The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-08
Attorney for Brotherhoods
Tells Senate There is No
Division Or Conflict of
Plans.
CRISIS OF GRAVE
IMPORTANCE CITED
"It is Not Unrest Confronts
Us, But Revolt Due to
Conditions No Longer to
Be Borne" Says Plumb.

Washington. Aug. Glenn f.
Plumb. lawyer. of Chicago. who
first presented the raiEoad brother
hoods plan for public ownership and
private operation of the railroads to
the senate last February, appeared to-
day before the house interstate COM
merce committee to present argu-
ments in support of that plan which
has been incorporated in the Sims
bill. now pending in the house.
Mr. Sims has explained that he in
troduced the bill by request as he
would any other.
Referring to labor's plan for pub
lie ownership. the tri-partite plan, Mr..
Plumb said:
This vast army of producers for
whom / appear are not divided. They
present no conflicting plans, no di-
verse theories for solution of this
problem, but appear before you a uni
ted force profoundly convinced OF the
economic soundness of the principles
upon which their plan is built
THE progress of recent events has
brought us face to face with crisis
of tremendous Importance The con-
stantly rising cost of commodities to
the consumer has far outstripped the
purchasing power of the consumers
wage. This difference between earn
ing power and spending power OF the
great mass OF The workers has conn
PEELED a corresponding lowering of
the standard Of existence.
Assistance is inevitable. Human
nature cannot do otherwise than op
pose the universal lowering of the
standard of living.
I'm answer to this first reaction,
demand for increased wages we now
find a hundred thousand railway en-
ploye refusing longer to render their
services for these constantly dimin-
ishing returns This manifestation OF
revolt is but sympathetic of the entire
Industrial situation 1t is not unrest
that confronts us. it is revolt because
of Industrial conditions no longer to
be borne.
THE plan which labor presents has
been prepared after a most careful
study of the economic situation exist
ing. the causes of the present evils
and the proper correctives to be ap-
piled. The faulty system may be i'm
proved by regulation, but regulation
of a system long unprincipled merely
delays it's ultimate collapse 1t is not
constructive. 1t lays no foundation
for solid progress 1t palliates. but
does not cure
I'VE already number in the sup
porters OF labors plan approximately
six million adult producers-about one
sixth of the productive man power of
the United States. Perhaps the same
proportion OF the political power IF
the nation. and a financial power
which few comprehend
Equally" he added. organized la
Dor realizes that to correct this vi
cious system the interests of both
producers and consumers must be
protected; that the great increase in
the productive power of human ef-
fort should be reflected equally in
increased earning power Of those who
produce and the decreased cost of the
commodity so reduced.
In order to affect the price of all
commodities by advances in wages to
those who produce, then. it would be
necessary to complete the entire cycle
of industrial production. An advance
to the shoemakers is reflected only |
in the advanced prices of shoes. 1t
does not affect any other commodity. |
but with transportation the situ-
alton is quite otherwise. The cost in |
transportation is reflected in the price |
of all commodities, whether transport
ed or not The consumer pays the |
freight on everything that he con-
sumes. although it may be produced |
next door"
Mr.. Plumb. who appeared in sup |
port of the so-called Plumb plan for |
the reorganization of the railroads, |
said the information tended to show |
that the "wrecl<ing and looting' of /
the New Haven, Chicago and Alton, /
Rock Island and the Frisco lines were /
mot sporadic examples of the high |
way robbery to which the American
nation has been subjected as to its
public transportation highways
Definite information on which his /
charges were based, Mr. Plumb said. /
would be turned over to the committee i
upon which IL may ask for n full /
congressional investigation
I'VE believe such an investigation"
ne continued. will reveal that not
me railroad system DOMINATING any
rart of the 254.oo0 miles OF railroad
Il