Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-05
Railroad BrOtherhOOdS Make
Statement as to Demand for
TxipQrtite Control of Lines

Following is the statement issued
by the heads of the railroad brother
hoods demanding tripartite control Soi
rail transportation:
The innuendoes in teIegraphed
dispatches from Washington, ap-
pearing, also, in the speech Of Rep
resentative Blanton of Texas. that
the railroad unions are holding
up Congress and the government"
may as well cease. This appeal Is
made to the American people di-
rect 1t invokes the judgment and
common sense of public sentiment,
of all the public which earns a wage
or stipend. We recognize that the
only way in which we can exist
under the present system is to de-
mand further increases in wages.
But we agree with Representative
Blanton that this affords but tenn
porary relief. 1t does not offer a
remedy.
Labor's bill, on the other hand,
provides a remedy and we ask
merely that it's terms be scruti-
nized. Our full argument in sup
port of these terms will be pre-
scented on Wednesday before the
House committee on interstate
commerce. In this statement we
are sounding the note of our basic
principle.
Labor Firm Foundation.
That this role originates with
labor is merely because labor hap
pens to have firm organizations
through which it may become ar
ticulate. 1t is MOTTO benefit labor
as labor alone; it is to benefit the
consuming public, of which labor
at present is the audible part. In
labor's bill providing that the pub
lie take over the railroads and es-
tablish a tripartite control be-
tween. the public, the railway OPP
Grating management and the en-
ployes, the labor organizations of
America have established this new
policy which envisages their con-
d1tion not only as producers, but
also as consumers.
1t marks the step by which or
ganized labor passes from demands
for wage increases to demands that
the system Of profits in industry be
overhauled. Hitherto. during success
sive wage negotiations and arbitra-
ton awards, we havercalled for pro-
visional settlements only of ques-
tons arising out of differences as to
wages. hours and conditions of labor
That principle of genuine co-opera-
ton and partnership based upon a
real community of interest and par
ticipation in CONTROL" Of which Presi-
dent Wilson has spoken to Congress,
has been ignored both by labor and
by the private owners Of the rail-
roads.
What wage increases have been
received during the past few years
resulted only in Immediately being
followed by more than proportionate
increases in the cost of living. Each
rise in wages has turned out to mean
only temporary relief for the affect
: ed workers. When the increases
have gone around the circle, labor as
producer loses the advantage Of the
. new wages through the additional
cost it pays as consumer. More
over. through compounded profits
taken on these wage increases each
cycle becomes an upward spiral Of
costs which the consuming public
vafnly reaches to control.
Demand Capital Be Removed.
As the major part of the con-
Stunning public, labor is entitled to
representation on the directorate
of the railroads. As a producer of
capital 1t is entitled to representa-
tion on the directorate Of the rail-
roads. To capital which is the