Evening journal., 1919-08-05
LABOR DEMANDS
U.S.. OWNED ROADS
Retirement ofPrivate Capt.
tai from transportation
rsisled Upon
GOVERNMENT BONDS
IOPAY FOR LINES

formal demand that private capital be
retired from the railroads.\
A tri-partite control, composed OF
the public, the operating management
and the employees, is demanded instead.
Addressed 10 the American pubic and
signed by engineers, the firemen, the
conductors and the american Fedora
tion OF Labor, a formel statement Was
issued announcing This proposal, which
will be carried before Congress We'd
Resday.
1T marks" says the statement, the
step by which organized labor passes
from demands for wage increases 10
demands that the system OF profits in
industry be oyerhauled.n
This sentence sums UP in few
words the proposals. OF which there
have been hints and indications, but
which is now laid before the country
for the flrs time. Everywhere in Of
fetal Washington It is recognized as
the most serious and far-reaching
proposition the country will be CALLED
on TO face.
CharacteriziIg the proposal as Ia
bors bill" il is put forth as a remedy
for the high cost Of living because the
railroads are the key industry Of the
nation. Il demands the genuine CO
operation and premiership based on a
real community Of interest and pariici-
patton in control" Of which President
Wilson spoke 10 Congress, and whiCe
the statement says has been ignored by
labor and the private ownership OF the
railroads.
we ask" il says, that the railroads
OF the United States be vested in the
public; that those actually engaged in
conducting that industry. not from
Wall street but from the railroad or
fees and yards and oAt on the rail-
road lines. shall take charge Of this
service for the public"
Kere is Labor's Plan.
Briefly. labor's demands
That private capital be eliminated
from the railroads.
That tho private owners receive for
them government bonds with a fixed
interests return for every honest dollar
that they have invested.
That the tripaFiite control. hereto
fore referred 10, he established in cor
porations which shall lease the roads
and in which the public, the operating
managemcnts and labor shall be repre-
sented equally.
That the public. the operators and
the wage carncrs share equally all
revenue in excess OF the guarantee 10
private capital by granting TO the op-
orators and the employees one-hah the
savings which are expected to be made
by such a perfected organization. and
10 the public the other half as con-
sumers. either by increasing service
without adding costs or by reducing
costs
Closes With Neiled Threat
This role originates with labor
SAYS The statement. because labor
happens TO have firm organizations
through which it may aFticulate.'
The tranmen are not represented in
the statement because w G.. Lee, pres
ident- of the brotherhood. was out OF
inc city, but it was said that they join
IN t.
Labor's Statement.
The statement follows:
"The innuendoes in telegTsphed dis
patches from Washington. appearing
also in the speech Of Representative
Blanton Of Texas. that the railroad
unions are holding up Congress and
the Government may as we'll cease.
This appeal is made 10 The American
people direct. lt invokes the judgment
and common sense Of public sentiment
OF ali the public which earns a wage
or a stipend. We recognize that the
only way in which we can exist under
the present system is TO demand fur-
iher increases in wages. But we agree
with Representative Blanton that this
affords but temporary relief IL docs
not offer a rsmcdy
"Labor's bill. on the other hand
provides a remedy and we ask merely
that rs terms be scrutinized. Our iuil
argument in support Of these terms
win be presented Wednesday before
the House Committee on Interstate
Commerce. In this statement we are
sounding the note Of our basic prin-
oiple -,
~That this role originates with labor
is merely because labor happens to
have firm organizations through when
a NAV become articulate. II Is not to
bc,oft labor as labor alone; IT. IS 10
benefl the consuming public. OF which
Labor at present is the audible part. IN
lahor's bin providing that the puD'ic
take over the railroads and estaDilsh
y ,,inariiie control between the public,
ihe railway operating management ana
the emploves. the labor ORGANIZATIONS
M America have established TINS new
nolicv which cnvisagcs their condition
moi only as producers but also as con-
sumers.
For share in Profits
"Ii marks ihe step by when organ
lied labor passes from demands ior
wage increases to demands that lhe
svstem Of profits in Industry be over
hauled. Hitherto, during successNe
wage negiloatiOns and arbilration
awards we have called for provisional
settlements only Of questions arlshs
out of differences as 10 wages nouis
and conditions Of labor. That prih,
ciple Of genuine cooperation ana
partnership based upon real com
munity Of interest and participation ~ !
control OF which President Wilson
has spoken TO Congress. has been ls
nored both by labor and by The private |
owners Of the railroads
what wage increases have been re-
ceived in The last few years resulted |
only in Immediately being followed DN |
more than proportionate increases IN !
the cost Of living Each rise in wages |
has turned out 10 mean only tempo |
rary relief for the affected workers,
When The increases have gone around
the circle. labor as producer loses inc |
advantage OF the new wages through /