The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1919-08-29
RAILWAY LABOR
MOVE ASSAILED
New York World. Strong Wilson
Supporter, DenounceS "RevoIu-
ton by UItimatum."
PARALLEL TO RUSSIAN IDEA.
Calls Railroad Brotherhoods' Plan for
Government Ownership Soviet
Economies Venture"

New York. The New York World.
In leading editorial. characterizes
the railroad labor plan for Government
ownership OF railroads as "a straight
out adventure into Soviet economics"
The editorial page Of the World has
long had a national reputation for IN
deyiating support Of Democratic prin-
clples. hostility to Wall street. and the
most loyal and vigorous assistance 10
President Wilson. The World saysi
"RevoIutlon by ultimstum."
The plan Of the railroad brother
hoods for taking over the railroad
properties OF the country is a straight
out adventure into Soviet economics.
1t contemplates collective ownership,
but class operation and control, which
is at the foundation Of the Soviet sys-
tenn.
The American people. through their
Government. are 70 buy the railroads
from the private owners and turn these
properties over TO the railroad en-
ployees 10 manage and operate. In
consideration Of an investment Of ap-
proximately S2O,oOO.OOO.OOO the Gov
eminent is 10 appoint one-third OF the
directors. and.the public is TO share
in such savings In the cost OF opera
ton as may remain after the en-
ployees have paid themselves what
they think their services ought TO be
worth.
The spirit In which the program is
put forth may be inferred from a state
ment made by Il. NJ. Jewell. acting
president of the railroad employees
department OF the American Fedora
ton OF Labor, in which lac said that II
President Wilson's suggestion 10 Con
gress was carried out 1--WE Will tie up
the railroads so tight that they will
never run again II that legislation is
passed" 1t might have been Trotzky
himself speaking 10 a bourgeoise that
had offered mild and academic objec-
tons TO being despolled.
Who Is the Government
Before any railroad plan can be
worked out one highly essential fact
must be established-namely, whether
lie sovereign power OF the United
states is vested in Government and in
the American people or whether Il l.
vested in the railroad brotherhoods
For three years now the brother
hoods have assumed that the sovereign
power was vested In them. and Con
gress has provided them with excel
lent reasons for that assumption
When the railroad employees I'm the
critical period OF the summer OF 1915
demanded an eight-hour day and
threatened 4 general strike. President
Wilson sent a message TO Congress IN
which be urged that the eight-hour
day be made the basis Of work and
wages. but he made four other pro
posals, one Of which called for
An amendment TO the existing Fed
eral statute which provides for he
mediation. Cancellation and az n
OF such controversies as the rtuf
by adding To 1t provision thu' q
A. - 90.
now provided for should fail frli
public Investigation of Tie merits q
every such dispute should he n~titCt-
ed and completed before = strike or
lockout may be lawfully attempted
Try TO intinidate Congress.
Congress refused 20 enact This lcgis-
lation because the labor leaders OBJ
I jected to a. and now We har, s'ra-
/ ton In which tabor leader nr ,hrcat-
en- TO cite uT Die railroads So .f~lif that
they will mower run again e Congress
presumes 20 pass an act 90 $50 Ell he
brotherhood autocracy objects Us IN.
equal to its imperative demands
The railroad brotherhood have en-
harked upo. a policy 'hi' even The
most conservative Of thcm must admit
is economically revolu unary " heir
scheme Of nationalizs fiu, under lass
control II 10 b. carrie uni n respect
10 railroads, Nobody c1r DRAW Tie line
whore II shall stop UNI, nll industry T.
under Soviet flrectiou Yei they are
not putting their plu-rar 1ut as q
matter to be discussed aai ia..berate-
/ ~ considered by the A. eau people
They are trying 20 force le >ue and
bring about a revolutio Us ultima
tum.
The Public PAY
In the last three year, ile w road
employees have received aufed. II
millions Of dollars in wac increases
for which the genera rubl Is pnylng