The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-10

4 and haNtGg UEfallA tt tiiS t'"N
! finger tips, he met the rapid nre OF
questions with ready and direct re-
4 niles. Invariably his explanation OF
nv ,vfsiou brought into question was
{ sufficient to disfllusionize the com
n,it.ee mems minds of any fears OF
,nnending dangers In the operation
! Of the Plunib plan. He was apie' ZOO
to show In nearly every instance now
! the pronosed system OF handing the
railroads would work 10 Inc srea.
+ advantage of the public as compared
with the old scheme Of private owner
ship.
Under direct questioning. the WI
ness made no effort TO conceal MS oe
lief that the Same principle propoSeo
for the railroads likewise would De
applicable to other industries anu
public utilities. including gas ahu
water companies, troily lines ana 'oH
roads provided the workcrs anu NV
public concur in the desire 10 Apply
The principle.
would see II come for the steel in
dus;ry 49,.
Mr., Plumb denied. however. that
this general application of the princl-
pie of naturalization would iead 10
socialism, In reply 10 further CUES
tioninc he stated that the plan con-
templates the tripartite Organization,
would do it's own manufacturing anu
that this policy would lnNoiFe the
taking over of the locomotive manu-
featuring plants and other equipment
building concerns.
MFR plurub's disclaimer that vio-
fenre was contemplated in connection
with the campaign for naturalization
eff tho railroads was given in response
To questions by Representative wat
son. Republican OF Pennsylvania
Much has been said here about
revolution, perhaps revolution 70
arms, I do not know" Mr. waters
said. DO you think that this bin can
possibly end all chance OF revolution
MANY Of the men are using that
term" Mr. Plumb replied, but
hardly realize what is comp. ehendeo
bv these congressman in that term
what | think most Of the workers
mean by revolution is that they are
Just going to object for all they are
worth"
II do not think the working man
will ever rise in revolution, saio
MIR. watson They have got too
tauch at stake"
No Revolution.
! II don't either" Mr.. Plumb quick
+
they are going to object to recon-
struction plans that do not safeguard
their interests as they see them, ana
they are going to do something about
j 1t.
''wall the bill eliminate the discon-
ttent?" Mr. Watson asked.
1t will open an era where discon-
,1ent will begin 70 vanish the labor
! champion declared. There is less dis
content now than there was ten years
ago, but the present unrest is grow
ing. ! believe this plan is ono OF the
stepe Of revolution brought about ny
the American people out Of discon-
ltent with existing conditions"
Representative DeWalt Democrat
of pennsylvania. pursued a similar
line Of inquiry later in the hearing
and was given even stronger assur-
ances that no plan for the oVerturn
Of the government is in contempla-
ton.
! Mr.. Dewalt inquired If Mr.. Plumb
was certain he spoke the views OF
the railroad employees. The labor
spokesman replied:
Il am sure that I represent the
! views Of the employees If I was not
tsure of this would not be here. There
has been Il great deal Of misinterpre-
tation in the newspapers that we in
tended TO force the adoption of this
plan through the power Of strike. No
one said that. IL was positively de
nied by Mr.. Stone. Mr.. Morrison and
myself.
There is a wage dispute now pend
ing and the only strike action has
been In connection with that. There
T.: no connection between that mat
ter and the prese ntation Of this bill
here This IL a matter OF statesman
shin and we would be blind TO our
own interests II we should attempt
TO bring it7in here.
IF the strike power is used. 1t will
only be used as means of settling
wage disputes.
When we sag that II the railroad
problem Is not solved there viii be
trouble. we merely mean to state the
fact that there is necessity for
finding a solution, because OF the feel
ing OF unrest and discomfort over the
country"
Mr.. DeWalt expressed great salts
faction AT the witness assurance that
violent action was not contemplated.
Mr.. Plumb rejoired;
Against Violence.
TT I thought for one moment that
any OF the men contemplated violence
and controlled by activities, would
not he here for one minute"
Answering a question as 70 whether
he would favor application OF the
rincipie OF .trtpartite control TO all
industries. Mr.. Plumb said he would
advocate its extension only to those
Industries based on grant or monop-
oily
Then your argument Ia that X all
the men interested in any enterprise
determine that legislation of a similar
character should he enacted. that
Y ould be the thing 10 do?" asked Mr..
iDeWalt
IF the public concurred in that de-
termination" the author of the plan
replied.
Suppose the steel workers should
want the principle applied to that in
dustry?" Mr. DeWalt inquired.
Il think you viii see that" Mr..
Plumb predicted.
Where would YOU stop in the APP