The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-18
A NATIONAL REFERENDUM.

sent Congress, laying their plans with view TO
eecting Congress next year which will favor the ma
tionaization idea.
That they will have the backing of the American Fed.
Grafton of Labor in this appeal to the voters of the nation
evidenced by the interview with Samuel Gompers, tee
graphed from Paris in which he emphaticaly indorses
the naturalization proposal He is quoted saying:
american railway workers intend not only to compel
the government to take the railways but will de-
mand as the logical next STEP that labor shall be granted
a permanent equal voice in railway administration"
When pressed for statement indicating the lengths
which the federation will go in politics in backing up
this demand Mr. Gompers rather graphically remarked
present conditions extremely unfair. Previous
methods have failed to achieve legitimate results Hence
we will be forced to other means"
In urging the Sims bill before the House Committee
interstate and foreign commerce, representatives of
the broherhoods frankly announced their intention if
favorable action could not be obtained in this Congress
going into the campaign with appeal to the voters
and with the purpose of eectng Congress which would
adopt the plan The opposition to the bill in Senate and
house has become outspoken that the broherhoods
realize the necessity of adopting this alternative.
Consequently every man who expects to be candidate
for President of the United States for the United States
Senate for the House of Representatives may now
make up his mind that he will be brought face to face
with the naturalization issue. He cannot dodge it and
he cannot evade direct If there is any doubt
as to whether he would approve the Plumb plan there
will be massed against him all the strength which the
railroad brotherhoods and their affiliated organizations
can muster If he unequvocaly ndorses the idea and
pledges his support to it, he will be favored by the rail-
road vote against candidate whose position is doubt
full antagonistc.
This, in effect, will be national referendum on the
question of ownership of railroads with work
operation and control test of sentiment which
be ignored by the next Congress by the next Pres
dent Every voter we'll every candidate must stand
up and be counted
Purchase of the railroads. as proposed in the Sims BILL
would, it is estimated, involve the issuance of at least
$40, 900 100000 in per cent bonds which could
not far from duplicating the net war debt Management
of the railroads would be in the hands of board of f
persons five appointed ythe President to represent
the public five elected by the operating managers to rep
resent the executives and five elected by the classified
workmen to represent the employees. The principal OBJ
lection to these details aside from the economics of the
plan is that the government the real of the lines
he's only five directors out of total of fifteen leaving
control in the hands of the executives and the classified
employees who have comparatively no financial response
bilty whatever.
They, however, fix their compensation and will be
certain of their wages, matter whether the railroads
snow profit not And in addition they share equally
cent of the operating revenue.
This, in brief, is the plan upon which the broherhoods
and their allies will go before the voters of the country
in the 1920 campaign asking the election of candidates.
upon whatever ticket they may be nominated or what
eve" may be their political predictions who will promise
to support the plan and assist in securing its adoption
There 600 wage earners in the United States
according to the last figures and subsequent con-
sentative estimates Naturalization of the railroads will
directly benefit about 1000 900 of them What of the
remaining 100000?
Who assumes the responsibility for the $40 900 900 900
bonds issued for the purpose of purchasing the roads
and in the that the roads do not earn sufficient
profits under the proposed trpartite management to
meet the 900 interest due annually who makes
up the deficit in taxes? Is the entire body of 900
toers willing to shoulder this additional burden in order
to place 100000 of their number beyond the reach of
want care?
These are legitimate questions, not to be waved aside
lightly or ignored slenced by threats or bombast
Naturalization of railroads is to be an important ssu
of the campaign and the people are to be asked to elect
candidates to office who will support it, consequently it
friends and proponents must be prepared to meet every
argument raised against it and meet them with logic and
facts.