The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-12
is THE PUBLIC HELPLESS?

10 OADAAAO L1AlAAA
1t must be apparent to everybody
by this time, that the various organ
izations of railway employees are en-
gagged in a united effort to induce the
government to take over the railroads
permanently. In case they fail to do
this there is every indication that they
plan to use force.
That the leaders of the railroad la
Dor brotherhoods "are fully prepared
to call a general railroad strike for
the purpose of forcing government
ownership and employees management
of the railroads upon the American
people," is the opinion expressed by
the Railway Age in an editorial in its
current issue. THE railroad labor
leaders are plainly trying to create a
labor situation which will convince the
public and congress that return to
private operation on January I, as an
nounced by the president, is imprac-
teal" the Railway Age says, land 1t
is beyond serious question that they
are prepared to take the same steps
to force congress to adopt the Plumb
plan of government ownership that
they took to force congress to pass the
Adamson act"
The shop crafts and Brotherhood of
Railway Ira. linen already have given
notice that they will strike unless "a
mands which they have presented to
the railroad administration be favor
ably acted upon. and several serious
strikes OF shop employees already have
taken place. w. G. Lee. president of
the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
said before the board of railroad wages
and working conditions in Washing
ton: THE war is over. but peace is
not before us, or am a poor prophet.
We are nearer war today. I believe,
than when the kaiser threw down the
gauntlet"
L. E. Sheppard. acting head of the
Order of Railway Conductors, also
said: They tell US that the railroads
are going back in January, but mark
this predictions: While I am not
prophet. or a son of a prophet, they
will not go back January l."
Warren S. Stone. grand chief of the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers,
was quoted in a newspaper interview
as having said regarding the agitation
for the employees plan OF government
ownership: I'VE will go far enough to
win, and we are going to win" He
was asked: What If the roads
are turned back to their owners?" He
replied: "If they should be, they
wouldn't stay there long. and It is not
absolutely sure that they will be
turned back by next January"
Three years ago the Country was
given an example OF what Mr.. Stone
and his associates mean when they
say I'VE will go far enough to win"
Declining to submit their basic eight
hour day demand to arbitration in any
form, the Big Four brotherhoods
frightened congress into passing the
Adamson law by issuing an order for
a ue-up of all the railroads of the
United States and refusing to with
draw It until congress passed the leg
islation that they wanted. with the
aid OF the other organizations they ap-
pear to be planning to repeat this per-
Torrance
II it has been the desire of the ad-
ministration to bring about govern
ment ownership of railroads 1t seems
doomed to failure. Instead OF govern
ment ownership, its policy seems like
ly to result in the nations buying the
roads and the operatives owning them.