CONGRESS IS DRIVEN TO PASS RAIL LAW FRANK B. KELLOGG ment, yielding no adequate return in thern Democrats who united with the would be introduced and passed to GOVERNOR J. A. A. BURNQUIST and if this increase is given them, I any direction, but proving itself a burden remedy most of the ills and wants of Republicans in defeating the nefarious will see to it that the railroads suffer and a drawback to private enterprise and unpatriotic scheme. our industrial and economic system. no loss, but that the increased burden and private effort. The scheme The general purpose, it was declared, will be passed along to the public Rural Credit Legislation. is the worst possible form of State •was to repress, regulate, and control in the shape of increased transportation The so-called rural credit law, for socialism. all trusts and monopolies and all the rates. which much credit is claimed by the great business interests of the country. Nitrate Plant. In other words he was wiling to Democrats, will be found to be of little These promised bills were afterwards The army reorganization law contained have the trainmen pluck the railroad's,, help or. use for Northern farmers. It introduced, and turned out to provisions for the establishment and to have the railroads recoup their is based on foreign models, poorly be as follows: of a waterpower, nitrate plant losses from the farmers, the merchants, suited to conditions in our country. It First. A bill "to create an Interstate at a cost of $20,000,000, to be obtained and the manufacturers in creates a federal farm loan board of Trade Commission, to define its from the sale of Panama bonds. other words, from the masses of the five members, four of whom are to receive powers and duties, and for other purposes," The ostensible purpose of these provisions people who furnish the traffic. How a salary of $10,000 -per annum introduced in the House April is to secure by means of electrical easy it is to be^ generous, if you can each. The law provides for the establishment 13, 1914. energy, somewhere in the country, pass the burden along to some one of twelve farm loan districts, Second. A bill "to supplement existing nitrate from the atmosphere for else, especially upon the great mass of with a farm loan bank in each. Before laws against unlawful restraints the manufacture of munitions of war the public. It seems to me that President farmers can borrow, they must and monopolies, and for other purposes," and the "manufacture of fertilizers." Wilson, in this matter, utterly ignored form farm loan associations, in which introduced in the House April The real purpose, though disguised in the sentiment expressed in the they must take and pay for stock to 14, 1914. This bill was commonly the law, is for the Federal Government first sentence of his tariff message to the amount of $5 for every $100 they called in its transit through the two Congress wherein he states: to develop the water power at want to borrow. The scheme will be Houses the Clayton anti-injunction Muscle Shoals, on the Tennessee River "I have called the Congress together found to be so complicated and involved bill. in northern Alabama, for the manufacture in extraordinary session because that few farmers will care to Third. A bill "to amend section 20 of fertilizers for the cotton a duty was laid upon the party now in make use of it, unless money can be of an act to regulate commerce, to prevent planters of the South. This is another power at the recent elections which borrowed through it at materially lower over-issues of securities by carriers, it ought to perform promptly, development of State socialism, in order rates than from other sources, and for other purposes," introduced sectional in scope. After this law was which seems highly improbable at that the burden caried by the people in the House May 15, 1914. The passed, prominent men of the Twin under existing law may be lightened least, in the North. If a farmer can purpose of this bill was to regulate Cities appealed to me to try and secure as soon as possible borrow money from his local banker, the issuance of stock and securities by United the nitrate plant at Fort Snelling "The burden carried by the people Republican Candidate for on his farm, at say six per cent interest, railroad corporations, and was really under existing law," can not be lightened and the so-called high dam. he is not likely to join a farm loan States Senate. I the most important and most valuable replied to some of these men that I association and take stock at the rate by such propaganda as the President of the three bills. It passed the House, though any such effort would be useless, stands for in this case. of $5 for every $100 he borrows. In came to the Senate, and was referred volved in the enforcement of the provisions The President finally concludes his and that Muscle Shoals was foreordained the Northern states, where money as to the Committee on Interstate Commerce. of the act and prescribes penalties, troversy to arbitration, while the message as follows: for the enterprise under this a general rule can be obtained on first This committee on July 23, and so forth. leaders of the trainmen utterly refused administration. class farm mortgages at from five to "Having failed to bring the parties 1914, reported it back to the Senate to submit the main controversy to this critical controversy to an accommodation, six per cent interest, it is not likely Fails to Benefit Labor. favorably, with certain