The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-08-08

| through which 1t may become artlcu-
late. 1t is not to benefit labor as labor
alone; it is to benefit the consuming
public, of which labor at present is
the audible part.
'In labor's bill providing that the
public take over the railroads and
establish tripartite control between
the public the railway operating man.
agement and the employees, the labor
! organizations of America have estab-
| lished this new policy, which envis-
ages their condition not only as pro-
ducers, but also as consumers.
'It marks the step by which Or
ganized labor passes from demands
| for wage increases to demands that
the system of profits in industry be
overhauied. Hitherto, during sue
cessive wage negotiations and arbi
tration awards, we have called for
provisional settlements only of Ques-
lions arising out of differences as to
wages, hours and conditions of labor.
"That principle of genuine CO.
operation and partnership, based up
on a real community of interest and
participation in CONTROL of which
President Wilson has spoken in Con-
gress, has been ignored both by
labor and by the private owners of
the railroads.
What wage increases have been
received during the past few years
resulted only in Immediately being
followed by more than proportiOnate
increases in the cost of living. Each
raise in wages has turned out to
mean only temporary relief for the
affected workers. When the in
creases have gone around the circle
labor as producer loses the advantage
of the new wages through the addi-
| tional cost it pays as consumer.
Moreover, through compounded
profits taken on these wage increases
each cycle becomes an upward spiral
| of costs which the consuming public
vainly reaches to control.
GAS the major part of the cOnsum-
ing public, labor is entitled to repre-
sentation on the Directors Of the pub
| lie railroads. AS a producer of cap
ital Directorate of the railroads. To
| capital, which is the fruit of yester-
days labor, we now propose to dis
charge every obligation.
eve demand that the 'owners of
capital, who represent only financial
interest as distinguished from operat-
ing brains and money, be retired
from management, receiving Govern
ment bonds with fixed interest re-
turn for every honest dollar that
they have invested in the railway
industry.
eve ask that the railroads of the
United States be vested in the public ;
that those actually engaged in con-
Quoting that industry, not from Wall
Street, but from the railroad offices
and yards and out on the railroad
lines shall take charge of this service
for the public.
"These represent all the brains,
skill and energy that is in the bust
ness. They are entitled to that meas
ure of control which is equal to their
ability and their responsibility for
operating the transportation proper
ties.
"Then, and then only, will the
service be primarily for the public,
not primarily for profits to specula-
tors and inflaters of capital. AS a
means for accomplishing this end, we
ask that a lease be granted to cor
poration created, not for profit, but
for public service.
|
controlled in its management by an
equal representation Of the three
fundamental interests upon which in
dustry is based. The public, operat-
ing managers and wage earners will
then guarantee both the integrity of
the investment required for the con-
duct of the industry and that return
which induces it, by investing, to en-
ter the public service.
"The public as consumers and the
operating managers and wage earn.
ers as producers having joined in
that guarantee, then will share equal.
ly all earnings in excess of the
amounts required to meet the guar.
antee.
"This is provided by granting to
the wage earners and management
one half of the savings which they
through their perfected organiza.
tions can make, and by securing to
the public the other half, to be, en-.
joyed by the consumers, either by
increasing the means for service
without increasing fixed charges OF
by reducing the cost of the service
which the machinery then in exist
ence can render.