New-York tribune., 1919-08-12
'sPllsnsb Plan" Is
Called Bolsherisn1
Senators POmerene and
Myers Say 1t Is Scheme
to InstaI SoUiet Here

WASHINGTON, Aug. IL Careful
examination of the Plumb plan by Sen
ators and Representatives has con-
vinccd them that the scheme has in it
the clements of Bolshevism, it was said
in many quarters tonight. Legislators
do not believe it will receive the sup
port of any large proportion of the
people when they know it's details.
Even the government ownership group
in Congress will not solidly support
the scheme.
Senator Myers, of Montana, and SEN
ator Pomerene, of Ohio. both Demo-
Gratis, Joined to-day in denouncing the
plan as an attempt to install the soviet
system in the United States.
"The test of Bolshevism against
Americanism must be met right now"
Senator Myers said in the Senate. 1--WE
cannot dodge the issue. Let US face
it now. An attempt is on foot to So
vietize the railroads for the benefit of
one class. A vast propaganda is be-
ing carried on to sovietize all indus
tries. Adoption of the Plumb plan
would be the first step in thoroughly
Outstanding the country
He opposed increasing the wages of
railroad workers, because the railroads
are now being operated by the govern
ment at loss. Once adopted, and
with the railroads operated under the
Plumb plan, he said, Congress would
face threat of dire disaster every
IN revenue were not made.
Wants Compulsory Arbitration
Senator Knute Nelson, of Minnesota,
said the only way to prevent repeti-
tions of the recent strike threats is for
%N
the submission of wage disputes to
arbitration before a strike can be
called.
1--WE ought to have created an ar
bitration board three years ago" he
said. "The only way we can get relief
from such threats is to provide such a
body now"
Senator Myers praised President
Wilson for the stand he took against
threats in his address.
Wouldn't it have been good plan
to have put on the brakes three years
ago." Senator Nelson suggested.
At that time the brotherhoods had
held up Congress, he said, and the
blame for not finding o real solution
to the trouble at that time lay with the
President and his party, then in con-
troll of both houses.
Senator Myers responded that one
mistake did not justify another, and
called upon Congress to meet the chal-
lenge thrown down by the brother
hoods.
"It falls to the railroad men to pre-
sent to this country the concrete test
Of Bolshevism against Americanism," !"
he said. GAS far as ! am concerned !
am willing to die politically rather
than see America sovletized."
Worse Than Socialism
Senator Pomercne found the Plumb
plan "worse than Socialism," In a let
ter to railroad brotherhood officials in
Ohio. who asked his position and in
timated that they would work against
him if he failed to support their plan,
Senator Pomerene said the Plumb plan
has "nothing akin to it outside Of Boil
sheviK Russia
"Socialism contcmplates the public
ownership OF property to be controlled
and operated by the public for the
contemplates the public ownership Of
the railroads for class. They arc to
be taken over by purchase or con
demnation and paid for with the cash
or bonds of the whole people, and
then turned over to the National Rail
way Operating Corporation, whose
board Of directors shall consist of
fifteen men, ten Of whom shall be rail
road classified and official employees
AS neither class of these employees
will have any stock, their interests
the public. In other words, $20,000,-
100000 worth of property bought by
money, belonging to 11O,O00,000 peo--
pie is to be turned over to 100000
railroad men, representing perhaps,
including their families, 1o,Oo0.ooo
"Does this seem to be for the benc-
fit Of the masses p
Neither Fair Nor American
"Whcn your representatives come to
Washington and not only ask in
creased wages. but demand that the
Congress of the United States shall
buy these properties at a cost to the
government OF $4,000, 900 600 or $40
600 100000 and turn them over to the
National Railways Operating Corpora
ton for management and operation, |
want to say TO you as one American
to another it is neither fair nor Amer
lean for them to lnslnuate revolution,
as they have before the Interstate
Commerce Committee of the House, un-
less their demands are granted.
II believe in the right Of the labor
ing man to use the instrument of the
strike under proper circumstances, but
L 90 NOT Del1eVc the occasion Is mere
or ever has been here or ever will be
here which will justify a nationwide
strike, with all the distress it will
bring, not only on the public at large,
but on the strikers and their families.
"Mr. Plumb the other day referred
to the Wall Street control of the rail
roads. That was true in the past. 1t
is not true now. Wall Street has
many vicious things to its credit in
years gone by, but the captains Of
finance have never demanded S20,00O,-
100000 of the American peoples
money at one time.
''The Plumb plan -Harrimans Har-
riman in his palmiest days. The pub
lie does not want to be skinned. but
if it must be skinned it viii make little
difference whether it is by Wall Street
or by the methods provided for in
the proposed Plumb plan.
"The Plumb plan is the most vicious
piece of legislation that has been pre-
ssented to Congress since l have been
in the Senate. l would feel that ! was
contributing to the ruin, not only to
the transportation system of the coun-
ry, but to its financial and industrial
breakdown. if I voted for it. 1t would
lead not only to the ruin of the whole
people, but to every railroad man as
we'll"
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