amendments. Panama Canal Bonds. —the twenty-five per cent increase in therefore, I turn to you, that much use will be made of the Second. This portion of the act was In providing for the building of the But by this time a change had come wages—to arbitration. The President deeming it clearly our duty as public law. It may be that in the South, Panama Canal, authority was granted intended for the benefit of the labor over the spirit of the dream of the at once coincided with the refusal of, servants to leave nothing undone that where money is less plentiful and interest organizations by modifying the law in for the issuance of bonds to secure Democracy, and this, the best of the the trainmen and decided that the' we can do to safeguard the life and higher, some help may be obtained funds for that purpose. The cost of three bills, was left to languish and relation to injunctions in labor disputes railways ought to grant the increase interests of the nation. In the spirit through the law. Tenants, who the canal to date has been approximately and to the enforcement and finally die an ignominious death. in wages and arbitrate the residue of such a purpose, I earnestly recommend are oftentimes needy and worthy of punishment of contempt in such cases. $375,000,000. The administration.of afterwards. This the railways would the following legislation: help can not secure money under the Trade Commission Created. the Republican Party was so businesslike, The purpose of this provision of the S *. not submit to. Had the President provisions of the law. Only land owners, The Trade Commission bill became prudent, and economical, that all bill was to make it easier for labor firmly told the leaders of the trainmen, Second, the establishment of an who occupy and till their farms, a law on September 26, 1914. It created but $130,000,000 of the cost of the canal organizations to inaugurate and maintain as he ought to have done, that eight-hour day as the legal basis alike can borrow money under it. The system a commission of five members, was paid out of the current revenues a strike. This part of the act, they ought to submit the entire controversy of work and of wages in the employment will prove to be very expensive with a yearly salary of $10,000 each, of the Government. Only $130,000,000 however, fails to give the labor organizations to arbitration, they would of all railway employees who are and, inasmuch as it is to some extent and with a secretary at a salary of in bonds were issued. And now the what they wanted and expected. undoubtedly, in the end, have yielded actually engaged in the work of operaing of foreign importation, it is, to say $5,000 a year. The jurisdiction and Democratic Party, in their skirmishing It prescribes that no injunction and there would have been no trains in interstate transportation." the least, questionable whether it will work of the commission is defined in around for revenue to meet their shall be granted in labor disputes strike, for they must have known that, the following paragraph of section 5 prove to be a success in this country. extravagant appropriations, has resorted except "to prevent irreparable injury outside of their own ranks, the sentiment It is, in short, a new experiment of of the act: to the Panama bonds for the purpose to property or to a property right." Congress Driven to Pass Law. of the entire country was against doubtful value which remains to be "That unfair methods of competition of buying and operating ships, It is the contention of labor organizations Here, in glittering but rather ambiguous them for refusing to arbitrate. It tried and tested. in commerce are hereby declared and for the purpose of constructing that the right to labor is not language, he practically urges ill became the President of our country unlawful. The commission is hereby a nitrate plant for the manufacture property that is entiled to relief by The Law Increasing the Wages, But Congress to pass a law giving the to become a partisan in such a empowered and directed to prevent of some powder, and a lot of fertilizers. injunction, but in this they are entirely Not Shortening the Hours of same wages for an eight-hour day as grave matter. As a fair man, as a persons, partnerships, or corporations, The Panama bonds were in their mistaken. The Supreme Court Labor, of Railway Trainmen. has heretofore been paid for a tenhour just man and, above all, as the Chief except banks and common carriers origin devoted to a specific and a sacred of Massachusetts has recently, in a This law, hurriedly rushed through day, or in other words, an increase Executive of our country, he ought subject to the acts to regulate commerce, purpose, and now $70,000,000 of well-considered case, unanimously decided during the last hours of the last session of twenty-five per cent in to have acted impartially, and the only from using unfair methods of these bonds are to be devoted to two that the right to labor is prop- of Congress, is the culmination wages. And so it came to pass that, impartial course to pursue was to insist competition in commerce." schemes of State socialism, the like erty and is as much entitled to pro of Democratic legislative wisdom. It under the threat of the trainmen, on arbitrating all the issues. Failing, Practically all the rest of the act, tection under the Constitution of the which could only spring from the is at the very apex of their so-called backed by our Chief Magistrate, Congress however, to coerce