davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10
Private Control of Railroads
Not in the Interest of Public

The first fruit :ot. private control
tot railroads tsA denolalised ,tEanstor-
tation system: From the Missouri river
to the coast Of: Maine freight; embxtt-:
goes have, been placed that. have tied
up con1nerce and seriously threaten
the industrial fabric .of the: nation. u:
Practically, 4xs1y important trans
portation company. embraced in the
territory described has placed ~embsr-
goes against carload Ind less than
carload shipments. A number OF the
important lines refuse to accept
freight originally. on other lines, with
the 5sesuN that junction points are
.congested and the car shortage has
become more acute. T.
Shippers are complaining bitterly,
but without gaining any relief. The
traffic managers do not, even take the
TIME or the trouble to make an Sx-
,planation for this Unsatisfactory con-
dition. .When:they do attempt to rive
q reason, it ID the worn out phrase
that "the government 10 to blame"
During federal cont4el Of the rail-
roads 9nbargoes were. practically Jn4
known. When tho government intet-
'vened to save the nation on Jan. !,
1s1s, terminals were tted up and I'm
;barsoes existed everywhere. After two
months Of hard work the government
administration brought order frein
chaos, and traffic moved freely. Aes:
pte naany oom1licattans. Mtll,ons Of
troopA were, safely ana comfortably
transported. Never before aid the rail-
roads Of the nation face such a tre-
m endous task, ana never did they bet
ter or: more effectively meet Il.
For more than q year prior to
March 1. last when the railroads were
returned to private control, there Aal
been no enabargees. with linaited car
facilities, the government succeeded
!. In = satisfactory manner in supplying
the country's transportation needs.
notwithstanding the roseats predie-
tons made by the railroads in their
million dollar advertising campaign,
and the promises OF inpreved service,
within = week after ths roads had xene
back to Wall street the large eastern
roads had placed enabarsoes: One ana
barge invites another, and the endlesA
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10
RELIEVE THE TEACHERS

The case Of granting bonus to Du-
luth school teachers will go by agree
ment to the attorney general, tho school
board agreeing to be bound by his opin-
ion in the matter. Mr.. G. O. Baldwin,
attorney for the board, has advised that
it is without authority under tho law
to increase the salaries % school teach:
ers by giving them bonus at the end
Of the school year, sfor the reason that
they were all working under contracts
made and accepted at~the beginning Of
the year.
Nh. I. K. Lewis, attorney for the
teachers, maintains that the contracts
between the teachers and, the board
can be amended at any time during
their life by mutual consent. In this
position he is backed by nearly every
lawyer with whom he have discussed
tho question.
The people generally are not stick
lers on close legal points. They are pri-
marily interested in seeing that the
teachers get more money, and they
haven't very much patience with the
difference between "tweedle dee and
tweedle dunn" in legal opinions. They
look with shame on a situation that
compels teacher;in our public schools
to limit her food to two meals a day and
which forces her to seek lodging in 4
cheap and uninviting environment
They do not like to see her driven be.
hind department store counter to
clerk on Saturdays and holidays in
order; that she may make both ends
meet.
This is no time, for pickering. The
teachers need more money. Many Of
them are not returning their contracts
for next year until they are sure they
will be paid a living wage. We are los
ing many Of our best and most expert
enced teachers. The situation needs I'M
mediate attention. There are not :;
dozen persons in Duluth against the pro
position of paying the teachers a. bonu'
to make up this years deficiency il
their salaries. It docs not make IN,
difference as to tho legal questions tina
may arise, public welfare at this cru
eial moment demands that the teacher
in our public school. be given. a was'
sufficient .to meet the expenses Of :
decent standard Of living. let US 'hea
Ravorably from the attorney general.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10
Hines Declares Railroad Men
Have not Been War PrOfiteerS

