The Bottineau courant., 1919-08-14
LABOR PLAN OF RAILROAD OWNERSHIP

The new labor plan Of public ownership Of the rail-
roads has perhaps preciptated the biggest public
ersp fight in the history Of the nation The railroad
brotherhoods and the American Federation Of Labor,
representing all told than 100000 organ
lied workers, have formally laid before congress
plan of railroad ownership Some congressman are be-
hind this plan and about to embody it in BILL In
asmuch as the National Nonpartisan League has gone
record in favor of purchase of the railroads the hour
has undoubtedly struck for the League to get behind
the labor plan and for all the democratic elements Of
the country to unite for the public ownership Of the bas
ic national industry.
The plan outlined by organized labor for the own
ershp and operation of the railroads is follows: The
public is to own the railroads outright, eliminating pr-
vate ownership The public is to acquire the railroads
by issuing interest bearing bonds to the present owners
The railroads to be operated by joint national
board of directors representing equally the three great
elements concerned public government, the la
Dor which operates the railroads. and the railroad man
agement which directs the railroads. The profits Of
the railroads are to be divided equally between three
elements government the public and the workers
and managers. The government is to get it's dividends
in certain interest the entire investment which is
to be used to pay off interest and principal the bonds
and provide necessary suspuses The public gets its
dividends in better and cheaper service The workers
and management is to get it's dividends in certain per-
centage Of the profits which is to apply bonus to de-
veop the highest degree of economy and efficiency pos
sible.
This plan possesses unusual merit It gives all ele
ments, including labor and the shippers, voice and
power in railroad control It distributes the benefits
fairly among all clements gives the people railroad
vice virtually at COST and stimulates labor and manage
ment to it's best and most honest efforts
The following are some of the reasons the League
ought to begin active fight for this plan: The League
is based upon public ownership program. Railroad
public ownership is the essential basis of all other in
dustrial public ownership because the railroads the
common carriers and links binding all industries and
enterprises The railroads more intimately bound
up with the life and prosperity Of agriculture than any
other industry The railroads the first natural link
binding the stateowned industries with the national
life. Railroad public ownership is the first national is
adopted by organized labor The organized work.
ers and the organized farmers beginning every
where to join hands politically The adoption Of rail-
road public ownership by the organized farmers will
unite these elements nationally with bands Of steel
stretching both ways across the continent.
1t is necessary for the organized farmers to lineup
with the organized workers this great national
ssue otherwise, the big business interests will soon
resume full monopostic control of the carrying trade
of the country.