the railroads, aside from this, relates to procedure womb of a, Democracy intoxicated by United States as any other species scheme of constructive legislation. was driven to pass the law the he turned to Congress for aid, and, and to the enforcement of the decrees the power temporarily placed in their of property. If the contention of the What are the facts in the case? Four 1-resident recommended increasing according, to his custom, addressed, of the commission. hands. labor organization should prevail it orders of railway trainmen had by the wages of the trainmen twenty-five in person, the two Houses of Congress For a number of years there had would put a laboring man, who wanted Philippine Islands. per cent by legislative fiat. The title vote, of which we have no reliable in joint session. He began his address been under Republican administrations As an incident of the War with to work and had nothing to sell but data, determined upon a strike to hold of the law is: "An Act to establish as follows: a pretty vigorous prosecution of Spain, we acquired the Philippine Islands. his work, outside of the pale of the up the railway freight traffic of the an eight-hour day for employees various big trusts and monopolies. "Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, and The people of these islands had protection of the law. While this particular of carriers engaged in interstate and entire country if their demands were gentlemen of the Congress, I have This was not relished by them, and a for more than three hundred years act to some extent modified not complied with prior to September foreign commerce, and for other purposes." hue and cry went up from them and come to you to seek your assistance languished under the despotic tyranny the law in reference to injunction procedure, Its very title is a falsehood 4th, this year. These demands were their friends throughout the country in dealing with a very grave situation of Spain. Spain had during all those it utterly failed to give the and a fraud. It does not establish an chiefly of a two-fold character that it was difficult for business interests which has arisen out of the demand years failed to develop the people or eight-hour day of work, and only a labor organizations the relief they First: The trainmen insisted upon to know just what they could of the employees of the railroads the resources of the islands. She had looked for and wanted—that is, ample limited number of railroad employees the same pay for an eight-hour day's and could not do under the anti-trust engaged in freight train service failed to provide for their education are affected. The great mass of freedom to inaugurate and carry on work as they were receiving for a law of 1S90, and they vigorously, that they be granted an eight-hour and had utterly failed to give thffm a worthy and poorly paid railroad employees strikes. ten-hour day's work. This involved through the public press and otherwise, Working day, safeguarded by payment decent government. Such a government are utterly ignored -and tagrights a flat increase in their wages of twenty-five clamored for relief. Attempts Child Labor Law. for an hour and a half of service for as they had, was not a government of the great American public per cent. had been made during the last administration Another matter of legislation for every hour of work beyond the eight." of law, but a government of the are utterly disregarded. In all my legislative Second. The trainmen insisted upon of President Roosevelt to which the Democracy will claim great army and of the Monks. We found Guilty of Gross Misstatement. experience, extending, with intervals, time and a half pay for all overtime. pass a law to relieve them against credit is the so-called child-labor act. those poor people in a most wretched over a period of forty-eight In these initial remarks he was what they conceived to be the harshness In reference -to this, it can be said and deplorable condition, utterly inexperienced guilty of a gross misstatement. It was years, I have witnessed nothing so There was nothing in their demands, of the enforcement of the antitrust that there are only some three or four in self-government, or in any humiliating as this legislation and the not true that they demanded "that as some suppose, for shortening law. This attempt failed, but States in the Union that did not have form of government regulated by law. circumstances under which it' was they be granted an eight-hour working the hours o£ work. They were opposed they renewed their efforts, and the on their statute books suitable and It would have been cruel on our part passed. And never before in the history day." They demanded nothing of general impression among the public to that. It was nothing more adequate child-labor laws, and in to have returned them to Spain. It of this great country has its the kind. What they demanded was or less than a bald demand for a is that the Trade Commission act was these few States, where the laws were would have been still more cruel, in chief legislative body been seized by the same pay for an eight-hour day passed as a partial antidote against great increase in their wages. And imperfect and deficient, I have no their then condition, to have cast them the throat and compelled to legislate, as they were receiving for a ten-hour be it noted in this connection that, the harshness of the anti-trust law. doubt but what they would in due adrift to shift for themselves. That as in