Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-18
WILSON
RECEIVES REQUEST i
Committee of TweEty-Seven Per-
sons Asks Senate Com
nlittee to Act.
WOMAN PLEADS FOR WEST
Asserts Sentiment in That Sec
ton Favors Ownership
by Government.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 17-President
Wilson was asked today to continue
government operation of the railroads
for period of two years.
The request, made both by letter and
statements, came from Representatives.
OF the farmers, the railroad brother
hoods and tho American Federation of
Labor. committee of twenty-seven
persons and appeared first before the
Senate Interstate Commerce Committee
and Inter at the White House, where
they saw Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary
to the President t
Before the Senate committee the dele
cation demanded the withdrawal OF the
Cummins bill. which provides for tho
return OF the railroads to their priyate
owners. - -
Il know the Presidents mind is open
on the whole subject" was wha. Sec
rstarX ret, Tumulty told the delegation at
TO nave your views" 80
Claim Sentiment Favor. Control
Mr. Tumulty was told that there wns
an overwhelming sentiment in favor
not only OF government operation, but
government ownership of the railroads.
Warren S. Stone grand chief of tho
brotherhood of Railway Locomotive
engineers. and the man who really
: y
against tho high cost of living, declared
that the question of the retention or thn
return Of the roads was of vital In
mittee's letter pointed out that pro-
ponents of the Cummins bill were juss
St,,dSlBs t,iSS n It's passase on tile ground that
the nc roads TO their owners on January
Stone Asks Tor Fair Trial.
IT would have a very bad offent
Il the roads were given back" said
opportunity as yet to give a real dem
onstration Of what government owner
snip OF the roads would boz
Mrs: b. G. Kalb. of Texas, representa-
tive OF the Woman's National Congreas.
aN Uaeclareo inc sentiment throughout the
osmsrsM;n MeSe MAS in, In favor of government
the letter were subscribed to by such
men as Samuel Gompers president or
1;ne @ae Al american e can Federation of Labor:
or the Farmers National Circle an., u
twenty-four others. ls
Letter From, Farmers.
The letter from the labor and Farm.
ers delegation to the President said
that the President planned to reti;rs
ine roads by January l. and that some
reglslatlon legs, n providing for such return
must be enacted Immediately.
We believe that this assertion q; q.
iot,n, T. great injustice to YOU continued the
overwbe cerp Ah You doubtless know. aM
and the members of the American Eeda
Grafton of Labor and the raiIrosd
13iiotnerhoods, 3iI as we'll as the general pub.
nf o,f' o, tavor an extension of the period
VI government operation Of the rniI-
ROADS Tor at least two years. In orda,.'
M .nat tair test may have been made or
be'T,n'rheht be Worhed I, operation and q plan may
pooai OF the railroads which wo,ld Gs
i"'i 70 All interests involved. -
Fear Advance OF Rates.
Dirsctor General Hines and mem-
mission miss OF me ne, Interstate Commerce Com.
ae'trn OF the railroads will inyoIws
an IN incrsase in freight rates OF
clGse ssass to si.ooG,ooo.ooo. This increase IN
ities' Will be reflected in an incrsos.
cost OF living OF at least 81 'ooo. 0i,o mn
year. year, possibly $4,000. 100000. The
stand such pespie sp incrn eannot and should NOT
iuiiy request. Mr. President en ~
half nia OF the farmers. the Amer,ean
bTotherhondso bon OF Labor Dor, and the railway
put put TIC. that you stop the rumors thai
you plan to return the railroads -
.he pVade eSanead Eonsroi and that in view Of
,alent ,ateint Industrial unrest you reess-
,snt ,asot'Sn public confidence by advocatinr
tnM. t;n the period cf government oparns
years" ioast Two
Letter Is Sent to Cummina.
During the day, j. r. Howard -
rrsessnlinG the American Farm Sure,r
"uerat lion, made public a Ietter whiea
n'i,.il ne nau sent :, senator Cummins .r,ns.
1,Ht.rnS 1aHarnSs resolutions adopted by the
.nanding the early return of The ra,i-
roads to private control under s,ns
conditions and regulations ss nnI
ee,;,h emuer adeIuate service at just and
Mr Howard said the resolutions h.a
'eer ~, adopted unanimously. az
wrote snG was from body d Of NOR, more .ban ne
iU i"u active and actual farmers had.
2eooO'ooO other farmers from thirtvA
'our States OF the Union"
Gompers Flies His Prote.tI
PROTESTING against enactment OF tho
SuthininS railroad bill. Samuel Conn
ers aseiared that organized labor
troll of the railroads for .wn rears
lot the purpose of testing out fhe
tjGn" 0pefA'
Kefesrins to the, anti-str:ks prov,-
'nE, to Senator, Cumniins, said: ~
~ do not know whittier we are
drifting. and. on that point am an
nrshensiys, Pre- This proposal is filled with
stop strikes. but will make respected
citizens lawbreakers"
The INJUNCTION against the coal MIN
ers,, Mr. Gompers declared, did noE
produce an ounce of coal.
"lnjunctions cannot make men
work" he added, and 1t In well to.
remember that IL mon cannot got 5us-
tice In, other ways they Will stop work,
and laws which seek to prevent that
Senator Cumutlns rcnifed that he