Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-12
CLAIMS LABOR LEADERS
ARE FIGHTING RADICALS
Austin Is. Garretson Says Energies
of Chiefs Devoted to Restrain
ing Dissatisfied Workers.
SEES MUCH INDUSTRIAL UNREST
Former Head OF Order of Railway
Conductors Tells House Interstate
Commerce Committee Need for
Action by Congress.
IBv Associated prnss1

WASHINGTON, August 11.-Nine-
ern rs. Of the ene1gies of labor lead
he lid. Austin Is Garretson. former
ductors; testified today before the
House Interstate Commerce Committee
which Is seeking to solve the problcn1
/ OIL now best to handle the railroads
after the wartime period OF Fedora
Sporadic strikes Throughout, the
country Garretson said, with greai
show how the wind is blowing over a
sea OF industrial unrest. Rumblings
heard IN many quarters do not mean
overthrow the government hut midi
cate a demand that the government
function.
Eress. the witness declared, to alay
But il cannot he done by lnaction,"
people are not prone always to do
today what may be done tomorrow,
unless AN emergency forces us TO act,
ana then we break all records
Says lie Is PiiIorIed.
Describing himself as a man who
had been pilloried by the press from
the, Atlantic TO the Pacific, ,iarretsom
told the committee he had ira !cied
long way 10 speak in behalf OF the
Plumb plan which would give labor
voice IN the management Of rail-
reads ,a:, the people would own. Eu, he
i,
as more than one factor III stiiling The
Spirit OF present, day unrest nor did
ne think 1t would change humau M
mated"
Il am not a dreamer OF dreams" he
told the committee, which gave un-
his appearance on the stand put new
breath OF life in The railroad hearing,
F FS@ us appr9a sihnG its second momih
nesses was abandoned, largely at Car
retsons request. lie had no statement
nv In written form I- when he started TO
know where he would stop. and for two
hours ne was subjected 10 IA pid cross
ire OF questions from dozen mem
bers and for each OF which nc had a
quick reply.
Plumb End. Testimony.
Mr.. Garretson, who had been waiting
since early last week to be heard, was
.e2!!cd TO the stand after Glenn l..
izcd lahor's bill, had concluded his
testimony.
There was no desire. he said. to ex-
tend the Plumb plan beyond those in
their hands. He wanted the men who
run The railroads to have 1t voice in
their management; he wanted politics
elimi mated and in the general discus
declared that there Was no politics
In the action OF the American Fedora
tlon OF Labor in seeking TO nave the
Postmaster-Gencrai removed because,
this view, he held, was expressed by
| Republicans and Democrats alike.
Admitting that the foui great rail-
way brotherhoodS supported President
WILSON in 1916. and. smiIin.Iy, throw
ing in the added information that
with all OF my Republican affiliations
/ am guilty. too" MIR. Garretson in
sisted that was purely an "act OF citi-
zenShip'
Denies Union "Hofdup."
After the question OF presidential
politics had been raised, Mr.. Ciarrctson
sa:d this nigh, De his final appearance
before Congress. and for that reason
ne wanted the record To carry a de-
NAL from him OF reports. long current
that the brothcrhoods. with gun q
one hGnd and a stop watch in THO
other had held up Congress and forced
through the enactment of the Adam.
I son eight hour law
There was no coercion OF Senators
/ OF Representatives by the brother
/ hoods he shouted. pounding the tabl,
I TO emphasize the denial, and ! chal
!"rsc anybody 10 prove otherwise.
Mr.. Garr,tson testified that he be
.ieved the Interstate Commerce Com
mission WAS free from politics. ant
that which the brotherhoodS had an
/ other candidate for the Office OF iii
. rector general, he dountcd If their Owl
I man would have gone as far as Direc
/ tor-Gcncral Hines in efforts TO Obtain
successful opera ton of the properties