this case. day. They ha'd no desire to be limited We know this, that since the Trade aside from a few of the higher officials, time have enacted the necessary laws. would have led to chaos and destruction, The conduct of the President and of to an eight-hour day in fact, Commission act was passed there have no men employed in the railway It is a very serious ^.question, to my or to their seizure by some foreign the Democratic Party in this case demonstrates, they were opposed to such limitation. been no new prosecutions under the service receive such good and liberal mind, whether this law is constitutional, power that might fail to treat beyond peradventure, how anti-trust law and the old cases which He further states in his message that: wages as these particular trainmen. or if constitutional, whether it them any better than Spain had. There utterly unfit he and his Party are to "Just so soon as it became evident were pending have moved along at a Their wages, compared with the depot will afford the remedy sought. I voted was only one manly, honest, thing for be entrusted with the government of that mediation under existing law had very gentle gait. Where a great corporation agents, the train dispatchers, the for it with the utmost reluctance, us to do. That was to do what we our noble and magnificent country. has, in one way or another, failed and that arbitration had been telegraph operators, the switchmen, and to some extent because I was did do, give them a helping hand, Let all good citizens, who have thewelfare absorbed all its competitors so it has rendered impossible by the attitude the flagmen, and the army of section anxious to have the Supreme Court establish a good government for them, of our country uppermost in all the field to itself, it is difficult to of the men, I considered it my duty to or track men, all of whom constitute pass upon this important question, provide for their education, give them their hearts and who believe in main-, eee what the Trade Commission can confer with the representatives of upwards of four-fifths of all railway for if such legislation is valid, the title to the lands they occupied, and taining our institutions and government do to prevent unfair competition employees, seem high and very liberal. both the railways and the brotherhoods, limits to which the interstate-commerce provide for the development of the resources in the purity and vigor that the where all competition has ceased. It and myself offer mediation, not This unrepresented army of railway clause of the Constitution can of the country. All this, and fathers of the Republic planned and is true that the Trade Commission law as an arbitrator, but merely as spokesman employees had far greater be applied are well nigh boundless. more, was wrought and acomplished designed, rally at the ballot box next does not repeal the anti-trust law, but of the nation, in. the interest of grounds for demanding an increase in under the auspices of the Republican November and see to it that so unworthy The Shipping Law. the effect of the commission law is justice." wages than those who belong to party. We have sent, from first to a party as the Democratic The next matter of Democratic legislation, that big interests expect to go through It is not true that he merely acted these four unions. In view of the low last, over twelve hundred American Party be expelled from power, and. to which I will call your attention, its hopper before they are pushed into "as spokesman of the nation." He was wages these four-fifths of the railway school-teachers to those islands who that our Government be again placed is the so-called shipping law the hopper of the anti-trust law. The merely the spokesman of the strikethreatening employees receive and the fact that have established a system of schools in charge of the Republican Party, best definition I have heard of the passed at the last session of Congress. trainmen, and entirely they have not tried to secure better in which the English language is which has never failed our Country in. It provides for the purchase, Trade Commission law was that expressed overlooked and disregarded the welfare compensation through threats of a taught. What a great advantage it peace or in war. leasing, and operation of ships by the to me by a representative of of the American public, the great strike, they deserve our sympathy and must be to them to have a single language, one of the great interests, who said Federal Government at an expense of mass of the people who furnish the help. common to all, instead of the "it could at least be regarded as a $50,000,000, exclusive of salaries, to BURNQUIST'S LABOR RECORD traffic and the revenue for our railroads. many and peculiar dialects they have purgatory to the hell of the anti-trust be obtained from the sale of so-called President's Help Not Sought. Their burdens were a negligible among them. We have developed law." Panama bonds. This legislation, the A considerable time before the day matter in the Presidential bosom. them in self-government and given Shows His Interest in Many Measures Administration claims, was urgently set for the threatened strike, the leaders He again befogged the issue by the No Record of Relief Granted. them as full and fair a degree of selfgovernment Affecting Working Man. needed because of the scarcity of of these strike threatening trainmen following statement: as they are, in their present As lieutenant-governor and president I cannot