Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-07
Wall Street Divlges
Facts, Says Author
of Control Plan.
TESTIFIES BEFORE
HOUSE COMMITTEE
Fourteen Unions to Hold Con-
ference Here as to Rail-
road Rule.


and from the banking houses con-
trolled directly by the Morgan and
groups" Information
which has come into the possession OF
the railroad brotherhoods shows that
there has proceeded systematized
plundering Of virtually all of the pub
lie transportation highways in the
United States" the House interstate
commerce committee was told today
by Glenn E. Plumb of Chicago.
Mr.. Plumb, who appeared in support
of the so-called Plumb plan for the
of the railroads, said
the information tended to show that
the "wrecking and looting" of the
New Haven, Chicago and Alton, Rock
Island and Frisco lines were mot
sporadic example of the highway
robbery to which the American nation
has been subjected as to its public
transportation highways"
VIII Give Definite Information.
Definite information on which his
charges were based, NJ. Plumb said.
would be turned over to the COM
mittee upon which it may ask for
I'VE believe such an investigation"
he continued, will reveal that not
one railroad system dominating any
part of the $4,000 miles Of railroad
in the United States but has suffered
and is suering in degree, if not to
the same extent, from carefully delib-
Grated manipulations Of the sort that
have wrecked and ruined the rail-
roads / have mentioned. X
1T will reveal that these interests
are again gathering their forces of
private and secret control, and seek.
after having gained from Congress a
sanction to rehabilitate their railroad
at public expense, to begin
again and follow through its corrupt
and wicked cycle the ). systematised
and looting OF the public
and the public interest in the nations
-
B. r. Unions TO Meet Here.
I'm view OF the gravity Of this sit-
uation. and in order that we may have
the benefit Of their counsel on behalf
Of the public in presenting our state
ment to Congress and to the Ameri-
can people, the fourteen AFFILIATED
labor organizations are sum-
moning to Washington national con-
ference on railroad control.
"On behalf of the public we are
inviting to participate in this confer
ence as members of the joint national
on railroad control Frank
P. Walsh. former joint chairman of
the National War Labor Board; 10
seph w. Folk. of Missouri. Raymond
Robins, John Lind Of Minnesota, Ed
ward F. Dunno of Chicago, DR.. Ed
ward w. Bemis. Felix Adler, Gov. Al
len of Kansas, Julia C. Lathrop, Judge
Walter Clark of North Carolina and
n
sity of Cincinnati. Frank P. Walsh.
Judge Walter Clark. Edward F.
Dunno. Joseph w. Folk and DR.. Ed
ward w. Bemis have already accepted,
and. with others who may yet accept,
will meet here with the representa-
tives of organized labor on Saturday
of this week.
Support Presidents Message.
Every response to our invitation
to participate in this national con-
ference OF democracy in railroad con-
troll has been accompanied by a
whole-hearted acceptance of the basic
sons message at the convening of
this Congress-, wherein he declares
for the genuine characterization of
industry. based upon a full recogni-
ton Of the right of those who work,
some organic way in every decision
which directly affects their welfare in
the part they are to play in industry,
and for genuine cooperation and
based upon real COM
munity OF interest and participation
in control.
an view of this action by the at
labor organizations which I
represent, and on behalf of organized
labor and the public I will there
fore ask to reserve this information
which is in our possession until it
can be properly prepared and sub
mitted to the jury of Congress and
Of public opinion"
For Labor Liberty Bond Holders.
Before discussing the principles un-
DERIVING his plan for disposition of
the roads, Mr.. Plumb spoke on be-
half of labor as holders of liberty
bonds. He contended that it was not
fair for the government to guarantee
a return of per cent upon 100000
000, 900 of outstanding railway .securi-
ties, which now have a market value
not exceeding $13,000.000,000, while
owners of liberty bonds, many of
whom mortgaged future earnings to
aid the government in the war, re-
ceived a return of only az to AZ per
cent.
Referring to labor's plan for pub
lie ownership and operation by a
to be directed jointly by
employees, officers and the public
the .tripartite plan-Mr. Plumb said:
This vast army of producers for
whom I appear are not divided. They
present no conflicting plans. no d.
verse theories for the solution, of this
problem, but appear before you a
united force profoundly convinced .of
the economic soundness Of the princi-
pies upon which their plan is built.
Crisis in High Prices.
THE progress of recent events has
brought US face to face with a crisis |
Of tremendous Importance. The con-
rising cost of commodities to
the consumer has far outstripped the
purchasing power of the consumers
wage This difference between earn
ing power and spending power of the
great mass of the workers has COM
0elled a corresponding lowering Of
the standard of existence.
Resistance is Inevitable. Human ma
ture cannot do otherwise than oppose
the universal lowering of the standard
of living. To avoid the deprivations
essarily inf1icts, the first natural re- J
action is the demand for increased pur- |
chasing power through demanded |
raises in wages, yet, this demand Is
to be futile. because
such increase in cost of production
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