The sun., 1919-08-09
SEES ATTEMPT TO
ESTABLISH SOVIET
Sanders (Ind.) Thus Defines
Labor's Plan to Nationalize
Industry.
PLUMB ON GRILL AGAIN
Rail Brotherhood's Counsel
Admits Indorsing Radical
Principles.
PLUMB ON GRILL AGAIN

tionalization OF the railroads, which they
hope to extend to other Industries. are
moving toward establishment of q soviet
Government in the United States. Repre-
sentative Sanders (Ind.). member Of the
House Interstate Commerce Committee.
charged during hearings on labor's Gov
eminent ownership plan before the com
mittee to-day.
Mr. Sanderss assertion came after
Glenn Z. Plumb, author Of the labor
plan, told the committee that Tabor
hopes to overthrow the Industrial system
OF the country" but added the qualinca-
ton that the Government of the coun-
try In not to be included in the over
throw. The minds OF the workers are
like "a bed of tinder," he said.
Business now belongs to the owners
of capital, whereas It should belong to
the public" Mr.. Plumb said.
''Do you not think that the Plumb
plan is a soviet instead Of Government
ownershipTs Mr.. Sanders asked the labor
counsel.
"I do not know what a soviet is" Mr..
Plumb replied. "The popular miscon-
ception Is that II IL plan whereby
workers seize property and divide it
among themselves. but cannot conceive
Of people being in any scituation to have
such belief"
Mr. Sanders then led Mr.. Plumb into
an unqualified Endorsement Of one of the
principles Of the Russian Soviet Govern
ment.
do you indorse the statement" Mr..
Sanders asked, ''that all forests, mines
and waters having national importance
shall be declared national property"
ct subscribe to It." Mr.. Plumb replied.
THAT is a direct quotation from the
constitution of the Russian Soviet Gov
eminent as furnished by the State De-
partment." Mr. Sanders then informed
the committee.
Defines Revolution.
Committee members again closely
questioned Mr. Plumb az to what he
meant by impending revolution he has
several times referred to in his testi-
mony. He was APPARENTLY reluctant to
admit that the use OF the word ''revolu-
ton meant strife and bloodshed
throughout the country, but instead "a
change In the existing order of things"
Finally. however, In an impassioned
declaration he said: labor has spent
It's life and liberty for industry. But we
must now have liberty In industry. We
are going to get that liberty through the
Constitution. We will strive to replace
men who would enforce the Constitution
In accordance with these views. But IL
the power of reaction prevents that. we
will get 1t another way"
What way?" Mr.. Sanders again
questioned.
"By the way all other changes in his
tory have come Mr.. Plumb replied
heatedly. land do not think there is
any doubt as to what that plan is"
Objection to the Plumb plan continued
among the members of the committee,
and several to-day expressed resentment
at the propaganda of the labor organi-
cation to force members of Congress to
favor the plan. That such a plan Of
coercion is being used has been repeat
eddy denied by the labor leaders before
the committee, they claiming that any
demand for the naturalization pro-
gramme was the result of spontaneous
feelings from the heart" and not worked
up by propaganda.
In refutation of this Representative
Webster tWash.), former Judge Of the
Supreme Court of his State, to-day sub
mitted to the committee about fifty iden-
teal form letters from local labor unions
threatening to post his name throughout
the country as an undesirable" unless
he would favor the plan.
Opposed TO Coercion.
Mr.. Webster after many questions
finally obtained from Mr.. Plumb the
admission that he did not approve such
tactics and asked as to what part of
the letter he would strike out, he said
all of It.
Yesterday you said all the demand
for this programme came from spon-
taneous combustion of the heart or
something like that and that the letters
we would receive would be letters OF love
for humanity" said Representative
Winslow (Mass.) Are these letters of
love or Just plain propaganda"
They are probably not letters OF
love-" Mr.. Plumb answered.
These Letters propose to post my
name and hold me up to ridicule and
scorn countrywide" said Mr. Webster.
do you indorse THAR"
1T do not indorse that for II is lust
what our adversaries are DOING" Mr..
Plumb answered.
"wnl you agree that the letter Is a
plain threat?"
IT agree that It is" Mr.. Plumb replied.
The form letter referred to follows:
Greeting.
I'm council assembled the Brother
hood of Railroad Carmen of America,
Falls Lodge 512. do most emphaticaiiy
proclaim and assert that under Gov
eminent control OF the railroads
wages have been increased. the work
day shortened and our working condi-
lions improved. that labor and the
family have had more of the necessi-
ties of life.
(which condition has made II possible
for him to become better citizen, as
from his savings he has become the
owner of a home and the children have
the advantage OF a better education,
Therefore he who obstructs the Gov
eminent In this policy of control or
ownership becomes our direct enemy and
shall 50 be posted ana a record of his
action shall be kept for future refer
ence and It shall be our pledged policy
20 remove him from whatever political
line of trust the public has given into
his keeping.
I'VE believe II to be our duty to our
God. our country and TO man that
labor should have an equality OF OPP
portunity.'
"And he who denies to labor the right
OF a living wage is as great an enemy
as the alien. the pro-German and the
anarchist.
"And we so strongly affirm this posi-
ton that he who strives to object or
demean labor, or in any political way
detract from the quality OF labor. shall
be posted throughout the length and
breadth of our fair land as an unde-
sirable. He has denied the right OF
labor to equality"
This particular letter was signed
Tony casperian."