find that the Trade Commission ocean shipping and the high- rates prevailing came into communication with "It seemed to me, in considering condition, capable of exercising. has so far judicially passed upon in consequence of the war. It of the Senate, Governor Burnquist appointed President Wilson. There is some question the subject-matter of the controversy, It seems to me that no good American is a novel scheme, and puts the Government the committees of that body imy case involving unfair methods of as to how this communication was that the whole spirit of the time and citizen can fail to rejoice over, and in 1913 and 1915. His appointments on. competition in commerce, or that it in direct competition with brought about. The leaders of the the preponderant evidence of recent have a pride in, the great work and the lias, by its action in any case, put a private enterprise and private effort, the labor committee were entirely satisfactory trainmen claim that they were not economic experience spoke for the great record we have wrought in the to the labor people in both stop to unfair methods of competition and will tend to embarrass and retard seeking the help of the President. It eight-hour day. It has been adjudged Philippine Islands. The record of England sessions and included all the members .or granted substantial relief. I can the growth of our ocean shipping, now has been suggested that Mr. Gompers by the thought and experience of recent in India, of France in Cochin ifind no information bearing directly on the high road to healthy expansion who were known as champions of thelabor was the intermediary who years a thing upon which society China, or of Holland in Sumatra and Ion this matter in the first annual reIport cause, or who represented districts and growth. But waiving all this, brought them to the Presidential altar. is justified in insisting as in the interest Borneo, can bear no comparison with of the commisison of June 30, with a large labor vote. I pointed out in the debate in the At all events, they came, saw and of health, efficiency, contentment, the great work*we have wrought in In 1911 Mr. Burnquist was the author, &915. On the 29th day of August, last, Senate on this bill that it was utterly conquered the President, and, through and a general increase of economic the Philipipne Islands. Those islands, addressed and mailed to the commission with Representatives Lennon and impossible for the Government his active intervention, conquered Congress. vigor." by reason of their location in the heart a letter asking for further information Moriarity, of H. F. 536,N defining dangerous to procure any ships within the next It was manifest to every intelligent From this it would appear that it of the Orient, are a great asset to us as to its work. This information occupations and providing two or three years for the following and unbiased person that the was a matter of "health, efficiency, contentment, in extending our commerce in the Oriental has not yet been furnished. reasons: workmen's compensation for injuries controversy was one for just and fair and a general increase of countries, and our flag, representing Referring to the second of said acts received in these occupations. First. Because by the terms of the arbitration. During the first year of economic vigor," that an eight hour our guardianship and our Government, —in common parlance called the Clayton A bill increasing the amount of damages bill no ships could be purchased from President Wilson's term, Congress day be granted, still carrying the idea is a still greater asset to them. law—"To supplement existing which could be collected for any of the belligerent nations. passed the act of July 15, 1913, which that it involved limiting the time of They are still only partially developed laws against unlawful restraints and "wrongful death" from $5,000 to $7,500 Second. Because all neutral and met with his approval. This law is work to only eight hours a day. After and still only partially fit for self-government. monopolies, and for other purposes," was passed by the 1911 session, after belligerent nations have prohibited sometimes called the Newlands' Law, this prelude, he finally comes out Under our flag and under Its provisions may be grouped under a hard battle in both houses. the sale of any of their shipping to and took the place of the so-called with the following statement as to our supervision, they will, in the years two heads: In the 1911 session the House committee any other, than their own citizens, or Erdman law of 1898. The Newlands what he recommends: to come, gradually coalesce and grow First. It lays out some work for on Labor introduced a series subjects and Law was framed for just such controversies "I, therefore, proposed that the in strength and manhood and become the Trade Commission. It forbids in of five bills intended to promote safety Third. Because our own shipyards as this. It provides that such eight-hour day be adopted by the railway a homogeneous nation. The great mass general terms discrimination in prices of employes. Representative Burnquist have contracts from private parties controversies may first be submitted managements and put into practice of the people are more than satisfied and gives a remedy by judicial procedure supported all of these measures. which will occupy all their time and to a board of mediation and conciliation, for the present as a substitute for with our government and our supervision. for