The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-08-13

aogss. erodaolnr intelolable condh
tions % srYiccI Oppressive rates ana
huge dfflriN. The rlhn proposed by
the hkutheshoods n FREQ al least, from
the fatal stigma Of ,fanure, since ~
has not been tried herr. Something
iike n har brought disaster In Rua-
SO, but only very loose reasonihB
would attempt 10 demonstrate that
this project, submitted 10 democratic
areir,nli ana oattnsihiy avoiding con-
fiscution, - q parallel to the Doishes-
lat system. ~
ohe case I the miiroads suffers
from the fact that the people to n
great degree have lost faith In them.
have come to heheNc h a they are
run, not ia the interent Of the public,
but In the interest OF Wall street ms
the inVeelmeut bankers. Further
more. there rs Widespread belief that
railroad capitalization Is heavily wat
cred, with a consequent burden upon
the public. A possibility TO be faced
~ that many a~tockholders, becoming
uncertain an 10 the security OF their
present Investments. might turn ia
Voiabiy toward a definite plan which
seemed TO offer better Euaranteen.
Neither the brotherhoods nor the
public can be ava Of the most
vulnerable point In the defenaes 10 he
attacked. That " the white Home.
Tie railroad workers took the meas
ure OF P~aident Wilson three years
ago. when within "a few hours they
changed him. by q threat Of force.
from d mediator In "A national crisis
to mn advocate and arbitrary upheld
or OF their demands. Already they
quot his latest message tu congress-
rs justification for their socinlistir
project. AMI there are observers IN
Washington who confidently predict
that n sufficient show OF radical la
bcr strength would carry him over TO
that side.
hut the most formidable element Of
power IN the hrotherhoods' campaign
Is the fact that they hav a definite
program and a complete, concrete
pan, providing for the taking over
Of the railroads, their financing. their
management, their control and a di-
vision OF the profits, all ~ostensibly
in the Interest OF the public.
Every one rcat.zrs that u Is a
changed world that We live In today.
hut nothing reveals that fact more
clearly than doas the certainty u a
the proposition put forth by these or
E%anizatioha viii be the dominating
public issue OF the Immediate future.
Never before was there a Tins When
serious debate Womb have arisen over
a proposal that the government fur
nish $40. 600. oO0.Q 900 OF capital for tho
purchase 81 the railroads In order that
thoy might be turned over TO the con
troll OF a class.
VT that very thing Is n subject Of
controversy today. II presents an Is
sue that cannot be ignored or waved
away. IL must be met squarcly aud
utsisd cuntiuflvely. for n involvos
dangers AZ grave as those which
ihreatcred the nation In German au-
tgrrT~y.
The situation. which would be per
turning enough in n circumstances
II rendered moro difficult by the fact
thar the administration Is without a
policy. Neither In Washington not
elsewhere Is there any leadership
capable 81 Informing and ~orgVnizinl
public opinion. The campaign OF The
railroad brotherhood ~ that Of a com
pact, disciplined army. operating on
a definite plan. against an morgan
lied. lcadcriess ponulace. Unless the
American people bring 20 hear upon
the Issue their united intelligence. tf
result Of the unequal contest vii
hardly he In doubt.