Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-06
By associated Press.


nome of industrial freedom as it has
become a land of political freedom,
| warren S. Stone. grand chief of the
| brotherhood of Locomotive Engi-
| neers. said to-day in appearing be-
fore the House Interstate Commerce
Committee in support of organized
lahor's plans for public ownership
and private operations of the rail-
roads.
Declaring that American democ-
racy was controlled by an aitocracy
in industry, Mr.. Stone argued that
there could be no solution and no
lowering of the cost of living as long
as consumers had to pay extortion-
ate profits or their own earnings in
purchasing the necessaries of life.
Advance to New Crusade
Labor's belief in the Sims bill,
embodying the railroad employees
, plan for the solution of the railroad
problem, was declared by Mr.. stone
TO be profound. In this plan. he
said, the workers raised the ban
her OF democracy in control of in
, dustry and advarved Ito a new cru
sade with the faith of the Pilgrims"
AT the request of these organiza-
/ tons Che railroad hrotherhoods)
the Sims bill is now before YOU"
, said Mr. Stone. II speak as the
voice of these 1000. 900 men. dele
gated by them to announce to this
committee and to the people of this
country that they are supporting
this measure with all the strength
and all the unity of purpose that
can move so large n body of citizens.
"Joired with us and represented
by Mr.. Morrison is the American
Federation of Labor, adding three
million and a half men to that body
OF railway employees who, instituted
this movement.
Traces Development
In the industrial development of
this country great organizations of
capital first appeared as employers.
Individual workers. following the
example set by capital, organized as
employees. Their purpose was to Sc
cure better working conditions and
a larger measure of cturn for their
labors. The full force of the cap
italistic organizations has been set
against labor to hold and to keep
all the profits of industry. The
strength of the labor unions has
been eXerted to wrest from capital
some share of the profits for the
wage -earners.
Perpetual Struggle
There has been perpetual
struggle by the workers to MAIN
tain a tolerable standard of exist
ance; on the part of capital. to
amass greater profits. At times
both sides could ignore the needs
of the public. But now the very
growth of the labor organizations
has brought into their ranks a great
mass of the consumers. The large
number of the wage-earners now
constitute a large percentage of the
people. The extension of industry
has changed the nature of the pre-
vious struggle.
For whatever the worker receives
in wages he must spend for the nee
essaries of life. In addition, he is
always compelled to pay the en-
ployer an excessive profit on his
own wages. The cost of living is
determined l.. the sum he earns
plus the profit he is charged on his
own labor. And, as a group, labor
is forever prevented from bettering
it's lot because of the profits eXacted
by the employer. The hope of a
finer life is never realized. SO long
as consumers are forced to pay eX-
tortionate profits on their own earn
ings to a third interest there is no
solution of the industrial problem.
Dominates Industry
1--WE find that this third interest
absolutely controls and dominates
the management of industry. 1t
fixes wages and controls working
conditions. 1t fixes the prices of COM
modities without regard to the needs
of society or the necessities of pro-
ducers and consumers.
I'VE exist under government, but
by industry we live. Under such a
system the majority of a democracy
can through their government en-
ioy only such rights and privileges
as an autocracy in industry permits
them to receive. This country was
peopled by a race who sought With |
in it's boundaries religious freedom.
1t was established by their descend |
ants through revolution as a land of
political freedom. We now demand |
that il become the home of indus |
trial freedom.
Individual Freedom
This can Only b. accomplished [
by extending to industry the same
right of individual freedom recog- /
nized by the founders of our gov
ernment in establishing this democ-
racy. The need of mankind for the
products of industry must be ac-
cepted as the basic interest in all
industry. The right of the worker
who supplies that need demands ike
acceptance. This can only be Iac-
complished by permitting produEers
and consumers to share in coftrol |
of the management of their 4feans
of existence. The machineTE for
attaining this result, we belize is
embodied ir the plan outlR lRed in /
the Sims bill. -