Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-07
Declares Railroad Employees
Have Evidence of Capt.
talistic Plundering.
SAYS TRAIL LEADS
TO WALL STREET
Author Of Freak Socialistie Plan De-
fends Tripartite Control Of Railway
Systems - Strike Held to Be First
Answer to Demand For Restoration
Of Purchasing Power Of American
Dollar.

Washington. Aug. Leading direct
ly from Wall street and from "the
banking business controlled directly by
the Morgan and Rockefeller groups"
information which has cone into the
possession of the railroad men Shows
that there has grown system Of
plundering of virtually all of the rail-
ways of the United States" the house
committee was told today by Glen
Z. Plumb.
Mr.. Plumb, who appeared in support
of the plan of the railway men. said
the testimony showed the wrecking of
the New Haven, the Chicago & Alton,
the Rock Island and the FRISCO lines
were sporadic examples of the high
way robbery to which the American
nation has been subjected as to it's
public transportation highways"
Glen S. Plumb, Chicago attorney,
who first presented the railroad broth
erhood's plan for public ownership and
private operation Of the railroads to
the senate last February.
Before discussing the principles un-
derlying his plan, Mr.. Plumb spoke on
behalf of holders of liberty bonds. He
contended that it was not fair for the
government to guarantee a return OF
6 per cent upon $40, 0O0,0Oo.O0o of out
standing railroad securities which
have market value not exceeding
~
bonds many of whom mortgaged their
future earnings to aid the government
in the war, received only 3t1s to Az per
cent
Defends Tripartite Plan.
Referring to labors plan for public
tion to be directed jointly by employees,
officers and the public-the tripartite
plan-Mr. Plumb said:
"The vast army of producers for
whom 1 appear comes before you
united force, profoundly convinced of
the economic soundness of the prin-
ciples upon which their plan is built.
I'VE face crisis Of tremendous i'm
portance. The constantly rising cost
of commodities has far outstripped the
purchasing power of the consumers
wage. This difference between earn
ing power and spending power of the
great mass Of workers has compelled
a corresponding lowering of the stan
dard. Of existance.
The first natural reaction is the
demand for increased purchasing power
thru demanded increases in wages,
yet this demand is acknowledged to be
futile, because such increase in cost
of production is Immediately. more
than reflected in the increased cost Of
commodities.
Strike is First Answer.
I'm answer to this first reaction. de-
mand for increased wages we now find
100000 railway employees refusing
longer to render their services for
these constantly diminishing returns.
This manifestation Of revolt is but
symphonic of the entire industrial sit
uation. 1t is not unrest that confronts
u.s. it is revolt because Of Industrial
conditions no longer to be born.
1--WE already number in the support
ers of labor's plan approximately
100000 adult producers-about one
sixth of the entire productive man
power Of the United States, perhaps
the same proportion of the political
power Of the nation, and the financial
powers which few comprehend. Those
employed on the railways alone, re-
presented in this movement, received
as their annual compensation for the
investment Of their life and labor up-
o,~r3e. CF
lars year--two and half times the
compensation paid for the use OF the
money invested in railways.
1t is claimed by the financial inter-
ests that they have investments Of
approximately twenty billion dollars in
this industry. Unless they receive a
billion dollars a year, how shall this
investment of money be compared with
that investment Of life and labor that
receives return Of two and half
billion dollars a year?'
To Furnish Information.
Definite information on which his
charges were based. Mr.. Plumb said.
would be turned over to the commit
tee upon which it may ask for fall
congressional investigation"
I'VE believe such an investigation" !"
he continued, will reveal that not one
railroad system in the United States
but has suffered and is suffering in q
degree If not to the same extent, from
perfectly deliberated manipulation OF
the sort that has wrecked and ruined
the railroads have mentioned. It will
reveal that these interests are again
gathering their forces Of private and
secret control and seek, after having
gained from congress sanction to re !.
habilitate their railroad properties at
public expense, to begin again and fol-
low thru its corrupt and wicked cycle
OF systematized plundering, the loot
ing Of the public interests in the ma
tion's highways.
Calls National Conference.
I'm view Of the gravity OF this sit
:.s.t.!c: the sc:.rt.eee:. 3 : Inflated labor or.