The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-10-17
ORGANIZED LABOR
IS GREETED BY THE
FARM PRODUCERS
Agricultural Paper Says '0r-
gained Labor has ADJ
vanCed the Hand of Friend
Ship"

|
gument for the Plumb Plan on the
ground that it would benefit labor
alone, but that it would result in
general public good. The farm pa
per declares editorially that a re-
cent statement by labor organiza-
lions on the Plumb Plan marks the
end of false competition between
industrial and agricultural produc-
ers.' The editorial follows:
The bewildering mass of news
paper discussion which has follow
ed the opening of the campaign by
labor organizations for public own
e"ship and operation of the rail-
roads, has so far completely over
looked a most significant note,
which is found in every utterance
of the labor men. An efficient trans
portation system is of vital interest
to the nations agricultural and
stock producers. But of equal, or
even greater Importance, is the new
line Of thought expressed by organ
lied labor as the fight is opened for
public ownership.
On a public statement signed by
the officials of the railroad labor Or
CARNATIONS, announcing their sup
port of the Sims Bill which embod-
les the so-called Plumb Plan for
railroad operation, this statement
appears:
1--WE recognize that the only
way in which we can exist under
the present system is to demand fur
Their increases in wages. But we
agree that this affords but tempo
rary relief. 1t does not offer a rem
edy. What wage increases have
been received during the past few
years resulted only in being follow
ed by more than proportionate in
creases in the cost of living. Each
Use in wages has turned out to
mean only temporary relief for the
affected workers. When the in
creases have gone around the cir
Gle, labor as producer loses the adj
vantage of the new wages through
the additional cost it pays as con-
sumner. Moreover, through COM
pounded profits taken on these wage
increases, each cycle becomes an
upward spiral of costs which the
consuming public vainly reaches to
control
The statement is epochal in in
dustry. 1t marks the end of the
competitive scramblings of various
groups of classified workers, for
increases in wages which, resulting
in increased prices for the articles
they produce, end only in taxing the
rest of the country for the benefit
of the persons receiving the wage
increases.
Similarly, it marks the end Of a
false competition between industrial
and agricultural producers.
That this role originates with
labor is merely because labor hap
pens to have firm. organizations
through which it may become artic-
ulate, says the statement in which
the railway organizations discuss
their support of the Plumb Plan. 1T
is not to benefit labor as labor
alone it is to benefit the consuming
public, of which labor at present is
the audible part
agricultural interests in the past
often have opposed labor organiza-
tions formed to secure better wages
and conditions for labor, because
these increased wages resulted in
the farmer paying an increased
price for the article that labor pro-
duced. On the other hand, labor
has not been sympathetic toward
agricultural organizations which
might secure better prices for farm
products and livestock. For such
increased prices formed a tax on
labor as consumer of these pro-
ducts.
"Now organized labor comes for
ward with the declaration that the
interest of all producers, agricul-
tural or industrial, are identical. 1t
truthfully says that every producer
is also a consumer, and because of
this reason no mere wage increase
brings permanent betterment.
"At the same time the railway
labor organizations were bringing
the unhealthy railroad industry be-
fore the nation as a prime cause of
high living costs, group of farm
ers called to Washington to testify
in the cost of living hearings sat at
dinner and figured that the meal,
for which they paid over sl1, rep
resented only slightly more than 80