The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-05
ORGANIZED LABOR
(contiaucd From Page One')

hauled. Hitherto, during successive
wage neGotiationG and nfoitSa'!oh
award, We rAre called 70" provisional
settlements only, Of CueGtiors RnFih3
ont OF differences rs 20 wages hours
and conditions OF labor. That pan
ciplc of genuine cooperation ana
partnership based upon real commas
sian Of interest and participation Ill
control of which President WILSON
has spoken to congress, has been lg-
nored both by labor and by the private
owners of the railroads.
What wage increases have been re-
ce3vcd during the past few years re-
suited Only in immediately being fol-
lowed by more than proportiorate IN
crcascs il the cost Of living. E1cn
rise IL wagLs has turned cut to mean
only temporary relief for the affected
WORKERS. When the increases have
pono around the circle, labor as pro-
Queer loses the advantage Of the new
yages through the additional cost IL
pays as consumer. Moreover, through
compounded profits taken on these
ware increases each cyclic becomes an
inward spiral OF costs which the con-
Stunning public va!rly reaches to con-
troll"
49, tn MAJOR part nr III" consuming
,,,,l.,. lYm,r : ,niillrd to rCrr"s' ntai!"n
On ,lr dlr,c,rrr'. If tn" public rail-
roads As u l,r'!ur. rs of capital. y -
emitted /" rci,I"-,.ilaiInu On tn "'r''-
toratc nr the ruiir"ad%. I" 'hri'H'
which IS the fruit of H">'"rdA!S l'""'
~. now p"upu>c L. dISvharE" every just
obligation. We demand that IN" own
,rs OF capItal. vino represent only imam
cI:l interest rs distinguished from OPP
Grating brains and energy, J." f''iH'i
from management. rrC"IN inE S"N'FhE"h'
bonds with fined interest return !"E
every honest dollar that they have IN
vested in the railway industry, We ask
that the railroads Of the United Stalcs
be vested in the public; that those ac'u-
ally engaged in conducting that INDUS
try. not from Wall street but from the
railroad offices and yards and out on
the railroad lines. shall take charge ol
this service for tn" public.
"rhrse represent all the brains, skill
ara energy lhat IS in the business.
They arc entitled To that measure OF
control which j. equal Ia their ahillty
and their responsibility Tor operating
the transportation properties. Ihch'
and then only. Will tn" service h. rri-
marty for tho public. not primarily Tor
profits to spectators and inilators VI
capital.
AS a means If accomplishing thus
end We ask that Il lease hr granted 20
a corporation created not for profit. but
Tor public service. We ask thal inns
curpnration be- controlled IN Its man
agrmrnt by an equal representation "t
lnr three Fundamental interests upon
which industry j. based. The public
cr, rating managers and wage carnGrS
WILL then guarantee both the integrity
Of the Investment required for TN" con-
duct uC the industry ami that return
which induces 1t. by Investing. /" enter
the public service.
The public. as consumers and tho
operating managers and waS" Chrn"rs' as
producers having Joined in that guar
antcr. will then shar" equally all earn
ings IN excess Of the amounts required
TO meet the guarantee.
This is provided by granting 10 the
wage carncrs and management "n'-hhIt
Of tho savings which they through lhrlr
perfected organizations can rah". ana ny
securing to the public IN" other half /"
lrc cnloycd by the consumers. either Ivy
increasing the means for service with
out increasing fixed charges or by TO-
ducirC tho cost OF tn" serve" which
the machinery then IN cNiTt"n"" can rem
der Thus tho cost Of transportation IS
automatically reduced exactly ~ proper
ton as benefits accrue Ia tn" producers
OF transportation. 1nCrCa%" ~ earning
power OF producers under this system
cannot be reflected in increased costs. I
must be balanced by decreased costs
The railroads are the key ministry or
tho nation. They affect At one" IN"
price OF every necessity. AZ increased
transportation costs are reflected m IN"
increased price Of all commodities. 50
n reduction IN those costs must h" re-
fectcd by reduced prices.
we say this because OF lahors IN
tercst as consumer. as part Of an over
burdcned public. This fundamental
statement Of prininl" "" respectfully
submit TO the hmcriCn people
Chairman Cummins. of tn" senate in
tcrstatc commerce. committee today cali
cd a committee meeting for tomorrow 10
discuss railroad problems and determine
whether hearings shall be rc-opcncd.