Truth is lard put to keeping up
with falsehood, but 1t wins in the.
long run. This. Is especially true as
respects the flood OF lies that were
disseminated by the: railroad lobby
which sought and secured a return
OF the railroads to Wall Street. With
the aid Of newspape.s that were as
ststing them in their campaign they
quite definitely established In the
popular mind some misconceptions
that materially influences the deter
mination' Of this important question.
Aspersions were cast upon railway
employees by newspapers snd con-
Sressmen who reeorted to this sort
OF calumny to defeat federal con-
troll and cast suspicion upon the rail-
road administration. Now Mr.. Hines
completely refutes these allegations
and gives us just the opposite view.
ut is unfortunate" he says, 'that
the public has been Ii. to believe
that railroad employees as a class
have been war-profiteers. Their earn
ings have been increased less in pro-
portion than the earnings Of most
classes Of labor The increases
granted have been just and abso-
lutely necessary to, enable the work.
ers to maintain decent standard
OF living. It is not true that the pay-
rolls have been loaded with more
than the needed number of employees.
The Increased number was made nee
essary by the eisht-hour day.
III the private employers do not
adhere to the plan We inaugurated
Of having representatives of the men
on local and general bipartisan wage
boards they will live to regret 1t. We
have had our trouble, as has every
other Industry, but L.. the main the
railroad men are As reasonable and
as patriotic as any tody Of workers
in; the country"
Mr.. Hines denounced the critics OF
the administration and declared thai
had ,the railroads been under private
| management during the war period
that the most serious consequence!
would have resulted. He chal1eneec
critics Of the railroad department t
present any tangible evidence o.
statements that, were made during
the confederation: OF the railroad bill
that were intended to- prejudice pop.
ular opinion against government con
| troll.
Further: light on this matter 4
given by Charles A. Prouty, directo,
OF valuation Of: the, Interstate Con,
merce commission. 70 declared tina
| the. public had been .lulled. by ''in
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10
NoN-PAn1ISAN POLICY !.
nor OFFICIAL SCHEME

Action" the. American Federation Of:
Labor has published, in pamphlet
form, synopsis Of the non-partisan
political declarations that have been
passed in the annual conventions
since 1881, when the American Fed
GRAFTON of, Labor was formed.
During this time the A.. F. Of L..
has consistently maintained the posi-
ton that it is an economic movement,
in which. political questions shall be
discussed and the record of office
holders given wide publicity as an aid
to the casting of an intelligent, ballot.
no attempt shall be made to question
the workers right to vote as he elects.
AS far back as 1885 the convention
rejected a: plan to form a working
mems political party. Similar action
was taken in 1889 and in 1892. In 1894
it was declared that "a political labor
movement can not and will not sue
coed upon the ruins Of the trade
unions"
In 1896 it was stated that. "our
movement distinctly draws the line
between political action in the inter-
lest of labor and political party &C.
tion." In practically: every convention
the political party theory. presented
in various forms. has been rejected.
The pamphlet is Of value in that it
shows. in concise form, that the non-
partisan political party Of the A. F. Of
L. Is not a scheme OF few officials,
but is as much part of the trade
union movement as is every other
guarantee to workers, which has
grown out Of the experience OF these
workers.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10

sidious propaganda on the part OF
Wall Street interests to permit con-.
gress to return the railroads to pri-'
vate control.
Predicting that. public ownership
and democratic control will eventu-
ally result. Mr.. Prouty said: II con-
slider this the proper and inevitable
solution Of the railroad problem. The
100000 railroad president, the bank
ing interests who create and Gown
him, the big shipping interests which
under private management always
have received preferential treatpdent,
have bombarded congress andt the
public, through the press, to cfeate
sentiment favorable to private her
ation.. Temporarily, they are suc( ess-
full.
Under the railroad administration
the United States Steel corpcrad on
and the man who had only one stl we
to ship got exactly the same raj les
and the same SERVICE" Prouty san
"Ownership and operation of the rail
roads is a public. function" q
's~ Mr.. Prouty then exploited that the
deficit incurred under federal opera
ton resulted fron. inability to in
crease rates concurrent with an in
creased labor cost and the higher
prices for materials. He also. de-
clared that the carly .eturrt teE'pr;-
vate management prevented the aGi-
mfnfstratton from putting into effect
economies that were by their nature
permanent. Under any fair test pub
lie, control would have been so much
superior to private management that
there never would be q chance that
the public: would supper. congress in
giving the lines back to Wall Street.
Mr.. Prouty predicted that there
would be an immediate increase OF
rates OF nc; less than % per cent
This, he said, will cost shippers
$1,S0o, 100000 year. But, more i'm
rortant still the public will be com
PEELED to meet this additional, charge
in :five-fo1d increase in the cost
OF food shelter and clothing. This
! means that each American family
VII! be. Compelled to assume an ad-
d't:cnal burden of nearly 1925 per
year.
And the result, in the opinion OF
these authorities, will be immediate
and positive reaction that. will de-
m&nd that the railroad question be
reviewed, and then the trend will be
| running strongly in the direction, OF
government ownership. No sane eco.
nomist' can accept the action of con-
t kress es final.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10
REFUSES TO RIDE IN
INDUSTRIAL :AIRShIP

