Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-08
LABOR 0PPOSESU.S.
RAIL OPERAn0NAS
TOO GREAT A lob
Could Not Be Run by Any
political Autocracy,"
Says Plumb.

Organized labor is not willing to
have the government operate the rail-
roads because it does not believe so
great an industry can be conducted
by "any political autocracy." Glenn H.
Plumb, author Of the Plumb plan for
control of the roads,. declared today
before the House interstate commerce
committee.
In resuming his testimony. Mr..
Plumb was asked by Representative
Sweet, republican, Iowa, why. II the
plan did not give 1t authority to OPP
crate, - -e1., ~. g.,-
Against Government Operation.
s.15sesdsss No 4ssaif sp.
GRAFTON by any government body" the
witness replied. eve do not believe
this great industry can be conducted
by political autocracy. II we leave
operation in the hands Of political ap-
pointees we would place the railway
system ultimately in the hands of pol
iticians and that, we submit, cannot
be safely done.
Says Bill Restores Opportunity. ;
1.-The men operating the roads have
made a life study of 1t. We have
provided an incentive to actuate every
employe and in this bill we have re-
moved restrictions placed upon them
by capital"
you believe then" Mr.. Sweet
asked, that your plan will give more
of an equal opportunity to those en-
gagged in railroad work.
I'VE believe 1t restores to those in
this industry that equal opportunity
Of which they have been deprived"
Introduced Form Letters.
Declaring that he wished to sub
stantiate his assertion made pre-
viously during the hearing that
threats to unseat members Of Con-
gress were a part OF the railroad
unions propaganda in favor of the
Plumb plan. Representative Webster.
republican. Washington. introduced
into the record stack of several
hundred form letters addressed to
him. All were printed and identi-
cal in wording. on letterheads bear
ing the name of the brotherhoods of
railway carmen and clerks.
Wages have been increased the
work day shortened and labor and the
family have had more of the neces-
stiles of life under the present gov
eminent control" the letters said.
He who obstructs the government in
the policy of control or ownership
becomes our direct enemy, and shall
be posted throughout the land, and
it shall be our chief policy to remove
him from any political line of trust
the public has given into his keep
ing" -.
"Do you indorse that as part Of
the educational plan you said you
were making in favor Of this bill?"
asked Mr.. Webster.
Mr. Plumb said he did not indorse
the wording, but remarked that ANY
body of citizens has the right to use
the ballot to protect any rights they
may think are in danger.
1.-The men are following the exam
pie which has been thrust upon them
by the opposition" he continued. TT
shows the condition throughout the
country. The mind of the working
man is like a bed Of finder, and seeing
a CLEAN of hope he resorts to any,
thing to attain It,"
Called "soviet System"
Representative Rayburn, democrat,
Texas. referred to the brotherhoods'
scheme as Soviet system"
II don't know much about Russian
affairs" Mr.. Plumb retorted, so /
can't say as to that"
But would you consider it fair to
workers In other industries to social
ize the railways solely?" Mr.. Rayburn
asked.
can be applied to every industry based
Mr.. Plumb said.
ut can be followed in all these"
Suppose you got all these groups
of industries socialized in this fash
ion," said MIR. Rayburn. Don't you
think that with each group jealous
of the profits made by the others, and
the prices they would be forced to
pay for supplies would get into quar-
reis? How long would 1t be before
they would eat each other up"
They'd get along better than SINH
lar groups of capitalists that we have
now, who are more skilled in eating
and anxious to do It." the witness re-
piled, out Of 1000 railroad corpora
tions started in the United States.
two groups have developed. control
ling all rail transportation"
Mr.. Plumb repeated again that the
idea he advanced would lead to OPP
Grafton in the interest Of service and
not of profits" -. - '''''7-'-.
Mr.. Plumb Gives Warning.
Warning that the laboring man has
reached that point where his activi.
ties may cease because he cannot
much longer stand the diminishing
lContipusd on second Pase.A