South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-07
EVIDENCE IN
UNION HANDS
SAYS PLUMB
Announces Conference of
Rail Workers to be Held
in Washington.

WASHINGTON, Aug t.-IndIh-
ing a "systemized plundering Of
American railroads" Glenn +. Plumb
today told the house interstate COM
merce comittee that the IA railway
unions had sumoned ii national con-
ference on railroad control 10 meet
in Washington.
Plumb said the evidence upon
which he based his charges that big
financial interests had wrecked
roads would be reserved until lit
could be properly prepared and sub
mitted 10 the jury Of congress and
public opinion"
Plumb is the originator OF the
Plumb plan OF railroad control.
which the employees are demanding
and is acting "a attorney for the
employees in their campaign.
After announcing the conference
Plumb said:
Possesses Startling Facts.
During this week there has come
into the possession Of the railroad
brotherhood and 70 affiliated rail-
way labor organizations of the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor a set of
facts never spread before the Amer
lean people or submitted to the jury
Of public opinion. These facts tend
To show that the wrecking and loot
ing OF New York. New Haven and
Hartford railroad. the Chicago and
Alton. the Rock Island System and
the Frisco lines are not sporadic eX-
amples Of the highway robbery 10
which the American nation has been
subjected as 10 its public transpor-
tation highways Leading directly
from Wall st. and from the banking
houses controlled directly by the
Morgan and Rockefeller groups,
these facts show that there has pro-
-eeded systematized plundering OF
virtually all OF the public transporta-
ton highways Of the United States.
All Roads Suffer.
we believe that congressional
Investigation viii reveal that. not
one railway system dominating any
part Of the 254. 600 miles OF railroads
in the United States but has suffered
and is suffering in a degree If not 10
the same extent from carefully de-
liberated manipulations OF the sort
that have wrecked and ruined the
railroads ] have mentioned. II will
reveal with emphasis the truth OF
the words recently uttered before
the bankers OF Missouri by Elihu
Root. Surely some provision must
be made TO prevent the continuance
u the steady progress toward bank
-uptcy of the railroads which char
acterIzed the decade before the gov
ernment took possession in 1917
IL will reveal that these interests are
again gathering their forces Of
private and secret control and seek
after having gained from congress
sanction 20 rehabnitate their rail-
road properties at public expense, 20
begin again and follow through its
corrupt and wicked cycle the sys-
sematized plundering and looting Of
the public and the public interest
IN the nations highways"
Accept Wilson's Principles.
Announcing the call for the na-
5ional conference. Plumb said.
Every response 10 our invitation
to participate in the national con-
ference on democracy in railroad
control has been accompanied by a
whole hearted acceptance OF the
basic principle. expressed in Pres
wilson's message al the convening
u this congress, wherein he declared
sor the genuine democratizauon OF
his industry. based upon fun rec
ognition Of the right OF those who
work. IN whatever rank, 20 partic-
tpate in some organic way in every
decision which directly affects their
welfare in the part they are TO play
in industry and for "a genuine CO.
operation and partnership based up
on real community OF interest and
participation in control
In a letter written by Chairman
Cummins al the committees direc-
ton. wilson was told that Director
General Hines has authority 10 tx
wages and rates and that therefore
no action by congress is necessary
20 meet the present emergency. The
letter vas a refusal OF Pres't VII
sons request that congress authorize
q special wage commission.