. 1 While the conference committee had greatly improved the measure he said, 1t still remained unfair and unjust to the American people"
 The bill does not contain govern ment guarantee.' said Senator McKel- lar. 'and also takes away the excess profits of the good roads and turns them into fund for bad roads To these two principles of legislation cannot subscribe. doubt very much whether they can be maintained under our legislation.
 Attacks Not Justified
 Senator Robinson, Democrat. Arkan- sas one of the conferees and author of the anti-strike provision of the sen ate bill which was discarded in con- ference, reviewed the measure at some length, dealing particularly with the labor situation.
 The labor provisions, fairly con strued, do not justify the assaults made upon them" he said. This is not government of labor organiza- tions. It must not be perverted in character so as to become the means of denying right of justice to any class of law-abiding citizens. Threats of in- dustrial revolution, boasts of political vengeance to be wrecked on contemp- tible towards who occasionally dis grace public office. vengeance through the manifest ill-temper of labor lead CTS, who regard themselves detrimen- tai to the general public interests for the organizations which they misre- present but in the end the public will know and understand
 Referring to the labor board pro- yided for in the bill. he said
 ''lt is astonishing that the labor or ganizations should assume the posi- ton that wage demands cannot fairly be determined by any tribunal which human wisdom can conceive or which American statesmanship may devise.
 He added that this measure be- comes a bill of rights for labor, and insures the employment of the power of the United States when invoked to safeguard those rights.
 Senator Meyers, Democrat. MoD- tana. attacked organized labor for it's attitude toward the railroad bill and other measures.
 Organized labor is the greatest menace before the country today" he said Labor has gone into politics and if you get through with one out of three bills opposed by Gompers should think the country Is doing we'll Mir Gompers in some respects is the most powerful man m the United States more powerful than the pres ident The president can veto bills, but he cant prevent their passage. Mr. Gompers can"
 The House passed the Esch-Cum-