The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-08-29
PLAN TO REPEAT
ATTACK OF 1916
Railway Emplo y e e s
Chiefs Present OAR
ing Threats
ASK FOR MORE PAY

Washington.-It is fast three years
since the four leaders Of the railway
brotherhoods, having refused arbitra-
ton of their demands, sat in the gal
lery of the United States Senate and
held their watches on the Senator's
while the memorable vote was being
taken on the Adamson Law that gave
them $60,00O,000 additional wages a
year. When the vote was counted and
announced the four labor chiefs rushed
out to the telegraph office and with
drew the order for a nationwide
strike.
That such a scene may be again en-
acted on much greater scale is indi-
Gated by the startling developments
at the nations capital in the past few
days. Now the $4,000 men, in the
brotherhoods have been joined by
more than million other railroad
workers-shopmen, trackmen, tele-
graphers clerks, station agents-and
the demands are many times what
they were three years ago.
A Thousand Million Dollars.
On top of thousand million dollars
of added wages granted by the Gov
eminent in the past year and half,
| the allied workers are asking for an
other increase of thousand million
dollars
But more than this, this great body
of railroad employees has served an
ultimatum on the Government that all
the railroads of the country must be
taken away from their owners and
turned over to the employees to be OPP
Grated by them on a cemmunistic
profit-sharing plan.
The plan is as daring as any con-
ceived by the Russian Bolshevists, and
behind it is the threat Of nationwide
strike, with the leaders of the men sit
ting in the Senate gallery, watches in
hand, counting the vote.
To Tie Up All Transportation.
"We will tie up the railroads SO that
they will never run again If we do not
get what we want" announced one Of
the labor spokesman, standing within
stones throw of the Capitol, and
| this amazing announcement, like an
ultimatum from leader of tine Rus
sian Soviet, was instantly flashed over
the telegraph wires to every part Of
the country.
Since the first Brotherhood bomb
shell exploded in Washington at the
end of July, the fact has leaked out
that the brotherhoods are gathering
a propaganda fund of $10,00O,00O for
an intensive drive on Congress. Three
million dollars, it is announced, has
already been collected from the men,
bers of the unions. This will be used in
campaign work in the Congressional
districts, with the purpose Of enlist
ing the votes of the members of
| Congress, or of defeating them for
reelection if they do not vote as the
brotherhoods dictate. Money will also
be lavishly spent, 1t is stated, in send
ing speakers throughout the country
| to stir up the enthusiasm of organized
labor for the brotherhood plan of
communistic railroad operation.
"Nationalizing" All Industry. 81,
"If we don't get what we want out
of this Congress we. will put this
Congress out and put another one in
that will give us what we want" Is
the matter-of-fact announcement Of
the central propaganda office of the
brotherhoods in Washington.
Back Of the immediate purpose to
gain control of the railroads Is an
even deeper schsme to gain control Of
all great industries, taking them from
their owners and putting them under
the direct management of the organic
ed workers, as has been done in Rus
STA, and as they are attempting to do
in Germany and Austria.
The reports. Of the United States
Railroad administration show that the
Government, since it took over the
roads in December, 1917, has increased
railroad wages by considerably more
than thousand million dollars, and
about $500,0O0,00O a year is being tax
en- out of the National Treasury to
meet the deficit caused by the great
increase in labor cost.
Big Wage Increases.
The principal advances in wages
have been To shopmen, $500, 100000;
to unskilled labor, 1925, 100000; to the
train brotherhoods, $2OO,OOO,OO0; to
clerks, $125,000,00O; to telegraph and
station agents, $100,OO0,OOO to mis-
cellaneous classes, $110,OO0,OOO.
All Of these groups are now demand
ing additional increases Of from 80 to
80 per cent. When the Government |
took control of the roads the average
earnings Of all railroad workers, in
Guiding several hundred thousand un-
skilled workers, was 81 900 year. The |
average is now more than $500 and |
the new demands would raise 1t to
$4,000.
Strawberries Join High Living Cost.
Harrisburg, Pa.-Figures collected
by the bureau of statistics, state de-