The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-05
TEXT OF STATEMENT


The statement follows:
The innuendoes in telegraphed dis
patches from Washington, appearing also,
in the speech of Representative Blanton
of Texas, that the railroad unions are
holding up Congress and the govern
ment' may as well cease. This appeal is
made to the American people direct II
invokes the judgement and common sense
of public sentiment. of all the public
which earns a wage or a stipend.
We recognize that the only way n
which we can exist under the present
system is to demand further increases in
wages But we agree with Representa-
tive Blanton that this affords but tenn
porary relief. 1t does not offer a remedy
FLabor's bill. on the whole, provides
a remedy and we ask merely that its
terms be scrutinzed. Our full argument in
support of these terms viii be represent
ed on Wednesday before the House com
mittee ON interstate commerce. In this
statement we are sounding the note o.
our basic principle.
That this role originates with labor
is merely because labor happens to have
firm organizations through which it ma,
become articulate. 1t is not TO henefit
labor as labor alone; it is to benefit the
consuming public. of which labor at pres
ent is the audible part. In lahors bill
providing that the public take over the
railroads aud establish tri-par'ite con-
troll between the public. the railway OF
Grating management and the employees.
the labor organizations of America have
established this new policy which en-
vsages their condition not only as pro-
ducers. but also as consumers
ut marks the step by which organized
labor passes from demands for wage in
creases to demands that the system OF
profits in industry be overhauled. Hither-
to. during successive wage negotiations
and arbitration awards we have called
for provisional settlements only: of ques-
tons arising out of differences as TO
wages. hours and conditions of labor
THAT principle of genuine cooperation anf
partnership based upon a real comrunlt Z
of interest and participation in conf
of which President N->son has spoSer
to Congress. has been ignored both bv
labor and by the private owners OF the
railroads
ONLY TEMPORARY RELIEF
what wage increases have been receiv-
ed during the past two years resulted
only in immediately being 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 affected workers. When the m
creases have gone around the circle, labor
as producer loses advantage of the new
wages througn the auditlOnat COST u Pas
as consumer. Moreover, through com
pounded profits taken on these wage IN
creases. which cycle becomes an upward
spiral of costs which the consuming pub
lie vainly reaches to control.
..As the major part of the consuming
public labor is entitled to representation
on the directorate of the railroads, As
producer OF capital it is entitled to rem
resentation on the directorate of the rail-
roads To capital which is the fruit o.
Yesterdays labor we now propose to
discharge every Just obligation We de-
mand that the owners of capital who reps
resent only financial interests as distin-
fcontinu~d ON P.<~ T.wr