Wh1le editors and statesmen are
soaring to dizzy heights in lauding
the Presidents industrial conference
President Gompers makes this COM
ment:
1T is impossible to discover in what
particular the machinery devised by
the Presidents industrial conference
improves upon machinery already
worked Nout through long experience
by organized workers and employers.
The fact is that machinery which has
for years been in existence In prac-
ticAlly every organized industry in the
United States is superior to the ma
chinefy now suggested by the indus
trial conferences. both in point Of sim
pl9ctty and in point Of effectiveness.
The report OF the com mission con-
ta1ns, in addition to tho: detailed plan
for dealing with Industrial disputes, q
;large amount Of purely editorial COM
mont on tho Industrial situation. Some
OF thls,:l excellent, while some Of It
is obviously :a::reflection of the phil
1osophy of$uplift commonly found in 4
:rarefted atmosphere where real labor,
with It's difficulties and problems,
does not exist.
-: The fact. OF ,the whole matter is
that the President commission, even
though prompted by the best OF mo
tives, had neither the experience nor
the understanding of the history, the
methods and purposes Of the organized
labor movement, and it tollowed in
the wake OF others whose only pur-
pose has been to get away from the
trade union Influence and construc-
tive work."
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10

chain continued Until practically every
important road east OF St.. Louis had
one or more embareses operating on
April /.
II this condition continues for any.
length OF time. the result will be dts
astrous. Manufacturers, unable to Sc
cure raw materials, or strip finished
products, will be forced to close: fac
tories. This will result in@an increase
of unemployment. Railroads. not NOV
ing cars, will suspend workers.: Mer-
chants, unable to secure merchandise.
will +ncFesss prices. adding; to the
staggering cost of living problem.
But one Of two purposes can AMI
mate railway managers. They seek to
bring about business .stasnation and
paralysis, to:destroy the morale of the
workers and thus punish them for
:mantfesting a-Nttle independence, OF
II force back on. to their respective
lines traffic that was diverted during
the period oftgovernment adnainistra-
ton.
Under federal control the roads
were operated rs = unit system. The
purpose was to ,expeditiously and eco
Romie&lly distribute commerce. The
result was that senae roads lost valu-
able traffic. while other lines, less
popular, were used to advantage.
Now, under competitive conditions.
the interests of tho railroads are made
paramount to the public good. NO
confederation is. given to the rights or
needs Of shippers. The policy s. as
has been expressed by a western rail-
ROAD manager, L. NJ. Davis Of tho
treat Northern, Ito get @lk the rev.
enue we. can for the COMPANY"
The public is slowly but surely
awakening to the fact that private
centfol Of transportation IS not in the
interest Of the public. The first aisil-
lusiopnaent came with the embargoes
against freight. The next will come
when rates are increaeed. Because
congress was recreant to the welfare
ct the people. they are to suffer in de-
crsased service, higher cost ana az
penpive and exasperAting delays that
will eventually. result in the demoral-
ization of industry.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10
:aIvH: FILL RI HURTS.

There 'ars TWO days ;left Of tn, drive
to raise $50; sootn Duluth for the relief
Of the suffering peoplo'. in the Near:
East. Never has; such = deserving .ap::
peal come: 70 the people of any ..ity.
thousands of people, including women
and children, have already starved TO
death, and thoueands more sts. faeing
starvation with no: hope of relief until
the NEXT harvest, e1etp that which may
come to them from "a; sympathizing
Christian world.
The sufferings and sorrows Of the
people ofsthe Near East can not be de-
scribed in words. o casioaally we see a
picture showing the: emacieted faces AMI
forms Of hungry women aad children.
These help to visualize the situation,
but even they do not half tell the atory.
Only those who have been on tho ground
and have ssen with their own eyes the
sw4pl atrocities perpetrated on theae
unfortunate people know the horrors
that have taken place. The tsaffql con
dition Of these people challenges the
civilization in which we live.
Can any man refuse tt" respond to
the appeal for helps Be it said that
rot one cent Of the money contributed
to the relief fund will b. used for "a.
ininistration. Every dollar given goes
to feed starving Armeaisa, Jew or
Greek. The eiver comes in direct con
tact with the recipient: So give to
this fund till it hurts. + is the only
kind Of giving worth while.
Send your contribution to D. J. Ma
honey, treasurer, and address it in care
Ct the American Exchange National
Bank.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10
POLICE FORM A UNION.

