The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-09-01
REPUDIATES RAILROAD PUBLICITY ARTICLE
CHAIRMAN OF U. S. COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL RE-
LATIoNS BRANDS MAGAZINE WRITER AS ATTEMPTING
TO DECEIVE THE PUBLIC

fication that the men were demanding
large increases in pay. Not until two
thirds Of column has been occupied
by these statements did the author in
cidentally mention the fact that the
men are proposing, not higher wages,
but relief from ten, twelve, fourteen
and sixteen hour workdays, and this
in the freight service only"
Not a cent of additional pay" Mr..
Walsh continues, lis demanded by the
men except for time in excess of eight
hours, and after eight hours the men
ask time-and-one-half for overtime
only when the speed of the train
averages less than 121a miles an
hour.
The successful mendacity of the
railroad managers is shown in the
headlines that were placed above this
statement in good faith by newspaper
editors who wished to convey the sub.
stance of the statement. These head
lines conveyed the impression uni
versally that the men were demand
ing large increases in wages.
Further to prejudice the mems case
and prevent a fair public hearing, the
railroad managers, in their statement
to the public, confused the eight-hour
day demand with the suggestion of
higher freight rates, or a reduction in
interest and dividend payment.
The only question now at issue is
whether or not the eight-hour day,
universally recognized as the longest
period of labor that should be re-
quired, should be enjoyed by the men
who are responsible for the safety of
lives and property on American rail-
roads.
To raise the question of freight
rates or dividend payments in this
connection is as far beside the point
as it would be to raise the question of
whether or not the railroad presidents
| and managers should be put in Jail for
stealing billions of dollars of public
! luIiNlS III OlIC w co., lOI NltChlHS 4ol4-
road after railroad by the issuing of
| worthless stocks and bonds for yot-
ling huge commissions and secret
Irake-offs to favored bankers and
brokers; for bribing public officials
and debauching legislatures; or for
conspiring with great industrial cor
porations to crush competition. and to
build up monopolies for the robbing of
the people.
Still further to confuse the issue,
the railroads have started a discussion
regarding the advisability of a govern
ment wage board to fix wages for
railroad employees. If such a plan
were TO be initiated by congress and
the federal government, it would mean
that congress is attempting to check
an advance in pay for wage earners
when it attempts no such thing for
those classes of eXpoiters and profit
takers who take infinitely heavier toll
from the community for no useful
service whatsoever. The federal gov
ernment mas not yet attempted TO
regulate the issuing of railroad Sc
curities, and with government consent
the roads have been robbed of hun
dreds of millions through the issuing
of watered stocks and bonds.
Nor should the question of govern
ment ownership be raised in this con-
nection. Government ownership of
railroads is as sure to come as there
is sure to be a more equitable distribu-
tion of wealth and freedom and justice
for wage earners. But these lines of
progress must be kept separate and
distinct. Government ownership is
sound and right, but it will not of
itself solve the question of justice to
the wage earners In Washington to-
day the government is paying street
cleaners $1.25 a day, for which they
must buy uniforms and pay for their
cleaning. Even under government
ownership, the employees must have
the right to organize and act together,
and even to strike"