The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-06
union CHIEFS
SPEAK BEFORE
COMMITTEE TO
SUPPORT BILL
Stone and Frank Morrison De-
clare Labor Has Faith in
Sims Bill to Change Rail
Control.
STRIKES SPREADING
BULLETIN.
(By Associated Press)


WASHINGTON. August 6.-Repre.
sentatives of IA different railroad
unions now have joined in a com.
nunication to Director General Hines
asking Immediate increases in wages.
so far as known this is the first in
stance on record in which all the rail.
road unions representing 1000, 900 en-.
ployes have acted as unit. Mr.. Hines
said today he had not had time to
analyze the communication but It
seemed formal presentation OF wage
demands already made public.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6. - Some
sharp views of leaders of organized
labor on economic problems were de-
veloped at the opening of hearings to-
daybefore the house interstate COM
merce committee on labor's plan for
the reorganization of the railroads,
Warren S. Stone, grand chief Of the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers
said labor might advocate a firing
squad for profiteers and declared that
unless congress found a solution of
the high cost of living problem, with
in a few months, America would see
its very worst period
THE people are not going to
starve," said he. They are going to
die fighting"
He added that the time would come
when all prices would be fixed by the
government.
Labor now demands that America
become the home Of industrial free
dom as it has become a land Of
political freedom, said Warren S.
Stone.
Declaring that American democracy
was controlled by an autocracy In In
| dustry, Mr.. Stone argued that there
could be no solution and no lowering
! of the cost Of living as long as con-
sumers had to pay extoruonate profits
| on their own earnings In purchasing
the necessaries Of life.
Labor's belief in the Sims bill, en-
bodying the railroad employees plan
for the solution of the railroad prob
lem was declared by Mr.. Stone to be
profound. In this plan he said, the
workers raised the banner of demo
cracy in control of industry and ad-
vanced to a new crusade with the
faith of the pilgrims"
Supported by Labor
| cat the request of these organiza-
tons (the railroad brotherhoods) the
Sims bill Is now before you" said Mr..
Stone. Il speak as the voice OF these
|
announce to this committee and to the
people of this country that they are
supporting this measure with all the
strength and all the unity Of purpose
| that can move SO large a body of citi.
zens.
Joined with us. and represented by
Mr.. Morrison Is the American Fedora
ton of Labor. adding three million
and a half men to that body of rail
way employees who instituted this
movement.
In the Industrial development OF
this country great organizations OF
capital first appeared as employers.
Individual workers, following the ex-
ample set by capital. organized as
employees. Their purpose was to Sc
cure be$er working conditions and
larger measure Of return for their
labors The full force Of capitalistic
organizations has been set against
labor to hold and to keep all the
profits Of industries. The strength OF
the labor unions has been exerted to
wrest from capital some share Of the
profits for the wage earners.
This has been perpetual struggle
by the workers to maintain a tolerable
standard of existence; on the part of
capital to amass greater profits. At
times both sides could ignore the
needs of the public. But now the
very growth of the labor organizations
has brought into their ranks a great
mass of the consumers. The large
number of the wage earners now
constitute a large percentage of the
people. The extension Of industry has
changed the nature Of the previous
struggle.
Wages Determine Costs.
For whatever the worker receives
In wages he must spend for the neces-
saries of life. In addition, he is al
ways compelled to pay the employer
an excessive profit on its own wages.
The cost OF his living is determined by
the sum he earns plus the profit he is
charged on his own labor. And as q
group, labor is forever prevented from
bettering its lot because Of the profits
exacted by the employer. The hope
Of finer life is never realized. So
long as consumers are forced to pay
extortionate profits on their own earn
ings to a third interest there is no
solution Of the Industrial problem.
I'VE find that this third interest alb
solutely controls and dominates the
management of industry. 1t nxes
wages and controls working condi-
} tions. It fixes the prices Of commodi.
ties without regard to the needs OF
society or the necessities Of producers
and consumers. We have a demo
cratic form of government but an
, autocratic control of industry.
] Live by Industry
I'VE exist under government but by
: industry we live. Under such a sys.
, tenn the majority of democracy can
through their government enjoy only
: such rights and privileges as an auto
t cracy in industry permits them to re
ceive. This country was peopled by
j race who sought within its bound.
aries religious freedom. 1t was estab.
( lished by their descendants through