The sun., 1919-08-10
RAIL WORKERS
HALT THREATS
TO USE FORCE
~
With Congress Hostile, An
nounce They Will Ask In
terview With President.
THINK HE FAVORS PLAN
Now Call Naturalization Prof.
ect Characterization"
of Railways.
srseial .pespatcA to run sur.

Special Despatch to THn Sur.
q WASHINGTON. Aug. 9.-with Con-
gress manifestly hostile to the plan
Of organized labor for the nationaliza-
ton of the railroads. hackers of the
movement now plan to seek the ap-
proval of President Wilson, believing
he has expressed some Of their prin-
clples in his addresses.
win executive favor were discussed
to-day at a conference of several ma
uonally known men, who were called
here by labor leaders to confer on the
railroad situation.
After an all day executive session
the statement was authorized by labor
leaders that "it is unavoidable that a
meeting with the President will be
sought at an early date. when the es-
sential principles of labor's pro-
gramme, the Plumb plan, will be pre-
sented and the state of facts outlined
which lends such power to the proposal
OF the brotherhoods for the nationali-
zation and characterization Of the
railroads.
r. c. Howe There.
The conference was attended by Frank
p Walsh and Basil Manly. former joint
chairmen of the War Labor Board Gov.
Henry ]. Alien OF Kansas, ex-Gov. Ed
ward F. Dunno OF Illinois. Prof. Edward
Bems and Frederic c. Howe of New
York. Morris L. Cook. engineer. OF Phil
delphia; ]. A. H. Hopkins. chairman Of
the committee or forty-eight, and labor
leaders. II was stated that the docu-
ments to show there has been a sys-
tematized plundering OF all the railroads
Of the country for private benefit, I'D
charged by Glenn Z Plumb. counsel of
the workers. were placed before the con-
ference.
Meanwhile after a week OF dark pre-
dictions for the future Of the country
unless Congress Immediately adopts the
Plumb plan. fifteen labor leaders issued
to-day more optimistic forecast for the
nation. making the definite assertion
that no violence or threats would be
used 10 force through the programme.
The statement. however, intimates
that unless the President and Congress
can meet the request for increased
wages or bring down the cost of living
labor will have to try to hnd another
solution" The leaders also now desig-
nate the.r plan as "Americanization" OF
the railroads Instead of naturalization
The whole tenor of the statement Is
vastly different from the veiled threats
and intlmations made by hve Of the
leaders week ago. The leaders admit
tnelr previous intimations that revolu-
ton and dark days are ahead unless the
programme was adopted has lessened
their prestige in Congress and the coun'
Gy. Their previous statements h4ys
been the subject OF constant grilling by
members OF the House Interstate For
eign Commerce Committee all week. The
attitude of the committeeman clearly in
dieates that Congress cannot be STAN
peded by threats.
Io-day's statement follows:
To prevent any misunderstanding
as to the policy OF the organized rail-
road employees we unite in a definite
assertion that We have no desire and
nave had none, to impress upon the
public by violence or by threat our
proposal that the railroads be ma
Nonalized under 'tripartite control"
Two distinctly separate considera-
HONS now confront the people, the
wage requirements OF the railroad
eMploEess ard the Sims bill,
In the matter OF wages we have
submitted an eminently just PROPOSE
uon, We have said that II we are to
continue u hve as Americans should
hve and are TO care for our families
as American families should be cared
tor the proHteers must be restrained
and our wages increased. Every fair
minded man and every intelligent
housewife will recognize the reason
suenes9 OF this request. II Congress
and the President cannot meet this
request II Is still n living question
ana we shall have to try to find an
ether solution
This. however. bears In no way
upon our sponsorship OF the Sims bill.
we do hold 10 our convictions that
tAe railroad employees are in no
MOOD to conslgn themselves hnally to
tne autocratic control OF financial
u!ctators. but in proposing the elimi-
nslon or capital and the tripartte
aTeciorate we have no purpose of
Intimidation.
We appeal to the statesmanship
OF America and 10 the commsn sense
or american manhood and woman
hoou, We all are voters and unless
our democracy in government Is a
Ia!ure our democracy In industry
heed not be. We believe IN the native
solllty OF american labor What we