such discrimination. It In the 1911 session a bill, H. F. 455, resources for the next two or three created by the act, and this failing, the existing ten-hour basis of pay and They prefer that to an oligarchy contains the superfluous definition, was introduced, purporting to compei years, and, therefore, can not build then to a* board of three or six service." of scheming native politicians "That the labor of a human being is the submission of industrial disputes any ships for the Government in the arbitrators. In case of three, then Here, rather indirectly, "he practically who, in exploitation of themselves, are not a commodity or article of commerce." to a board of arbitration before a meantime. No Democratic Senator each side selects one and the two so recommends the same pay for ah shouting "Independence." It forbids one corporation strike could be declared. Organized labor was found to deny this contention, selected, pick out the third. In case eight-hour day that the men were receiving President Wilson and the Democratic from holding stock in another corporation opposed the measure and Representative and, in fact, one Democratic Senator of six, then each side selects two and for the ten hour day. Then Party have taken up this shout and if the effect of it is to substantially Burnquist was among those openly admitted the validity of the thff four so selected, choose the other he adds the following comforting assurance have advocated the scuttling of the lessen competition or create a who helped defeat the bill, because he contention. The Democratic Party two. Here was a law intended and to the railroad managers: islands. Shall what Admiral Dewey monopoly. It forbids interlocking directors felt that the measure was unfair to can not plume itself on being able, framed for just such a case as this. "I unhesitatingly offered the friendly and President McKinley, the American among banks, which has already labor. by this legislation, "to increase our well remember how exultant Senator services of the. administration to soldiers, and the American schoolteachers been modified by legislation H. F. 558, by'W. A. Campbell, wasa shipping within the next two or three Newlands and his Democratic colleagues the railway managers to see to it that have wrought for these people passed at the last session. It prohibits measure intended to protect the morals years. The law, as a purchasing, were when this law was justice was done the railroads in the and those islands go for naught? interlocking directors in cases and the health of the young. Mr. leasing, and operating factor, expires passed. Here, they said, we have a outcome. I felt warranted in assuring The odor of the Republican party is of corporations other than banks Burnquist worked for the passage of at the end of five years after the conclusion good remedy for. all railway strikes them that no obstacle of law would upon it, and, therefore, it is a stench -where such corporations are competitors. this bill in the House in 1911, and since of the present European war, be suffered to stand in the way of their of the future it will prove a valuable in the nostrils of the Democracy, and It prohibits railroad corporations becoming Governor *has appointed a when the ships acquired by the Gov and most effective antidote. increasing their revenues to meet the therefore the islands should be scut from having any dealings in excess of commission to codify and revise all eminent must be sold and disposed of tied. The Philippine bill, with the expenses resulting from the change so Law Overlooked and Ignored. ?50,000 with any corporation that has laws pertaining to children. far as the development of their business tor what they will bring. At the close scuttling Clarke Amendment, passed This law President Wilson utterly §. as its manager or on its board of directors Semi-Monthly iPay Bill. of the war the demand for shipping the Senate by the narrowest kind of a and of their administrative efficiency overlooked and ignored. From the any person who Is a director, 7, A bill requiring public service corporations did not prove adequate to meet jreat-and cost of tonnage majority, the vote of the Vice Presi- start, after the leaders of the trainmen the to pay their employes twicea manager, or officer of a railroad com* high. Our Government will be for-1 dent deciding it. When the bill reached them." had gotten in communication •pany. A stay of proceedings, however, month was passed by the House in tunate if, at the end of five years, its the House, we hoped that Wilson would with him, and the managers of the Increased Burden on Public. has been granted as to this paragraph both the 1909 and 1911 sessions. Governor iOSS on ships ^purchased does not ex- at least be neutral, but such was not railroads had also appeared before And what does all this glittering language Burnquist voted for the bill both by legislation passed at tlie. last ^e'. of their cost. It the case., He proved to be as much of him,he-assju$ed the r^e.ol sole arbitrator/' import? Simply this: session. The balance of* this part of years. The bill was debated in the will be a costly and money-losing ex- Va scuttler as Senator Clarke. But forperimenton The managers of vthe railroads I want the trainmen to have their senate both years but became a lair the act refers to the procedure in- the part of the Govern- tunately there.were about thirty Nor- were willing to submit the entire con- wages increased twenty-five per. cent, in 1915.