Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-07

Washington. Aug. 4-Organzed labor
came out to-day with the unequivocal, for
NAL demand that private capital be retired
from the railroads.
A tr-partite control composed of the
public, the operating management and the
employees is demanded instead.
Addressed to the American public and
signed by the engineers, the firemen, the
conductors and the American Federation
of Labor, formal statement was issued
announcing this proposal which VIII be
carried before Congress Wednesday.
"It marks" says the statement. the
step by which organized labor passes from
demands for wage increases to demands
that the system of profits in industry be
overhauled."
This sentence sums up in a few words
the proposal Of which there have been
hints and indications. but which is laid
before the country for the first time.
Everywhere in official Washington 1t is
recognized as the most serious and far
reaching proposition the country will be
called on to face
Characterizing the proposal as "labor's
bilf' 1t is put forth as a remedy for the
high cost Of living. because the railroads
are the key industry of the nation. 1t
demands the genuine cooperation and
partnership based on real community
of interest and participation In control ="
of which President Wilson spoke to Con-
gress and which, the statement says, has
been ignored by labor and the private
owners Of the railroads.
1--WE ask" it says, that the railroads
of the United States be vested in the
public: that those actually engaged in
conducting that industry. not from Wall
hut frpy he railroad Offices
yards and out the railroad lines,
shall take charge of this service for the
public.
Briefly, labor's plan demands That
private capital be eliminated from the
railroads That the private owners re-
ceive for them government bonds with
a fixed interest return for every honest
dollar that they have invested"
That the tri-partite control, heretofore
referred to, be established, In corpora
tytrons which shall lease the roads and in
n which the public. the operating manage
4 ments and labor shall be represented
! equally.
A RAILWAY WORKERS STATEMENT
The following statement is given out by
the workers conferences:
THE innuendoes in telegra phed dispatches
from Washington. appearing also in the
speech OF Representative Blanton OF Texas
that the railroad unions are holding ur
Congress and the government may as wei
cease. This appeal is made to the Ameri
can people direct. 1t nvokes the Judg
ment and common sense of public senti
ment OF all the public which earns wage
stipend. We recognize that the only
way in which we exist under the pres
emit system is to demand further increase:
in wages But we agree with Representa-
tive Blanton that this affords but tenn
porary relief. 1t does not afford a remedy
'Labor's bill. the other hand, provides
be scrutnized. Our full argument In sup
port OF these terms will be presented or
Wednesday before tho House committee or
interstnte commerce. In this statement we
sounding the note Of our basic prin
cipis.
THAT this role originates with labor u
merely because labor happens to have firm
organizations through which IT may be
come articulate. 1t Is not to benefit labo
labor alone 1t is to benefit the consum
Ing public of which labor at present Il
the audible part. In labor's bill providing
that the public take over the railroads an'
establish tripartite control between thu
public the railway operating management
and the employees. the labor organization
OF America have established this new
policy which envisages their condition no
only producers. but also consumers.