The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-08-09

to per cent paid upon government
securities. The savings assured under
unified system are enormous. The
savings through efficiency rendered
possible by democratic operation are
even greater. for the increased pro-
duction resulting from harmonious re-
lations between employees and their
managers are incaIculable"
British Situation Paralleled.
There is every Indication that the
railroad men are working along the
same lines to secure democratiza-
ton of industry as are the British
coal miners. They both aim at the
vital link in the economic system in
the two countries, coal in Great Bri-
tain and transportation in the United
States. The American Federation of
Labor, it is stated. is in favor of the
position taken by the brotherhoods.
Among the political prophets con-
fusion reigned yesterday. The plans
of the Republican congress to rein
troduce the old economic system in it's
integrity and to put every industry
back under private management and
control received rude shock, the
effects of which are not yet fully
realized. One thing is certain. A con-
test of the first Importance is i'm
pending, in comparison to which,. for
the time being at least, the dispute
over the League of Nations assumes
! an academic aspect With every in
dication that the brotherhoods are
grim and determined, and with the
| memory Of the passage of the Adam
son "eight-hour day. act on Sept. 2,
1916, under a threat of a tieup of ma
tional transportation, congress, and
particularly the majority party, is fac
ing the "acid test
The question at issue is not one of
adjustment nor wages, but one which
involves a revolutionary departure in
the national economic scheme. Those
who realize the gravity of the prob
lem have little faith in temporary ex-
pedients and patchwork arrange
| ments.
Text of Statement.
The following is the statement is
sued by the brotherhoods:
Labor faces persistentty serious
the impossibility of wages keeping
pace with the depreciation of money.
No fundamental changes are being
advanced to save workers from con-
tlnual defeat in the economic struggle
of life. The railroad employees are
In no mood to brook the return Of the
lines to their former control since
all the plans suggested for this set
tlement OF the problems leave labor
essentially where it has stood and
| where it is determined to stand.
We realize that in the strike for
wage increases we cannot win any
permanent victory. 1t is not money
| but value which counts The vicious
over-capitalized for inflated profits
| and the cost of goods mount faster
| than the wage level. A few grow
wealthy and the multitude is impov-
erished
ANY basic change must begin with
the railroads. We believe the inter-
ests Of labor and the public to be
Identical in the railroad question: The
properties have been operated for the
profit Of the few, not for the service
| of the many Not only have we suf-
| fered from inadequate wages but the
public has paid an extortionate tax, on
! transportation, tax based on inflated
values and collected from every per
| son buying the necessaries Of life.
"Our proposal is to operate the rail-
roads democratically, applying the
principles to industry for which in in
| ternational affairs, the nation has
participated in world war. Presi-
| dent Wilson declared in his message
OF May 20, 1919. for the genuine
characterization of industry, based
upon full recognition of the. right of
those who work, in whatever rank, to
participate in some organic way in
every decision which directly affects
ltlair welfare in the part they are TO