Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-06
LARGE PERCENTAGE
CAST VOTE AGAINST
PLAN OF W0RKMEN
Six Reasons Are Assigned
for Refusing to Approve
Movement.
SHOPMEN THROWING DOWN
TOOLS IN MANY SECTIONS
Threat of More Serious Labor
Situation Hovers Over the
Railways.
MAY TIE UP ALL GRAIN
Mills and Factories Also Will Be
Forced to Close Because Of
Car Shortage.
SHOPMEN THROWING DOWN
TOOLS IN MANY SECTIONS
Jay TIE UP ALL GRAIN
Mills and Factories Also Will Be
Forced to Close Because OF
Car Shortage.
tBy Associated Press.1

By Associated Press1
threat of a railroad strike continued
to spread throughout the country de-
heads % as be OF sn 1ns n hse
authoritative and official strike votes
can be taken.
their tools in premature strike, it was
reported were threatening national In
duStry, because without them the
railroads equipment cannot be kept in
usabie order at the most necessary Of
all times-crop moving season.
Above that that hoyered the threat of
the demand of all the organized rail-
road industry that the profits. of the
business be overhauled to retire pri-
vate capital and create new partite
control.
Reports began coming in today. say
can he kept in running order, mills,
mines and factories will be threatened
MN hsrs Gosing 1t was reported 9on eeo that
out of commission.
TnbuIation OF Referendum.
FORMAL announcement was made to-
night of the final tabulation in the
referendum conducted among business
men by the Chamber of Commerce OF
governen, ownership Of railroads. 4
More than 90 per cent of the vote, the
ofhcial announcement said. was against
Meanwhile the threats Of hundreds
OF thousands of railroad employees to
go on strike to force higher wages to
meet the high cost OF living were re-
iterated From many parts of the
country today came reports that strik.
ing shopmen refused to return to work.
despite the fact that their action was
denounced S illegal by the executive
council of the six shop crafts. Strike
American Federation of Labor for taxi
ing an official vote as to whether the
100000 shop,men shall walk out to OBJ
disapproval of President Wilson's ref.
erence of the railroad wage question
icing eGnsdssf sds by 45SoSo Clerks also
handlers and station employees.
Director, General Hines was to have
discussed their problems today with
D. j. ForreSter, grand president of the
union. but other business interfered.
and the conference will be held to-
morrow.
Six Reasons Are Given
Announcement of the vote OF 90 per
cent OF the business men against gov
eminent ownership was accompanied
by the following explanation OF the
reasons actuating the decisions:
deve,onmpr, Tmaer government ownership the
would depend upon consressional ar.
pronriations which would prevent the
no. not be made in the amount and at the
tim. time needed to insure adequate de.
considerations might also control the
amount of appropriations and the OBJ
Jec.s Ior which they were made.
-. To acquire the railroads the Eoy-
srsdit for SIS. ooo.ooo. ooo to o'eGse sse eoooss s
SGGDcG at msi ime b when Gans other large
be difficult for the government to dis
pose or the securities required to pur-
secure from $500 ooS S0tersmsst to sicooooo to
600 of new capital each year n the
OF financing the railroads at the pres
ent time. when the war debt is so large.
AS as hgS nsSrsst as rate WSGuld neSeessasiy be
capital.
Says Service Is Inemcient.
3. Government operation is seldom.
II ever. as efficient as corporate man
asemsnt. comnetition. the incentive
enterprises. is absent from the govern
ment administra:i lion of affairs Indi-
vidual initiative is less Bureaucratic
methods are more characteristic and
the services rendered are less pro-
Gressiyely efficient.
sumably select officers and EMPLOYEES
ny means Of efficiency tests. politicaI
Influences would almost certainly be
given weight in selecting men for off,
ciai positions.
tha - I'm! Unless the gevernment adopted
with the intention that any resulting
deficit from operations should be pIacaS
a.; as an Increased burden of taxes upon
would he higher under government
man private operation. Under GOV
ernmeht operation expenses rise in re-
laiion 70 income. and tho charges inn
posed bH the government, IL a deficit
IS 10 be avoided must be higher than
those which II would be necessary TO
permit railroad corporations to make
DISCUSS Political Effect
6. The political effect Of sov.rn-
ment ownership and operation Of rail
roads in the United States might ha
serious There are now about 5no mn
Givii employees OF the government
Ine addition TO the public seryice NJ
?.ooo.ooo railroad employees the ma
Jofity or whom are voters. would con-
stitute a force OF about 25oO.0Oo cov-
ernment employees interested in CON
trolling the policy of the Sovernment
or service. Such body OF emnloyees
might easily exercise Il controlling In
tics" 'oAt-S
Discussion of the railroad one.tion
ran through the days debate in Con.
Eress The Senate Commerce Commit.
tee referred TO subcommittee tho
question whether an investigatIon
should be made Of the new wage Ia
tomorrow. Director-Genesai Hines was
the, subject OF attacks by Senators
Kellogg and Pomerene. who arrued
that he should make tho decision ss.f