The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1919-08-21
Revolution by Ultimatum


boods for taking over the railroad
nroperties of the country is straight
out adventure into Soviet economies.
1t contemplates collective ownership
but class operation and control, winch
is at the foundation of the Soviet Sys-
TEN.
The American people. through 'helf
Government, are to buy the railroads
from the private owners and turn
these properties over to the railroad
employees to manage and operate I'D
consideration of all investment OF ap-
proximately $2O,OOo,oOo,ooO the Gov
eminent is to appoint one-third, OF
the directors, and the public Is to share
In such savings in the cost Of operation
MS may remain after the employees
have paid themselves what they think
their services ought to be worth. Ihe
split in which the programme is put
forth may be inferred from state
ment made by B. NJ. Jewell, Acting
President of the Railroad Employees
Department Of the American Fedora
tion of Labor, in which he said that
II President Wilson's suggestion to
Congress was carried out I'VE will tit
up the railroads 50 tight that they VIII
never run again if that legislation is
passed. II might have been Trotzky
himself speaking to bourgeoisie that
had offered mild and academic obJec'
lions to being despoilcd.
Before any railroad plan can be
worked out, one highly essential fact
must he established--namely, whether
the sovereign power of the United
States is vested In Government and In
the American people or whether 1t Is
vested in the railroad brotherhoods.
For three years now the brother.
hoods have assumed that the sovereign
power was vested in them, and Con,
gress has provided them with excel,
lent reasons for that assumption.
When the railroad employees in TIT
critical period Of the summer Of l9l(
demanded an eight-llour day AM
threatened general strike President
Wilson seIt q message to Congress In
which he urged that the eight-hOul
day made the basis of work and
wages, but he made four other pro.
pcsals, one Of which called for
An amendment to the existing
statute which provides for the
mediation, Cancellation and arbi-
tration Of such controversies as
The present by adding to 1t pro
vision that in case the methods of
accommodation now provided for
should fall, full public investi-
gation Of the merits of every dis
pute should be instituted and COM
pleted before a strike or lockout
may be lawfully attempted.
Congress refused to enact this legis
latl0n because the labor leaders object
cd to II, and now we have situation
IN which labor leader can threaten t
ssseu6 the railroads so tight that they
will never run again. if Congress pre-
S,lmes to pass an act to which thu
Brotherhood autocracy objects. as un
cdual to- Its imperative demands.
The railroad brotherhoods have EN-
harked upon a policy that even thu
NEST conservative Of, them must admi,
Systematically revolutionary. If Their
ssheme of naturalization under elias,
control Is to be carried out in respec.
u railroads. nobody can draw the line
whore It shall stop until all industry
g under Soviet direction. Yet they art
putting their programme out d matte,
q be discussed and deliberately con
y silered by the American people. The,
ere trying to force the Issue and bring
about q revolution by ultimatum.
In the last three years tic railroad
employees have received hundreds o.
millions Of dollars In wage Increase.
f5r which the general public is paying
AS q reward for Its generosity tn,
country is to be taken by the throa
and choked into Submission Il the mos
complicated economic issues that hay,
e,sr confronted It are not settled forth
with. II there Is any difference be
4 tween that kind Of arrogance aud tn
arrogance Of the German General Stat
tn July, 1911, We should like to know
what It Il.
The legislative branch Of the Unite,
state Government long ago degenerate,
Into Congress Of towards. Ii ma,
prove as subseryient to the brother
hoods as it has to the Anti.saloo,
League; but II the american pcopl
can be kept forever checked into d stat
Of Submission BY private organization
taking over the functions Of Govern
inent, the United States might as we
apply for tue appointment OF a reeeis
er first as lastsThe New York worie
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