Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-08-07
LABOR s RAIL ROAD
PROGRAM MAY Be
MADE POLITICAL
Should Congress Refuse to En-
dorSe Plan to Eradicate Cap
ital, Demands Will Be Taken
to Party Conventions.

Washington, Aug. 6.--Organizel
labor's remedy for the high cost Of
living in a bill that would turn over
the railroads to the public. operating
officials and labor--was presented to
congress today by men high in the
council of the organization, who de-
clared with utmost frankness condl-
tions were so desperate it might be
necessary to advocate firing squad
tor proflteers.
With equal frankness members Of
the house interstate commerce com
mittee indicated during the eXamina-
tion of Warren S. Stone, grand chief
of the Brotherhood of hallway Loco
tive Engineers, and Frank Morrison,
secretary of the American Federation
of laor, that the bill, embodying what
has TO be known as the Plumb plan,
was too radical, and failed to strike
at the high price evil against which
people throughout the country are
clamoring.
Would Reduce Rates.
For more than a month the house
committee has been considering all
plans for solution of the problemc
confronting the roads with their re-
turn to private management, and the
Plumb proposal was offered with
the assurance of labor leaders that II
would cut down prices OF commodities
because of the reduction in rates
which would follow the elimination
of private capital from the railroad
/ companies.
The two union officials for five
hours stood up In defense of the bill
nd
questions from men who must report
it out or throw ii away During the
long discussion, attended by an atten-
tive audience Including many women,
the labor leaders madc strong denial
of reports that they were attempting
to intimidate congress by threats to
strike or chop off the political heads
OF members voting contrary to their
desires.
Will Go to Conventions.
There was broad intimation that
the public ownership plan If not en-
acted into law would be taken to the
! convention of the two big parties nex'
year with the hope of having its en-
| dorsement written into the platform
Warnings were sounded by Secre-
| tary Morrison that the burden of the
| leaders might be too heavy--that they
| might be unable during their period OF
| unrest to control the workers --
| in which case, he declared, there
| would be a revolution to the extent OF
! general strikes. Around the whole
theme of what the two witnesses sale
| was woven the ever-rising cost of food
| mounting higher and faster, they in
| sisted, than the increase in the work
| ing mans wage, with no assurance
| that 1t would stop unless quick ano
| drastic action was taken by congress
Would Take Up Bonds.
| Both Mr. Stone and Mr.. Eorrisor
| said wage increases offered only tenn
! porary relief, contending that price:
| of food and clothing must come down
after which the wage demand pressure
would be lessened. They declared the
| pending bill would prove to be thu
| first step toward forcing down prices
by reducing freight rates and ex
| pressed the belief that despite the
burden of bond buying during the wal
| the American people would produce
the funds necessary to take the road!
from private control
While the committee listened by the
| hour to opinions as to what the bill
would do, there was no explanation
| of its various provisions. Glenn e
| Plumb, its author, was present to give
this, but so much time was taken III
with the examination of Stone and
| Morrison that his statement had to &C
| over until tomorrow.