The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-08-07
DEMOCRACY IS
CONTROLLED \ / R! |: j ]. By J ]
. A.l||.J)'I|'oCRAC''Y III / IN /
!. ALL INDUSTRY | NJ ] |''. I
Asserted By Locomotive Ensi-
y neers Before Interstate { \:
INDUSTRIAL FREEDOM
-. IS AIM OF LABOR
Producers and Consumers
Should HaveNoic in Con-
troll Of Their Existence:

= 4.
troll of Their Existence:
Washington, Aug. when War
rem s., Stone; grand chief Of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers
of the nation, declared to the house,
interstate commerce committee in his
address to the committee yesterday Z
that american democracy was con-:
trolled> by an autocracy in industry;
he set the nation agog. -. Z ~
Mr.. Stone argued that there could
be no lowering of the cost of living
as long as consumers had to pay
extortionate> profits on their own
earnings in purchasing the neces-
saries of life. 81. ~
aLabor's belief in the Sims bill en-.
bodyingA the railroad employees plan.
for solution of the railroad problem.
was declared by Mr.. Stone to be pro-
found. In this plan, he said, the
workers raised the banner of democ-
racy and advanced to "a new crusade
with the faith of the Pilgrims
':Ats tsthesrequest of these organiza-
tions,g tbe ell naiiroad brotherhoods, the
Sims bill is now before you said
Mr. Stone Il speak as the voice Of
them to announce to this committee,
and to the people of this country,
that they are supporting this. meas
ure with all the strength and all,
the Eunitysof purpose that can move
SO large, a body OF citizens. 8 ,.s s s q.
Joined BY A. r. 1 L. = =
>"Joined, with us and represented
BY Mr.. Morrison is the American Fed
GRAFTON. of: Labor, adding three mill
lion and q half men to that body OF
railway employees who instituted this
II tie II Industrial Il development ,ip os
this country great organization Of
capital first appeared as employers.
Individual workers, following the ex-
ample set by capital, organized as
employees. Their purpose was to Sc
cure better working conditions and
larger measure or return for their
labors.'~ The full force of capital
istic. organizations has been set
against labor to held and to keep
all the profits Of industry. The
strength of the labor unions has been
exerted to wrest from capital some
share of the profits for the wage
earners.'
:This has been Il perpetual strug-
gle by the workers Ito maintain a
tolerable tandard Of -existence; on
the part of capital to amass greater
profits. At times both sides could
ignore the needs of the public. But
now the very, growth of the labor
organizations has brought into their
ranks q greater, mass of the consum-
ers. The large number of the wage
earners now constitute large per-
centage< Of the people. The exten-
sion Of industry has changed the
nature of the previous struggle.
Paws Profit on Wages.
"For whatever the worker re-
ceives in wages. he must spend for
the necessaries of life. In addition,
he is always compelled to pay the
own wages. The cost of his living
is determined by the sum he earns
plus the profit he is charged. On his
own labor. And, as group, labor
is forever prevented from bettering
its. lot because Of the profits exacted
by The employer. The hope of q
fi1sEAife As never realized: SO long
as sscnnsuIi3ers are forced to pay extor-
tf6nate profits on their own earnings
to third interest, there is no solu-
tion of the industrial problem.
eve find that this third interest
absolutely controls and dominates
the management of industry. 1t
fixes wages and controls and dom
mates the management of industry.
It fixes wages and control working
conditions. 1t fixes the prices Of
commodities without regard to the
needs. Of society, or the necessities
of producers and consumers We
have. a democratic form of govern
ment,, but an autocratic control of
industry.
49,, Live bv Industry.
1--WE exist under government, but
by industry we live Under such a
system the majority of a democracy
can through their government enjoy
only such rights and privileges as
an autocracy, in industry permits
them to receive. This country was
peopled by race WHO sought with
in its boundaries religious freedom
It was established by their descend
ents through revolution as a land Of
political freedom. We now demand
that 1t become the home of industrial
freedom.
This can only be accomplished by
extending to industry the same right
Of individual freedom recognized BY
the founders of our government in