The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-08-08
LABOR DEMANDS THAT
RAILROADS BE FREED
FROM PRIVATE CAPITAL
Officials Consider the Demand One
of Most Serious Country Has Been
Called to Face.

Washington, Aug. 4.-Organized
labor came out today with the un-
equivocal, formal demand that pri-
vate capital be retired &om the rail-
roads.
A tripartite control composed of
the public, the operating manage
ment and the employees is demanded
instead.
Addressed to the American public
and signed by the engineers, the fire
men, the conductors and the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, formal
statement was issued announcing this
proposal which will be carried before
Congress Wednesday.
cit marks" says the statement,
''the step by which organized labor
passes from demands for wage in
creases to demand that the system of
profits in industry be overhauled.''
Serious Proposition.
This sentence SUMS up in a few
words the proposal of which there
have been hints and indications, but
which is now laid before the country
for the first time. Everywhere in
officialWashington it is recognized as
the most serious and far reaching
proposition the country will be called
on to face.
Characterizing the proposal as
<1abor's bi1l," it is put forth as a
remedy for the high cost of living,
because the railroads are the key in
dustry of the nation. It demands the
genuine cooperation and partner
ship based on real community in
terest and participation in control
of which President Wilson spoke to
Congress, and which the statement
says has been ignored by labor and
the private owners of the roads.
eve ask" it says, 3that the rail-
roads af the United States be vested
in the public; that those actually en-
gagged in conducting that industry,
not from Wall street but from the
railroad offices and yards and out on
the railroad lines, shall take charge
of this service for the public"
What Labor Demands.
Briefly, labor's plan demands:
That private capital be eliminated
from the railroads
That the private owners receive
for them government bonds with
fixed interest return for every honest
dollar that they have invested"
The tri-partite control heretofore
referred to be established in corpor-
ations which shall lease the roads
and in which the public, the operat-
ing managements and labor she'll be
represented equally.
That the public, the operators and
the wage earners share equally all
revenue in excess of the guarantee to
private capital, by granting to the
operators and the employees one-half
the savings which are expected to be
made by such perfected organiza-
ton, and the public the other half as
consumers, either by increasing ser
vice without adding costs or by re-
ducing costs.
Originates With Labor.
''This role originates with labor"
says the statement, because labor
happens to have firm organizations
through which it may become articu-
late"
The trainmen are rot represented
in the statement because W. c. Lee,
president of the brotherhood, was out
of the city, but it was said they would
join in it
The statement follows:
sThe innuendos in telegraphed
dispatches from Washington, appear
ing also in the speech of Representa-
tive Blanton, that the railroad un-
ions are "hold;ng up Congress and
the government" may as we'll cease.
This appeal is made to the American
people direct. 1t invokes the judge
ment and common sense of public
sentiment, of all the public which
earns wage or stipend. We rec
ognize that the only way IN which we
can exist under the present system
is to demand further increases in
wages. But we agree with Represen-
tative Blanton that this affords but
temporary relief. 1t does not offer
a remedy.
Remedy Offered.
"Labor's bill, on the other hand,
provides remedy and we ask merely
L