The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-22

We commend to our readers who
have thoughts on industrial freedom
and reform in their heads and hearts
the following able and thoughtful
paper:
"Organized labor has come to the
parting of the ways. We have seen
the folly of the old strategy of try
ing to better ourselves by negotia-
tions for merely higher wage and
humaner working conditions. Now
we are working for fundamental
change" said j. j. Forester, Grand
, President of the Brotherhood of
Railway and Steamship Clerks,
Freight Handlers, Express and Sta
tion Employees, comprising more
than 100000 employees.
"We have not come to this con-
clusion lightly. We have not decid-
ed impatiently. For decades, the
American worker has given his drab
life to the old regime, fighting ev-
cry inch of the way. And the fight
has not been for progress, but mere
ly to keep pace with the exigencies
of the hour.
1--WE are not eloquent men, and
we are not theorists. The facts
have converted us, and they have
converted, | believe, the great ma
jority of Americans. We have all
seen the war, and listened to the
ideals for which it was fought. We
gave our lives, our time and our
money, and gave hem gratefully.
But what else do we see? The
number of millionaires has doubled,
and the people pay the eXtortion.
Yes, the workers received wage in
creases. In fact, on the railroads,
under Government control, the en-
ployees got what seemed fair treat
ment. But the money was not
money. 1t did not purchase goods.
1t did not allow the individual a
greater partaking of the generous
things of the world. And today he
is determined that in a country ded-
icated to freedom he shall have free
dom. Freedom to decide his own
destiny, to make his home a better
home, to give his children something
of his dreams for them.
81 say these are simple consid-
erations. But they are deep, and
they dominate all of us.
The basic structure of Amer
lean industry must be rebuilt. There
is no just pretext by which the
present order can be defended, an
order which concentrates the wealth
from the work of all into the con-
troll of less than ten per cent of the
population.
THE American citizen is wise
enough to vote; he must be wise
enough to vote also in his shop as
to the regulation of the wealth he
is creating.
That is the PROPOSAL of the rail
road brotherhoods and affiliated or
ganizations in the Sims bill. We
wish the railroads to be operated in
behalf of the public on a basis of
justice to the men who conduct the
industry. We want capital out of
the railroads. Right there, let me
say, we are insistent upon this, that
capital shall be treated fairly. We
are not revolutionists, but construc-
for the public, and let the courts
tionists. We say pay capital every
dollar honestly and prudently spent
decide by the Constitution how
much the bill is
And with capital out, the pub
lie, the management, and the en-
ployees, equally represented, are to
control the roads. If there is a sur
plus, the public and the men divide
it. But when it reaches a given
level, rates are to be reduced Then
to restore the dividends the rail-
roads must increase the service they
render.
you hear plenty of denuncia-
tions of this plan, but did you hear
Wall Street propose an alternative
that had service for its keynote?
No, they asked, in the United States
Chamber of Commerce proposal, for
a guarantee of six per cent on earn
ings. Is there a hint of reduced
rates in this? Is there a share for
the public of earnings?
L l.