New-York tribune., 1919-08-05
Heads of Brotherhoods
Declare Proposed Leg.
islation Will Make Lines
Work for Public Only
Republicans Say
Wilson Favors 1t
Fight to Finish on Gov
ernment Ownership Is
Believed I'm minent

WASHINGTON, Aug 4.-The CAM
palgh Of organized labor to secure gov
erhment ownership of the railroads
and a share in the profits was dis
closed here to-day in its full scope.
mere were three outstanding Develop
ments
Leaders of the railway employees,
representing fourteen unionist crgan-
-zatlons, informed Director General
Hines that the Plumb plan for govern
ment ownership and democratic man
agement of business must not he linn
tied to the railroads, but must eventu-
ally be extended to coal, steel. packing
and all other basic industries of the
nation
The threat of the rail men to force
their demands on the government was
emphasized tonight by acting Presi-
dent B. NJ. Jewell of the railway de-
partment Of the American Federation
of Labor, who, with other representa-
tves of the shopmen, conferred with
President Wilson to-day.
":f Congress adopts the plan pro-
posed by Director General Hines and
President Wilson we will tie the rail-
ways up so tight they will never run
again." he said.
The Hines plan contemplates
Federal commission empowered to fix
railroad wages, increases effective as
OF August l. 1919, and to increase rates
when necessary.
The Battle Is Coming
"All we can do is to prepare for the
battle continued Mr. Jewell. The
battle is coming and We will be ready.
We expect the railroads will be tied I'D
tight in thirty days unless our de-
mands are settled"
The railroad employees, he said.
would back ito a man" the Plumb plan
for government ownership and tripar-
tlte control of the railroads, by which
they would be paid for with a per
cent bond issue
President Wilson. said Mr. Jewell,
listened sympathetically to what the
union officials had to say regarding the
situation, and appeared to recognize
its seriousness. but did not indicate
any intention to recede from his atti-
tude that he had not the power to grant
the increases
The President told US frankly" con-
tinued Mr.. Jewell, that while every
agency of the government was working
on plans to bring relief from the high
cost of living the country could not
expect reduction TO pre-war standards
for good many years TO come. He
made clear that what the government
now was doing would take time. inn
mediate relief should not be looked for
and that 1t would be long time be-
lore there was marked reduction"
Wo"Id Eliminate Capitalists
A defence Of the Plumb plan was
issued oy labor today unequivocaily
ana formally demanding that private
capital be retired from the railroads.
trlpartite control, composed Of the
public the operating management and
IN" employees, Is demanded instead.
The statement was addressed Ia ths
American public and signed by officials
Of the enginoers. the figemen. the con-
ductors and the American Federation
OF Labor The plan viii be carried
before Congress Wedne sday.
1T marks" says the statement. "th.
step BY winch organized labor psxse.
rom demands for wage increases r.
demands that the system of profits IN
industry be overhauled."
ms sentence sums up in fs-
words the proposals, Of which .hars
nave been hints and indications. hut
which is now laid before the countrv
Tor the first sime. Everywhere ;v
omclal Washing on 1t is recognized a.