Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-08-07
Sy Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1:-Ine
100000 members of the Brotherhood
of Railway Clerks, freight handlers
station, express and steamship en-
ployes will begin voting tomorrow as
to whether they will strike imme-
diately for increased wages or await
a solution of the wage question along
the lines of proposals made to con-
gress by Director General Hines.
Leading directly from Wall street
and from the banking houses con-
trolled by the Morgan and Rockefeller
group" information which has come
into possession of the Railroad Broth
erhood, shows that there has pro-
ceeded a systematized plundering of
virtually all of the public transporta-
tion highways in the United States,
the House Interstate Commerce was
told today by Glenne Plumb. Chi
cago lawyer.
Mr.. Plumb, who appeared in sup
port of the so-called Plumb plan for
reorganization of the railroads, said
the information rendered to show that
the 'wrecking and looting of the New
Haven, Chicago and Alton, Rock Is
land and Frisco lines, were not spo-
radio examples of the highway rob-
berry to which the American nation
has been subjected as to Its public
transportation highways"
Definite information on which his
charges were based. Mr.. Plnmb said
would be turned over to the commit
tee upon which it may ask for a
full congressional Investigation
I'VE believe such an investigation
he continued, will reveal that the
interests mentioned are again gather
ing their forces of private and secret
control and seek after having gained
from congress a sanction to rehabill-
| tate their properties at public expense.
Referring to labor's plan for public
ownership and operation by corpo-
tation to be directed Jointly by en-
| ployes, officers and the puplIc-the
| tripartite plan-Mr Plumb saidf
| This vast army of producers for
whom 1 appear are not divided. They
predict no conflicting plan, no diverse
| theories for the solution of this prob
lens, but appear before you, united
force profoundly convinced of the eco
nomic soundness of the principles up
on which their plan is built.
| THE progress of recent events has
! brought us face to face with crisis
of tremendous Importance. The con-
/ stantly rising cost of commodities tc
| the consumer has far outStripped the
purchasing power Of the consumers
/ wage This difference between earn
/ ing power and spending power of the
great mass or the workers has com
I ~~~>
great mass Of the workers has com.
PEELED the corresponding lowering OF
the standard of existence.
1.-The plan which labor present!
has been prepared after a most care
/ full study of economic situations ex.
isting, the causes of the present up
| heaval and the proper corrections te
/ be applied. The faulty system ma,
be improved by regulation. But reg.
ulation of the system long unprinci.
pied, merely delayed the ultimate
| collapse. 1t Is not constructive. L
| lays no foundation for solid progress
! 1t palliates but does not cure"
/ Mr. Plumb declared that organized
/ labor realized that further advances
| in wages at the expense of cost o.
living, excluding that Of values. were
4 wholly futile.
Equally" he added "organizet
labor realtyes that to correct this the
/ interest of both producer and con
! sumner must be protected; that thu
great increase in the productive pow
er of human efforts should be re
1 fiected equally in increased earnini
power of those who produce and th'
/ decreased cost of commodity, so re
I, duced.
! "The cost in transportation is in
fiicted in the price of all commodi
Tics WhCIAOA tAetAiSPSA eSN - --~ 49, -
4 consumer pays the freight on every
thing that he consumes, although q
1 may be produced next door"
Resistance is inevitable. Human
: nature can not do otherwise thai
oppose the universal laws of tn
standard of living. To avoid the de
! privations which loss of PURCHASING
/ power necessarily inf1icts, the frs
natural reaction is the demand TO
increasing purchasing power through
1 demanded raises in wages. yet thl
demand Is acknowledged to be fulfil
because such increase in cost of pro
duction is Immediately more affecte'
in the increased cost of commodities
I'm answer to this great reaction
demand for increased wages, we nov
| find 100000 railway employees refus
| ing longer to render their services
1 for the constantly diminishing re
turns. This manifestation of revol
is but sympathetic of the entire in
4 dustrial situation. 1t is not unres
that confronts us, it is revolt becaus
/ of Industrial conditions no longer t.
be borne.
1000 Strike in Boston.
BOSTON. August 1000 shop
! men employed by the N. Y. N. H. &
/ II. railroad in this city went on strilS
today. Railroad officials annouac
ed.