Gilpin observer., 1919-09-04
PLAN TO REPEAT
ATTACK OF 1916
Railway Employees Chiefs Ap-
pear at Washington With New
Threat to Congress.
ASK $1,000, 900, 900 MORE PAY,
Also Demand Nation alIzatIon Of Other
Industries, Following Example Of
Russian Sovlets.

Washington.-It is just 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 Senators
while the memorable vote was being
taken on the Adamson Law that gave
them S6O,000,000 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 nationwide
strike.
That such a scene may be again en-
acted on a much greater scale Is indi-
Gated by the startling Developments
at the nations capital in the past few
days. Now the 100000 men In the
brotherhoods have been joined by
more than a 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
ernment in the past year and half,
the allied workers are asking for an
other Increase Of q 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 op-
Grated by them on a communistic
profit-sharing plan.
The plan is as daring as any con-
ceived by the Russian Bolshevists, and
behind 1t 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.
1--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 the 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
propaganda fund Of S10,O0O,0OO for
an intensive drive on Congress. Three
million dollars, 1t is announced, has
already been collect,A 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, II is stated, in send
ing speakers throughout the country
10 stir mp the enthusiasm of organized
labor for the brotherhood plan of
communistic railroad operation.
"Nationalizing" All Industry
"lf 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 scheme to gain control of
all great industries, taking them from
their owners and putting them under
the direct management of the organiz-
ed workers, as has been done In Rus
sia, and ms they are attempting to do
in Germany and Austria.
The reports of the United States
Railroad administration show that the
Government, since II took over the
roads In December, 1917, has Increased
railroad wages by considerably more
than thousand million dollars. and
about s5oo,o00,000 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, ,0Oo. 600 ;
TO unskllled labor, S225, 900, 600; to the
train brotherhoods, 100000. 900; to
clerks, S125,000,000; to telegraph and
station agents, $100,000,O00; to mis-
cellaneous classes, s110,Ooo.o00.
All OF these groups are now demcnd.
Ing additional increases of from 30 to
90 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 $1,000 year. The
average lie now more than $500 and
me new demands would raise It tc
$1,000.
The latest in the way of stin