The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1919-08-16
THE BRoTHERHOODs AGAIN

The railroad brotherhoods-or, more exactly, the "big
Five" chiefs, since the attitude of the rank and file IS only
a matter of guesswork-are again presuming 70 lay GOWN "e
llaw to congress and the country. Government ownership III
the transportation system is demanded without further us
cussion. Chiefs Stone, Lee and Sheppard and acnng chieis
Shea and Jewell are Sin no mood to brook the return TO the
lines TO their former control" though the arrangements are
already in process of making for their return. Under the
plan they propose, assuring the country that it is a souno ana
workable one. the railroads would be given into the hands OF
government and labor union administrators, Joinuy.tna' Il,
politicians and brotherhood chiefs. And they aren't bit
more cock-sure of the wisdom of their new plan than they
were of the McAdoo plan that so dismally failed.
The American people trust that they are represented in
Washington by a congress that regards their welfare, as some
thing more than incidental to the selfish interests which the
manifesto, or ultimatum, of the brotherhood chiefs reflects.
1t is an issue to be met squarely. The two million voters
whom the railroad chiefs profess their ability to controi are
after all, only a small fraction of the whole voting population,
and there is, of course, no evidence to support their claim OF
control. The labor union vote has never been delivered or
deliverable, and nobody knows that better than these men.
But whether it is or not, congress should never submit to
being b~lackjacked.
Three wears ago a president and a congress that was his
rubber stamp surrendered to the brotherhood holdup. Had
that not happened, the project submitted at this time would
hardly be in the shape of an arrogant demand, or accom-
panied by a threat. Demand and threat worked then, and are
manifestly expected to send shivers up the back of congress
now. 1t was expected then that yielding would win enough
votes to decide d national election. Probably it'did, but today
it would ALLEVIATE ten votes for every vote 1T won.
The American people are in a different mood today from
what they were in 1916. They are more alive to their own
interests. They have been through a war, and their spirit OF
resolution has been greatly strengthened. Moreover, they
have a much better understanding of the problems OF the
transportation industry than they have ever had.
4 4 4
If there is one thing that is entirely clear, it is that an
overwhelming majority of Americans are opposed to govern
ment ownership. And the suggestion that the management OF
the railroads, instead of being wholly confided to politicians,
be shared by labor union representatives of the autocratic
character that these brotherhood chiefs have shown them
selves to be, is obviously not calculated to make the idea of
ooyoppp,op arC n cPpntaDIp If thew W0u0
use the power they already have to coerce the whole people,
through starvation of the city populations. as they threatened
three years ego, what would they not do with that power(
made absolute?
/ Above all, the great body of the people has time and
again shown itself resentful of attempted dictation on the part
OF any class. The brotherhood plan might properly be dis
cussed on its merits, but it should not be considered at all so
long as it carries a threat.