The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1919-09-05
RAILWAY LABOR
MOVE ASSAILED
New York World, Strong Wilson
Supporter, Denounces "Revolu.
ton by Ultimatum."
PARALLEL TO RUSSIAN IDEA.
Calls Railroad Brotherhoods' Plan for
Government Ownership "Soviet
Economics Venture"
PARALLEL TO RUSSIAN IDEA.

In leading edltOrlal, cnaracterlIes
the railroad labor plan for Government
ownership of railroads as "a straight
out adventure into Soviet economics"
The editorial page of the World has
long had a national reputation for un-
deviating support OF Democratic prin-
ciples, hostility to Wall street, and the
most loyal and vigorous assistance to
President Wilson. The World says:
revolution by UItimatum."
The plan of the railroad brother
hoods for taking over the railroad
, properties Of the country Is straight
out adventure into Soviet economics.
1t contemplates collective ownership,
but class operation and control, which
is at the foundation of the Soviet sys-
TEN.
The American people, through their
Government, are to buy the railroads
from the private owners and turn these
properties over to the railroad en-
ployees to manage and operate. In
consideration of an investment Of APP
proximately $2O,OOOOO the Gov
eminent is 70 appoint one-third Of the
directors, and the public is to share
n such savings in the cost of opera
ion as may remain after the en-
,loyees have paid themselves what
hey think their services ought to be
worth.
The spirit In which the program is
)ut forth may be inferred from q state
nent made by b. M. Jewell, acting
president Of the railroad employees
department. Of the American Fedora
ion Of Labor, In which he said that If
President Wilson's suggestion to Con-
ress was carried out 1--WE will tie up
he railroads so tight that they will
aever run again II that legislation is
passed." 1t might have been Trotzky
himself speaking to bourgeoise that
aad offered mild and academic objec-
ions to being despoiled.
Who Is the Government
Before any railroad plan can be
worked out one highly essential fact
must be stablished-namely, whether
he sovereign power Of the United
States is vested in Government and in
he American people or whether 1t is
rested in the railroad brotherhoods.
For three years now the brother
hoods have assumed that the sovereign
power was vested In them. and Con-
.ress has provided them with excel
ent reasons for that assumption.
When the railroad employees in the
critical period of the summer of 1916
demanded an eight-hour day and
threatened a general strike, President
Wilson sent q message to Congress i'm
which he urged that the eight-hour
lay be made the basis of work and
wages, but he made four other pro-
oosals, one Of which called for
"An amendment to the existing Fed
sral statute which provides for the
mediation, Cancellation and arbitration
Of such controversies as the present
by adding TO ii a provision that in
case the methods Of accommodation
now provided for should fail, a full
public investigation of the merits of
every such dispute should be inStitut-
ed and completed before q strike or
lockout may be lawfully attempted"
Try to Intimidate Congress.
Congress refused to enact this legis-
latiOn because the labor leaders OBJ
jected to Ii, and now we have a situa-
ton in which labor leader can threat
Ell TO "tle up the railroads so tight that
they will never run again" If Congress
presumes to pass an act TO which the
brotherhood autocracy objects as I'M
equal TO It's imperative demands.
The railroad brotherhoods have en-
parked upon a policy that even the
most conservative of them must admit
Is economically revolutionary. If their
scheme of naturalization under class
control Is to be carried out in respect
to railroads, nobody can draw the line
where 1t shall stop until all industry is
under Soviet direction. Yet they are
not putting their program out as
matter to be discussed and deliberate
ly considered by the American people.
They are trying to force the issue and
bring about a revolution by ultima
tum.
The Public Pays.
In the last three years the railroad
employees have received hundreds Of
millions Of dollars In wage increases
for which the general public is paying
As q reward for its generosity the
country Is to be taken by the throat
and choked into submission II the most
complicated economic issues that have
ever confronted IL are not settled forth
with. IL there Is any difference be-
tween that kind of arrogance and the
arrogance of the German general staff
I'm July. 1914, we should like to know