The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-08-16
RAILWAY SHOPMEN IN CHICAGO,
BOSTON AND MINNEAPOLIS DIS
TRICT REMAIN DEFIANT OF
WILSON'S ORDER

shop employees for higher wages and decide
them on their merits. He added. however,
that until the striking shopmen returned to
work and again recognized the authority of
their union leaders, the whole matter must
remain at standstill.
While it is claimed, at present writing,
that more than ninety per cent of the shop
men who have been on strike over the coun-
try at large have returned to work, the
Chicago, Boston and Minneapolis districts
are notable exceptions.
In the Chicago district, it is claimed that
about 28, 600 men are defying the presidents
order and refusing to return to work until
their demands for what they consider liv-
ing wage are met. They are receiving from
SO cents to So cents an hour and are de-
manding 90 cents for all helpers and IS
cents for all mechanics.
More than Is, 900 men are out in and near,
Minneapolis, the pivot point of northwestern
rail traffic. At Indianapolis, 1000 are re-
ported on strike. The walkout of $4,000
men in New England has caused the suspen-
sion of trains on various eastern roads.
Trains will continue to operate as long as
locomotives and cars can hold out without
essential repairs, but the situation is becom-
ing more and more serious.
Presidents of all Chicago railroads hur-
ried to Washington this week to issue a
reply to the so-called Plumb bill and to con-
slider the railroad situation as whole
w. H. Finley, President of the Chicago
and Northwestern Railway, is quoted as
saying:
"The provisions of this Sims or so-called
Plumb bill involves complete change in
our government The position of the rail-
road brotherhoods in this matter cannot be
ignored or dismissed with a wave of the
hand The shift from private initiative to
naturalization of all our industries and that
is what it would mean ultimately. would af-
feet every man, woman and child in the
United States.
"There must be calm deliberation in the
consideration of the situation Taking over
of one branch of Our industries, the rail
roads, for the benefit of one class would be
strictly class legislation, and if done for the
railroad unions factories and other lines of
production could as we'll be taken over for
those that are employed, and this nation
alization could be pursued until there was
little of private nature left in the country.
All this means public debts and taxes and
the people must be consulted before financial
action is taken.
"The issue is now squarely up to the peo-
pie. The proposition for the management of
railroads under this Plumb idea is revolt
tionary. 1t would seem that the people of
the United States would better await results
of similar experiments in Russia before
adopting these changes"
Mr.. Glenn E. Plumb, of Chicago, author
of the proposition, is quoted as saying that
he is amazed at the spread of sentiment for
his plan and he would not be surprised at
anything up to revolution if something is not
done.
When questioned as to what he meant by
revolution, he replied: ga change in the ex-
isting order of things" He was then asked,
"Do you mean an overturning of our form
of government" He replied, "No. These
workers believe Our form of government
will be the means of accomplishing new
order. I would not wonder if what they are
thinking of as revolution is the replacing of
the men who are now representing them in
the government by others who will carry out
their wishes | think the first direct action
will be the use of the ballot That is as far
as I can see, and I hope TIL never have to
Mr.. A. B. Garretson, adviser of the Order
of Railway Conductors, has urged upon
Congress the imperative necessity of prompt
action to prevent a general upheaval. He
declares that social unrest is underlying the
smooth crust, which is liable to be disrupted,
and that nine-tenths of the efforts of union
officials are now devoted to sitting on the lid.
Warren S. Stone, grand chief of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, de-
clared this week before the House interstate
committee that railway employees preferred
a reduction of cost of living to an increase in
wages. He said he did not believe that any
labor organizations would strike simply to
force the Plumb plan through Congress, but
declared that some organizations would
strike unless something is done Immediately
to raise wages or cut down the living cost.
After suggesting that labor might urge
firing squad for prohteers, he added:
81 want to say one thing I say it in
no spirit of threat, simply want to state it
as a fact-and that is unless Congress or
some one finds a solution for this problem
within two or three menths-and | don't
mean year or two-you are going to see
the worst time you have ever seen IN the his
tory of this country.
"The people are not going to told their
hands while they Starve. They are gong to
die fighting"