The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-08
WALL STREET HAS
LOOTED RAIL WAYS,
DECLARES PLUM
LAWYER TELLS HOUSE COMMIT
TEE RAIL BROTHERHOODS
HAVE DIRECT EVIDENCE.
WRECK|N c BY SYSTEM

Committee and Ask Full lnvestiga'
tion-Morgan and Rockefeller Groups
Mentioned pecifically-NatiOnal Con-
ference of Noted Men to Take up
Problem Saturday.
Washington. Aug. Leading direct
ly from Wall Street and from the
banking houses controlled directly by
the Morgan and Rockefeller groups, in
formation which has come into the
possession of the railroad brotherhoods
shows that there has proceeded sSs'
tematized pundering of virtually all OF
the public transportation highways in
the United States" the house interstate
commerce committee was told today by
Glen T.. Plumb of Chicago.
Mr. Plumb, who appeared in support
of the Plumb plan" for the reorganiza-
ton Of the railroads, said the informa'
ton tended to show that the "wrecking
and looting" of the New Haven, the
Chicago & Alton, the Rock Island, and
the Frisco lines We're mot sporadic eX-
amples of the highway robbery to which
the American nation has been subjected
as to it's public transportation high
ways"
All Railroads Suffer.
Definite information on which his
charges were based Mr.. Plumb said,
would be turned over to the commit
tee, upon which it may ask for full
congressional investigation.
I'VE believe such an investigation,
he continued, will reveal that not one
railway system dominating any part OF
the 254 600 miles OF railroads in the
United States but has suffered and is
suffering, in degree if not to the same
extent from carefully deliberated man
ipulations of the sort that have wrecked
and ruined the railroads | have men
toned.
1T will reveal that these interests
are again gathering their forces of pri-
vate and secret control and seek, after
having gained from congress sanction
to rehabiitate their railroad properties
at public expense, TO begin again and
follow through its corrupt and wicked
cycle the systematized plundering and
looting of the public and the public in
terest in the nations highways.
I'm view of the gravity of this stua-
ton, and in order that we may have
the benefit of their counsel on behalf
of the public in presenting our state
ment to congress and to the American
people, the IA affiliated railway labor
ORGANIZATIONS are Summoning to Wash
ington national conference on railroad
control.
Prominent Men Enlisted
"On behalf of the public we are invit-
ing to participate in this conference, as
members of the joint national commit
tee on railroad control. Frank p. Walsh
former joint chairman of the national
war labor board; EXGov. Joseph w.
Folk of Missouri; Raymond Robins;
John Lind of Minnesota; Edward f.
Dunno of Chicago: Dr. Edward w.
Bemis Felix Adler; Governor Allen of
Kansas; Julia C. Lathrop; Judge Wal
ter Clark of North Carolina, and Dean
Herman Schneider of the University of
Cincinnati. Frank F. Walsh, Judge
Walter Clark. Edward +. Dunne Joseph
w. Folk, and DIR. Edward w. Bems
have already accepted and with others,
who may yet accept, will meet here with
the representatives of organized labor
on Saturday of this week.
Every response 10 our INVITATION "
participate in this national conference
on democracy in railroad control has
been accompanied by whole-hearted ac-
ceptance of the basic principle expressed
in President Wilson's message at the
converting of this congress, wherein he
declares for the genuine democrati2a-
ton of industry, based upon a full re
cognition of the right of those who
work, in whatever rank, to participate
in some organic way in every decision
which directly affects their welfare in
the part they are to play in industry,
and for a genuine cooperation and part
nership based on real community of in.
terest and participation in control.
In view of this action by the affil.
lated labor organization which | repre-
sent and on behalf of organized labor
and the public, | will therefore ask to
reserve this information which is in
our possession until it can be properly
prepared and submitted to the jury of
congress and of public opinion"
Before discussing the principle un
derlying his plan for disposition of the
roads Mr.. Plumb spoke on behalf of
labor as holders of Liberty bonds. He
contended that il was not fair for the
government to guarantee a return of
per cent upon $50 900, 100000 of out.
standing railway securities. which now
have a market value not exceeding
$4,000, 900 while owners of Liberty
bonds, many of whom mortgaged fu-
ture earnings to aid the government
In the war received return of only |
IL to 1-2 per cent.
The Tri-Partite Proposal.
Referring to labor's plan for public |
ownership and operation by a corpor
alton to be directed jointly by employ |
es, officers and the pubic-the tripar-
tite plan-Mr. Plumb said:
This vast army of producers for
whom / appear is not divided. They |
present no conflicting plans for the
solution of this problem. but appear |
before you a united force. convinced
of the economic soundness of the prin
ciples upon which their plan is built
The progress of recent events has
brought US face to face with crisis |
OF tremendous Importance. The con
stantly rising cost of commodities TO
the consumers has far outstripped the
purchasing power of the consumers
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