Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-08-05
SEEKS TO DICTATE
(Ganttnued frsHn pans one1


ident Wilson has spoken 70 ceagysss
has been ignored both BY labor and
by private ownership Of railroads.
what wage increases have been
received during the past few years
resulted only In Immediately beins
followed by more than proportionate
increases In the cost Of living. Each
rise in wages has turned out to mean
only temporary relief for the af-
fected workers. When the increases
have gone around the circle. labor
as producer loses the advantage Of
the new wages through the addition-
al cost 1t pays as consumer. More
over, through compounded profits
taken on these wage Increases each
cycle becomes an upward spiral OF
costs which the consuming public
vainly reaches to control.
"As the major part Of the consum-
ing public, labor Is entitled to reps
resentation on the directorate Of the
public railroads. AS a producer Of
capital it is entitled to representa-
tion on the directorate Of the rail-
roads. To capital. which Is the fruit
Of yesterdays labor we now propose
to discharge every just obligation,
We demand that the owners Of cap
ital who represent uniy financial in
terest as distinguished from operat-
ing brains and energy. be retired
from management, receiving govern
ment bonds with a fixed interest re-
turn for every honest dollar that they
have invested in the railway induj,
try. We ask that the railroads Of the
United States be vested in the pub
lie: that. those actually engaged in
conducting 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 bus-
mess, They are entitled to that meas
ure on control which is equal to their
ability and their responsibility for
operation of the transportation prop
critics. Then. and then only, will the
service be primarily for the public,
not primarily for profits to specula-
tors and infiators Of Capital. As a
means for accomplishing this end,
we ask that a lease be granted to q
corporation created not for profit,
but for public service. We ask that
this corporation be controlled in :ts
management by an equal representa-
ton OF three fundamental interests
upon which industry is based. The
public, operating managers and
wage earners will then guarantee
both the integrity Of the investment
required for the conduct Of the in
dustry and that return which induces
1t. by investing. to enter the public
service.
"The public. as consumers. havins
joined in that guarantee, will ther
share equally sarnings In the amount,
required to meet the guarantee.
This IL provided for by granting te
the wage earners and managenent one.
half Of the savings which they through
their perfected Organizations can make
and by securing TO the public the othe,
half to be enjoyed by tho consumers
either by increasing the means for ser.
vice without Increasing fixed charges
OF by reducing the cost Of the service
which the machinery then In existence
can render. Thus the cost OF transpor.
tation 10 automatically reduced exact.
ly in proportion as benefits aerue to the
producers Of Transportation. Increase
in earning power Of producers Of trans.
portation under this system can not III
reflected in increased costs. It must p>
balanced by decreased costs.
THE railroads are the key industry
Of the nation. They affect at once thu
price of every necessity. AZ increased
transportation costs are reflected In ths