Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-11
LABOR MAY ASK j. s.
TO TAKE BANKS ALSO
New Movement Would Extend
Naturalization Plan Proposed
for Railroads
SEEK TO RUN COAL MINES

New York. Aug. 1.-THE plan of
organized labor to nationalize the rail-
roads of this country extends not only
to other great industries. but contem e
plates the inclusion of banking, accord
ing to n Washington dispatch to the
World.
According TO information reaching
senator's the present movement for joint
control of transportation is only the
beginning in comprehensive plan to
develop this arrangement in sequence,
favored by opportune conditions.
The first general warning of the pro
gram said to have been adopted for
widespread naturalization was given
by Senator King. He received his in
formation from labor leaders of rromi-
nence in his own state of Utah. Similar
advices subsequently came to Senator
Borah and others. One senator already
has been approached on the subject.
It is indicated that general drive
may soon be in progress along well do
fined lines that have been approved
heretofore by labor leaders throughout
the country.
1t is intended. according to the pro-
gram as related to Senator King and
some Of his associates, that any tie up
Of transportation. possibly followed by
suffering and hardships of all kinds,
will result in government ownership Of
the railroads. IL some method of joint
domination by the government. the en-
rloyes and the public is not made opera
tive.
When winter comes on the national
ization Of all coal mines will he de
mandod. presumably heraldcd by a pro
posed strike Of miners. 4 suggestion
will be offered that the government as
sumo full control of the mines.
This proposition differs n trihc from
that connected with the railroads in
that it is contcnded that the manage
mNnt and operation of coal mines must
be left to those most familiar with
such work. This means that the tax
ing out of coal would be supervised by
the United Mine Workers of America.
The third step would come in the
spring. 1t is intended then to insist
that the government take over all the
banking facilities of the country aud
manage them for the people and in their
interests.
The idea is that all the profits now
coming to the bankers would fall to
the government. thereby lcsScning the
cost Of living and more eQuitably dis
tributng all the various benefits that
come from enjoyment of the privileges
extended by the banks.
Leading bankers in this city don't
take the idcn of the control of banks
by the government at the dictates of la :
Dor very seriously.
John II. Mason. president of the
Commercial Trust Company and di-
rector of the war loan calnpaigns, said
that already the government has practi-
cal control of the banking facilities of
the country through the Federal Re-
serve system, and as the government in
this country means the people them.
selves. what more does labor want?
William \. Law, president of the
First National Bank, said in his opinion
labor has gone its full length and will
hnd that the temper of the country is
such that it will stand for no more
dictation from that source.
The vice president of large trust
company said the idea is absurd. Such
Il move would mean the establishment
of what we have got away from-the
central bank idea-and this country is
not going hnckwnrd