New-York tribune., 1919-09-07
Resigns as Commissioner Of
immigration Here to Head
Movement That Aims to
Enlist All l.. S. Liberals
Roads Key to Industry
He Declares DcmOcratizatiOn
Will End Cycle of Con-
tinual Price Increases
Ner York Tvibnrs
WASHINGTON Buvedu

Washington burfd"
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-Frederict
c. Howe. Cmmissirer Of immigration
at the Port Of New York since 1914 to-
day actively affiliated himself with the
Plumb plan for naturalization OF the
railroads by resigning his Office to be-
come executive director OF the Conier,
ence on Democratic Railroad Contro
which was arranged for by prelimi.
nary meeting of American hoerais
held in Washington under the direc-
tion of the Plumb Plan League IN Au'
gust.
In an announcement Of his resigna.
tion made TO-DAY Mr. Howe declared
. that steps would be taken at once ia
organize around his committee all the
liberal thought of the country to back
a programme of railroad control de-
signed to be industrialiy democratic
and to protect the interests Of the pub
lic-in short, the Plumb plan. A con-
ference called by the Plumb Plan
League will be held in Washington in
October. practically simultaneously
with the Presidents conference lie:
tween representatives of capital and
labor and an international labor con-
ference from which the United States
will be barred unless the peace treaty
10 ratined bc10re tnat Time
States Purpose Of Body
"Our conference" said Mr.. Howe's
statement to-day, will build its pro-
gramme on the principles that the gov
eminent should provide transportation
at cost and that labor should partici-,
pate in the management and control OF
the railroads.
81 agree most heartily with Senator
Borah, who said in the Senate yester-
day, speaking Of the general labor stu.
alton. that the problem is not one OF
wages. The question: he went on
cannot be settled until industry has
been p0 on a new basis and labor not
only has been allowed to share in the
fruits Of industry, but also in manage
ment. operation and control. No
American liberal. think, will disagree
with that statement.
al hope that We can organize large
group Of prominent Americans all over
the country who arc thinking along
these lines, and who realize, with Sena-
for Borah, that the situation is acute
and that a liberal policy is the only
sane and right alternative.
III am thoroughly convinced that We
can only increase the production Of
wealth of all kinds when we insure its
efficient and cheap distribution. l be-
lieve that can best be secured by en-
listing the workers 80 that they will
work with something of the hope and
something Of the freedom a man has
when he works for himself, when he
sees the plans and specifications and
enjoys the results of his savings and
efficiency.
"That ought to be automatic in Amer.
lea, which has become what she is by
virtue Of Just such economic democ-
racy. further believe that only
through democratic control of the
transportation agencies will industry
the farmer and the worker be released
from the endless cycle Of higher costs
and then higher wages which will 60
on indefinitely urder the private mon
oply control Of transportation by per-
sons interested only in profits. Trans
portation must be an agency Of service
and of service alone"
Author of Liberal Books
Mr.. Howe was formerly lawyer in
Cleveland. He served in the Ohio
Senate for several years. He has been
interested in movements for construct
i've democracy, and his name is especi-
ally identified with municipal and
public ownership and the land question
He is the author of series of works
dealing with constructive democracy
in America. Among these are: "The
High Cost Of Living" "The Land and
the Soldier" The Only Possible Peace
privilege and Democracy in America,
European Cities at Work" The City
"The Home Of Democracy" and The
Modern City and Its Problems