Evening journal., 1919-08-07
PLUMB DECLARES
CAPITALISTS have
RUINED u. S. ROADS
Lcontlnued From rirst page !


commerce committee had told Pres
ident Wilson he has 'full and plenary
authority" to deal with the railroad
situation and that additional legislation
at this time Is not necessary.
In a letter written by Chairman
| Cummins at the committees direction
! Wilson wRs told that Director General
Hines has authority to fix both wages
and rates and that therefore no ac-
/ ton by Congress is necessary to meet
| the present emergency. The letter was
a refusal OF President Wilson's request
that Congress authorize a special wage
commission.
After announcing the conference.
Plumb said:
During this week there has come
into the possession OF the Railroad
Brotherhoods and ten afflliated railroad
organizations Of the American Fedora
tion Of Labor a state Of facts never
spread before the American people or
submitted to the jury of public onin-
ion. These facts tend TO show that
the wrecking and looting Of the New
York, New Haven and Hartford Rail-
road, the Chicago and Alton, the Rock
Island System and the Frisco lines are
not sporadic examples Of the highway
robbery to which the American nation
mas been subjected as to its public
transportation highways. Leading dl-
rectly from Wall street aHd from the
banking houses controlled directly by
the Morgan and Rockefeller groups,
these facts show that there has pro-
ceeded a systematized plundering Of
virtually all Of the public Transports
ton highways Of the United States.
I'VE believe that a Congressional in
vestigation will reveal that not one
railroad system dominating any part OF
the 254,OOO miles Of railroads in the
United States but has suffered and. is
suffering, in degree II not TO the same
extent from carefully deliberated man
ipulations OF the sort that have
wrecked and ruined the railroads l
have mentioned. Il will reveal with
emphasis the truth Of the words re-
Gently uttered before the bankers OF
10y Elihu Root.
Surely some provision must be made |
10 prevent the continuance Of the |
steady progress toward bankruptcy |
OF the railroads which characterized |
the decade before the Government pos
session in 1917 ut will reveal that |
these interests are again gathering |
their forces Of private aud secret con-
troll and seek, after having gained from /
Congress a sanction to rehabilitate /
heir railroad properties at public ex-
Dense to begin again and follow |
through its corrupt and wicked cycle /
he systemstized plundering and loot
ng Of the public and the public in
.erest in the nations highways"
Announcing the call for the national !,
conference he continued.
every respose TO our invitation to /
participate in the national conference /
1n democracy in railroad control has |
leen accompanied by a whole-hearted |
acceptance OF the basic principle, eX-
pressed in President Wilson's message
It the convening OF this Congress
wherein he declares for the genuine
lemocratization OF this industry. based
lpon a full recognition of the right OF
hose who work, in whatever rank, 10
participate in some organic way in
very decision which directly affects
heir welfare in the part they are TO
LAY in industry and for genuine CO
operation and partnership based upon
cal committee community OF interest
nd participation in CONTROL