Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-06

stand play. then he dumped the task
81 sC0nyress, flrst having committed
himself and biassed his partyby dec
larations showing entire absence Of q |
spirit Of justice and high purpose in |
results"
Then the railroads Of the country
were turned over TO Director Gen=
erar' .McAdoo. the Presidents SON
in-law, to complete the processes OF
cinchIng the much-desired friend
ship. And then: BY an order Of May
rs. 1918. the Director General OF
Railroads made q general Advance Of
wages to the 100000 operating ems
ployes Of the lines under his msnage-
ment. The increase to those paid On
monthly basis ranged from ~
percent to those already earning $50
or less. down to s.7s per cent. for
those already earning $1s7. and TO
4.56 per cent. for those already get
ting $3.50 or more. The whole, In
crease totalsd tfor the public to pay)
$3.50. 100000 annually.
There was the beginning Of the
wild jumps Of the II. c. L. Who Of
US does not remember where 1t has
led? We said then that it was the
foundation Of endless trouble, woe
and crime; that the crisis was not
averted, only postGPned. The peo-
pie have seen the cost Of class buy
ing by the government. They have
dumped billions into the railroads of
the country under government man.
asement. and every year the service
has been less satisfactory to patrons.
In August. 1916 tbefc-e> the hold.
up) the railroad brotherhoods' mem
bers were enjoying the highest wages
of any class Of labor in the world.
These wages have kept pace with the
advances in the cost Of necessities;
no other class Of labor has been so
favored. And now. having gotten
away with the first loot, this critical
hour has been chosen to continue the
looting anc to fix the condition upon
the nation by exacting license to
steal.
All the organized labor Of the
country is not over five per cent Of
the population. All the railroad en-
ployes of the country is less than
two per cent. of the population. The
railway brotherhoods make up q part
, of that two per cent. and these
brotherhoods say to Congress:
/ You turn over the transportation
system. TO US AND OUR PLAN.
and we will grant the other SO per
cent. Of the people one-half the sur
plus after such transportation sys-
tenn has paid us the wages we shall
exact (for they are surrendering
none Of their prerogatives in strong
arm methods, or the delightful privi-
lege Of -repudiating scraps Of
paper" at any time it may suit their
purpose) and the hours that please
US. and the other costs Of operation.
Amy extensions must be paid for by
the public but we shall take one-half
the proceeds and operate them to suit
ourselves. All surplus above a GER
tain per cent. Of operating costs shall
result in automatic reduction of
rates-but we shall first take our so
per cent. We shall grant to the
public share in the operating cor
poration by permitting the President
(who obeys our orders) to appoint
five men to represent the public,
with whom shall act five men named
by the classified employees, and 1--WE
others shall be elected by these
operating officers
There Is your offer from the rail.
way hold-up men. Have you ever
seen anything more attractive in the
schemes of Lenin and Trotzky for the
wholesale taking over of the prop
erty accumulation and civic rights Of
others? Men whose brain and genius
and money have fed and clothed
these men and their families and
made Of them all that they are. are
trampled as the dust under the feet
of organized labor" less than two
per cent. Of the population.
The estimated population of this
country is now in round numbers
110.oo0.000.- OF that number not 81
100000 individuals are listed as
members Of labor organizations.
That may be too low when we con-
slider the number Of sycophants who
hide behind and cater to labor union
methods without paying dues. Let
US call the whole number 5.000.o
Now then, Of this 10 million peo-
pie 30 per cent. or 'thereabout are
engaged in agricultural pursuits of
some kind-they are not organized"
About ~ per cent. are In manufac-
turing and mechanic industries. The
rest are OF various callinss ana pro-
fessions and the drones. except the &
per cent. (now led by less than one
| half Of itoelf) (which in br,,t.,,,