The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-09-07
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THE PLUMB PLAN LEAGUE.
5y j. q. FLYNN

by Glen f. Plumb. general council for
the organized railway employees of Amer
lea, and hence it's name. the Plumb Plan.
1t is the best of four proposed plans for
government control of the railroads, and
the only ixea advocating public owner
ship having the endorsement of the or
ganized railway employees. Over six mill
lion American citizens and voters, through
the organized railway employees of Amer
lea, composed of the fourteen railroad
internationals. together with the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor. the Non-Par-
tisan league. various farmer organiza
tions and civic bodies support the Plumb
Plan as the only rational solution of the
railway problem.
The league is national in scope and
non-partisan in character. with the one
conception that the conceiver of the plan.
and the leaders of the league insist that
American democracy in government is
controlled by an autocracy in industry.
and that America must become the home
of industrial freedom. Therefore we are
free and safe to assume that the Plumb
Plan stands for the true principles of
democracy that have never been known
SO to be appreciated by the Ameri-
can people.
Warren S. Stone. grand chief of the
brotherhood ofs Locomotive Engineers,
and president of the Plumb Plan league,
in a hearing before the house and sem
Is. speaking in behalf of the Plumb Plan
as embodied in the Sims bill. gave the
key statement of labor.
He argued that there could be no So
luton of the industrial problem and no
lowering of the cost of living as long as
consumers had to pay extortionate profits
on their own earnings In purchasing the
necessaries of life.
He continued that in the Industrial de-
veIopment of this country great organi-
cations of capital first appeared as en-
ployers. Individual workers, following
the example set by capital, organized as
employees. Their purpose was to secure
better working conditions and a larger
measure of returns for their labor.
The full force of capitalistic organiza-
ton has been set against labor to hold
and to keep all the profits of industry.
The strength of the labor unions has
been exerted to wrest from capital some
share of the profits for the wage earners.
This has been a perpetual struggle of
the workers to maintain a tolerable
standard of existence: on the part of cap
ital to amass greater profits.
At times both sides could ignore the
needs of the public bur now the very
growth of the labor organizations has
brought into their ranks a great mass of
consumers. The large number of the
wage earners now constitute a large per-
centage of the people, the extension. of
industry has changed the nature of the
previous struggle. For whatever the
for the necessaries of life. In addition
he is always compelled to pay the en-
poyer an excessive profit his own
wages. The cost of living rs determined
by the sum he earns plus the profit he
is charged on his own raDor, and as a
group labor is forever prevented from
lettering its lot because of profits ex-
acted by the employer The hope of a
fine life is never realized.
So long consumers are forced to
pay extortionate profits on their own
earnings to a third interest there is no
hope of solution of the Industrial prob
lem. We find that this third interest (the
capitalistic cannibaD absolutely controls
and dominates the management of in
dustry. 1t fixes wages and controls
working conditions. 1t fixes the prices
of commodities without regard to the
needs of society, or the necessities of the
producers and consumers.
We have a democratic form of govern
ment but an autocratic control of indus
try. We exist under government but by
industry we live. Under such system
the majority of democracy can
such rights and privileges as an autoc-
racy in industry permits them to re-
ceive
This country was originally peepled by
a population who sought within its boun-
daries religious freedom. It was estab-
ished by their descendants, through rev.
o,ution, as a land of political freedom.
We now demand that ii become the home
Of industrial freedom.
This can only be done by extending to
the same right of individual
freedom recognized by the founders of |
our government in establishing the de-
nIccracy. The need of mankind for the !
products of industry must be accepted
4 . the basic interest of all Industry |
The right of the worker who supplies
that need. demands like acceptance This |
ian only be achieved by permitting pro-
1ucers and consumers TO share in con-
troll of the management of their means |
md ways of existence. The machinery
for attaining this result is outlined in |
he Sims bin.
Our belief in the Sims bill is profound |
aid w. S. Stone in closing his address /
before the house and senate committees |
lt Washington. We embrace this plan
With all the ordor or those who sought l
political freedom. In this plan we raise
he banner of democracy in control of /
We advance to a new crusade |
With the faith of the Pilgrims, with the
of the trainers of the constftu-
ion. and with the hope Of America for
economic independence.
Labor enjoys the satisfaction and per-
'onal pride of being able to frame and I
promote the Plumb Plan league, and in
70 doing take the thru greatest step in
he history of our country to establish
freedom. and economic service
Il the people, for the people, by the peo-
lie for the sake Of genuine democracy.
Never before in the worlds history
las the masses of the people (the work
rs) been called upon 10 assume leader
hip and shoulder responsibility in such
far-reaching undertaking which has. as
Is purpose, the fntrocucqon OF new
concept, into the Industrial life of our
lation and of the world. that of cooper
tive ownership and operation and the
haring of profits over and above GER
ain fixed charges.
Glen E. Plumb, author of the plan. is
Z charge of the legislative and publicity
nd of the work. and Tor public inforn,a !