The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-08-05
TEXT OF STATEMENT ISSUED BY
LABOR SEEKING. PARTICIPATION
IN RAIL CONTROL AND PROFITS


WASHINGTON. Aug. S--private
capital must quit control OF American
railways according to the text OF an
American Federation of Labor reso-
luton made public today at the capt
tai
Labor demands a triplrtite control
The public, the operating manage
mcnt and the employees will share IN
the administration and profits OF the
roads, according To the plan.
Labot's Statement.
The s,atemcn, follows:
"The inoucndocs IN tclegraphcd
dispatches from Washington. appear
ing also in the speech OF Representa-
tive Banton OF Texas. that the rail-
road unions are holding up congrei,
and the government, may as well
cease. This appeal is made TO the
American people direct |, inyokeS
the judgment and common sense oi
public sentiment, OF all the public
which earn, wage or stipend We
recognize that the only way in which
we can exist under the prescn, system
n 10 demand further increases IN
wages. But We agree with RepreScn-
tative Blanton that this affords but
temporary relief 1t does not offer
remedy
. 81 ahor's bill. on the other hand,
provides remedy and we ask
merely that its terms be Scrutl-
nyed Our full argument IN sup
port OF these terms will be pre-
sen,ed on Wednesday before the
house committee on interstate
commerce. In this statement we
are sounding the note OF our basic
principle.
Benefit 10 Public.
"That this role originates with la
Dor is merely because labor happens
10 have firm organizations through
which II may become artlculate.
il is not to benefit labor as
labor alone ii is 20 benefit
the consuming public of which
labor a, present is the audible part.
In labors bill providing tha, the pub
lie take oyei the railroads and es-
tablish a tri-parti,e between the pub
lie. the railway operating manage
ment and tn, employees, the labor or
panizatons Of America have estab-
li,hed this new policy which envlsages
their condition but not only as pro-
, ducers. but also as consumers.
at marks the step by which
organized labor passes from de-
msnds for wage increases TO de-
mands that the system OF profits
In industry be overhaUe6. Hith-
srto. during successive wage ne
sotiations and arbitistioa Awards,
we have called for provisional
settlements only OF questions
arising out Of differences a. to
wages, hours and conditions OF
labor. That principle Of genu-
Inc cooperation and partnership
based upon q real community Of
interest and participation In con-
troll; Of which President Wilson
has spoken 10 congress, has been
ignored both BY labor and by the
private owners Of the railroads.
Oaly Temporary Relief.
what wage increases have been
rtteived during the past few years
resulted only in Immediately being fol
lowed by more than proporionate
increases in the COST OF living. Each
rise in wages has turned out TO mean
dhly temporary relief for the affected
workers. When the increases have
gore around the circle, labor as pro
Queer loses the advantage Of the new
wages through the additional cost il
pays as consumer. Moreover, through
compound profits taken on these wage
increases each cycle becomes an up
ward spiral of costs which the CON
suming public vainly reaches to con-
troll
"As the major part Of the con-