The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-01-02
lBy CHARLES NJ. KELLY


Representatives Of more than
.5.oo0.oao organized producers and
OF a population OF 25.oo0.o00 walk
ed to the Senate the other day and
demanded Of Senator Cummins. Of
the committee on Interstate and
. Foreign Commerce, that his railroad
return bill. which validates $4,000,
100000 of fictitious stock and
turns the people over to the mercy
Of Wall Street group, be with
drawn from consideration.
When Mr.. Cummins gave a reply
that was unsatisfactory, the dele
cation went to the White House and
left memorial with Secretary Tu-
multy, addressed TO President Will
son, requesting him to retain the
railroads in the control Of the gov
eminent for a period of at least TWO
years after the formal conclusion
. Of peace.
This delegation was made up Of
. spokesmen for the National Farm
] Councils, the American Federation
OF Labor and the four railroad
brotherhoods. Ii was the most i'm
pressiye manifestation OF solidarity
Of ee producing class that has
/ ever been given in America
This vigorous protest against
pending legislation is the high
spot Of a movement that seriously
/ threatens the success Of a carefully
laid scheme TO enrich the banking
/ and speculative interests at the ex-
. pense Of all the people Three weeks
ago the Wall Street lobby was cock
sure OF the enactment Of the Cum
Minis bill Today the fate Of that
measure is in doubt. and it is the
+ general opinion that Congress dares
not openly defy public opinion as
il has been revealed in a deluge Of
. protests that have been pouring in
upon members.
When Senator la Toilette began
his attack upon the Cummins bill.
Two weeks ago. il seemed that he
vas alone in his opposition. Since
then attacks have been made upon
the bill from unexpected quarters.
TWO Senator'S who signed the ma
iorlt- report Of the committee have
openly assailed the bill on the floor
. Of the Senate. Its defenders have
. been compelled TO defend them
selves and their pet measure and
I abandon one line Of defense after
another.
The People Are Awake
Il is fortunate that the people
awakened in time to express their
views on railroad legislation. Op-
ponents Of the Cummins bill con
tend that II imperils the very life
Of the nation. 1t has been written
with but one object in view the
protection and enrichment Of a spe-
cial interest. and absolutely no con
sideration has been given the well
fare Of the great mass of people.
The provision which continues a
I governmental guarantee during
1 period of reconstruction is invita-
ton to the railroad managers to
recklessly waste the nations sub
stance. The government is 10 have
no control over the amount Of
money that may be expended or the
manner in which it shall be expend-
ed, but must make good any deficit
that may be sustained. Senator
Mcclellan, OF Tennessee. shot this
provision full of holes and put the
railroad Senatots in a hole from
which they have not extricated
themselves.
, This guarantee is so large that
Senator Cummins, friendly as he is
to the railroads, was impelled to de-
nounce it in his opening speech as
shocking to the moral sense of the
world. ~ Yet and Notwithstanding,
it remains in the bill and the rail-
road lobby is vigorously defend
ing it.
When the anti-strike provision
came TO a vote in committee of the
whole it was retained by a vote Of
40 to %. Senator Stanley of Ken
lucky had moved to strike out this
feature, so offensive to producers.
but the Senate sustained the re-
port Of the Cummins committee.
The effect of this provision. if
II Is incorporated into law. will be
10 shackle the railroad workers
and make them helpless in the face
OF aggression. 1t will make the
railroads complete masters of the
situation In the first instance tho