Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-08-15
OPPOSES FEDERAL
RAIL OPERATION
Labor Leader Says political
AutoCracy" Cannot Conduct
So Great an Industry.
WANTS GOVERNMENT TOOWN
Declares Men Operating Roads Have
Made LIfs-study Of work-chanse
Would Give More Of an Equal
Opportunity.

Washington. Aug. 11.-"Organized
labor is not willing to have the gov
ernment operate the railroads because
it does not believe so great an industry
can be conducted by any political au-
tocracy." Glenn E, Plumb, author Of
the Plumb plan for control Of the
roads. declared before the house inter
state commerce committee.
In resuming his testimony Mr..
Plumb was asked by Representative
Sweet why. IL the government was to
own the roads. his plan did not give 1t
authority to operate.
Because we do not believe in OPP
eration by any government body" the
witness replied. I'VE do not believe
this great industry can be conducted
by any political autocracy. If we leave
operation In the hands Of political ap-
pointees we would place the railway
systems ultimately In the hands Of
politicians, and that. we admit. cannot
be safely done.
THE men operating the roads have
made a life study of 1t. We have pro-
vided an incentive to actuate every
employee, and in this bill we have re-
moved restrictions placed upon them
by capital"
'You believe then" Mr.. Sweet asked,
''that your plan will give more Of an
equal opportunity to those engaged in
railroad work9"
"We believe Il restores to those In
this industry that equal opportunity Of
which they have been deprived"
Representative Rayburn referred to
the brotherhoods' scheme as Soviet
system"
Il don't know much about Russian
AFFAIRS" Mr.. Plumb retorted, $50
can't say as to that"
''But would you consider It fair to
workers In other industry to socialize
the railways solely?" Mr.. Rayburn
asked.
'This plan, or modifiactt,n Of 1t.
can be applied to every industry based
on government grant or monopoly"
Mr. Plumb said. ut can be followed in
nll these"
Mr.. Plumb repeated again that the
idea he advanced would lead to opera
tion Of the service and not of the
profits.
Declaring that he wished to sub
stantiate his assertion made previous
iy during the hearing that threats to
funseat members of congress were a
part Of the railroad unions propa-
ganda In favor Of the Plumb plan.
Representative Webster introduced
into the record a stack Of several hum
dred form letters addressed to him.
IAN were printed and identical in word
ing on letterheads bearing the name
OF the brotherhoods of railway car
men and clerks.
"Wages have been Increased. the
,workday shortened and labor and the
family have had more Of the necessi-
tiles Of life under the present govern
ment CONTROL" the letters said. HE
who obstructs the government in the
policy Of control or ownership becomes
our direct enemy, and shall be posted
throughout the land. It shall be our
chief policy to remove him from any
political line Of trust the public has
given into his keeping"
''Do you indorse that as a part of
the educational plan you said you were
making in favor Of this blll2" asked
Mr.. Webster.
Mr.. Plumb said he did not indorse
the wording, but renarked that "any
body Of citizens had the right to use
the ballot to protect any rights they
may think are In danger"
'The men are following the example
which has been thrust upon them by
the opposition" he continued 1T
shows the condition throughout the
country. The mind of the workingman
rs like a bed of tinder and, seeing a
gIeam Of hope. he resorts to anything
TO attain It."