Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-09
BY WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT

COPYRIGHT. 1919, by Public Ledger Co.
Labor unions have been necessary
to secure to the individual working man
an opportunity to deal with his en-
ployer on an equality and, free from
the duress of immediate want of a
daily wage. to demand what he regards
as an adequate and just return for his
labor, or to withdraw from employ
mcnt
II this country. at least. trade unions
have been conservative in not enlarging
their field of action TO include political
support of general government poll
cies.
The controversy in the ranks of labor
unioniSm has been between those who
wished to keep organized labor out OF
politics and those who insisted that it
should become party and adopt So
cialism as its goal.
GOmpers Joins Radicals
We have long known how earnestly
and. on the whole. successfully, Sam
uel (iompers has fought the Socialists
in the American Federation of Labor
and rrcvcnted the making of separ'
ate political party out OF the federation
on any platform. He has urged that
labor could better secure its just rcla-
tion t. rauital and the public through
collective bargaining and by influencing
existing political porties and leaders
than by segrcgatiug itself into pollu-
cal unit. The growing strength ana
influence Of organized labor has Justl-
fed his course.
Within Il day or two, however, the
public has been startled by demand
served upon Congress. indicating that
Mr.. Gompors has now yielded to social
ism and has consented to join the rail
road brothprhoods in forcing the United
States to enter upon policy OF govern .
mcut ownership and operation under the
tripartito control Of directorate OF
five representatives of the public, tve
representatives of the railroad working
men and five representatives of what Is
called "thc railway operating manage =
ment.
More Than State Socialism
This is more than a system of state
socialism, because, under that system,
the general public is in control and is
supposed to manage for the benefit OF
all and Justice is to be secured to the
wage earncrs, and the shippers and pa
irons through tho circumstance that the
government has them all as its con
Stituents.
In this new plan the five directors
to represent the public will be selected
by the existing administration. In the
exigcncies of politics the probability
that tho five labor votes will find sup
port in tho governmental five, to enable
the FIVE labor votes to control the
policy of the railroads as to compensa
ton for the men, may well be assumed.
Public Interest Relegated
We find no suggestion that the rail
road employees are to give up the right
to strike under this tripartitc control
| If We add to the influence that the labol
representatives will nominally have
in the board the threat and fear of 6
strike against an adverse direction, The
plan is seen TO be one to turn over thu
railroads of the country to the Contro
of the railroad workers for their prim
ary benefit.
In the nature of things, the interes
of the public. which should be tn
chief object of the railroad system, will
under such a plan, become secondary
Government ownership and operation
have been failures as compared witt
private management in every countr
except in Prussia, where the contro
was absolute and nonpOltical Tn
public has never been served as wei
and as chcaply in any country as i,
the United States under private man
agpment.
OF late years regulation has bee
too severe and unfair. and railroad ia
ciltes have not been increased as tn
growth of the country demanded, be-
cause capital has been frightened. w
have now had an object lesson in gov
ernment ownership.
We have found that in spite Of a
the economies that unit control per
mitted and which tho anti trust law for
bade to private management, the rail
roads under the government have ne
served the public as we'll as formprI,
although much higher rates have bee
charged.
Railroad Deficit Increases
There has resulted too, a RAPIDLY in
Creasing deficit which stimulates the dc
sire of the administration to get ri
of the responsibility.
That this railroad brotherhood pla
would produce Generalization in tn
railroad system of this country, mos
persons with real knowledge are con
vinCed. Wages would increase wit
labor control and so would deficits.
The absence of initiative through in
dividual reward for close and offpcti,
management would greatly intprfpr
with satisfactory service. More tha
this, the plan here proposed is but III
first step toward national managempI
of all general industries under SIM
.. lar control.
Whether its projectors realize it {
not it is proposal to revolutionizc OF