The Duluth policemen have formed a
Union. They have not voted to join tho
American Federation Of Labor, and
they have not voted against affiliation.
They are not ready to act on such a
question at this time. The subject will
be disposed Of later.
But whether they join the Federation
or no, the fact that they have organ
lied union makes every member a
unon man. Some Of the railroad broth
erhoods are not connected with the
American Federation Of Labor, but
theirs are labor unions and every men,.
Der is known as a union man.
The fact that the policemen found it
necessary to organize union along
trade union lines indicates where their
interest and their sympathy are and vii;
be. In their demands for more pay be.
fore the city council and for remedial
legislation before the state legislature
they will solicit and secure the support
Of organized labor as represented by the
American Federation Of Labor. And in
receiving the support they cannot long
do the "taking'' without recognising
the obligation Of doing some Of tho
"giving.''
1t is not true as the Herald would
have us believe that public sentiment
is against the policemen joining the A.
F. Of L. The Herald only guesses at II.
The people have never declared them
!;se1ves on the subject. Boston is no
criterion. The truth. Of that strike which
was forced on the policemen by de
signing politicians. to boost the politica!
fortunes Of Governor Coolidge will
some day be- known to all the people.
They will know that charters issued by
! the "A. f. Of l.. to policemen contain a
clause denying them: Tie right to strike.
Indeed the A. F. Of L. holds that strikes
Of unions Of pnblic employees are unnec;:
:essary, rs the remedy. is n: the ballot
!, box, Private employers can not be re-
required by law to. pay certain wages.
IF they could be reached in this way
there would be no strikes. But city
councils can be directed by the people,
! through their votes, to meet the just
demands of pubic employees.
The opposition to unionism among
policemen is part Of the propaganda of
citizens alliances and other organiza.
tions Of :anti.union business men.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10
STRANGE /: HOW some |! I ]: MEN
fear LABOR CLASS RULE

IN a speech in New York the other
day Governor Cornwall 81 west vir-
gtnia dsclarsd that the entering Of
trade unions in the political field is a
great Menace" The governor stated
that IL public opinion il not aroused
"these radicals will be successful" He
painted \ dark picture on the evils of
class government and declared he
viii vote for no man who pledges him
self to any class be It rich or poor.
While the governor was thus orat-
ing the workers Ia his state continue
their lppesls to him. to stand for law
ind order il West Virginia ana end
the class rule IL that state that IL
BY coal operators through
gun men. @
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10
UNITE AGAINST. NORTHUMBERLAND

A branch. Of the Minnesota Sound
Government league was organized in
Duluth this week. This organization is.
formed to combat what it is pleased to
term as "Townleyism.' It is current
;:gop,ip, which may or may not, be true,
that the S: tG>. L. will have fund Of
nearly million dollars TO use in pre-
venting Minlssota from <sgoing to So
cialism.'
It is perfectly proper for those wie
are opposed to the program Of the farm.
ers and working peoples non-partisaa
leagues to organize against them. No
one can make reasonable objection to
such an organization, provided its cam
paign is conducted honestly and in ac-
cordance with the. rules Of decency in
politics. Should money be spent as the
machine Of Senator :Newberry did it in
Michigan, a day Of reckoning will be
had, and the officers and leading lights
Of tho s. G. L. will be called upon to
render an accounting.
Did it ever occur to the leaders AMI
other members Of the ''sound govern.
ment'' movement in Minnesota that
there would be no occasion for what
they call "Townleyism" if the farm
ers and working people had been fairly
dealt with in legislative measures and
administrative policies. Gas we sow
so shall we reap" The non-partisan
movement is not cause, II is an effect
It is the organized protest Of Mime
sofa producers Of wealth against favor
itism, extravaganza and. mis-rule in
state government.
We have read carefully the news
paper reports Of the doings Of the
Sound Government league and We have
yet failed to find one instance in which
it proposes to bring any relief to the
reopls. It offers nothing to tho masses.
It stands for the old system and for old
methods. It =: may receive succor from
the forces Of reaction. but it can not
command the respect Of tho forces Of
progress. Workingmen in particu!a,
give it : wide BERTH if for no other
reason than that it is in part : baby Of
he MinnesotE Insurance Federation,
which seeks the defeat Of m honest
and fair state insurance law that will
provide for the Just compensation Of ali
tact, and while they HAYS not gained
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-04-10

persons injured q killed, il Ainnssota's
industries. Some good men have Joined
the Duluth organization, and they are
advised to look up tho company: they
sre keeping before they get into it too
deeply. .--.. -.
Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-12-07

viCtrola this Christmas" ran one
paragraph, "but find must walt un-
III her birthday. You know how she
loves the old songs"
Randall Petrle pressed his lips TO
the signature. to him the dearest name
on earth, memorized the address writ.
ten below II and left the restaurant In
glow Of hopeful purpose and faith.
1.-TWO twenty-three Rossiter street"
he covered the distance as II borne
on wings. A new meaning TO Christ.
mas Eve had come 10 him.
81 have brought lost hand bag"
he spoke MS his summons at the door
Of the house he sought was opened
And then he paused. There stood be.
fore him Ada. she wavered, overcome
by the unexpected encounter Impul.
sively his hand steadled her. She did
not draw from It's protecting touch.
In torrent Of words he could not
control. without evasion or attempted
apology, Randall Pctrie told Of the
contents I'm the handbag that had led
him back TO her. Was he welcomed
With a low, tender cry like 10 that OF
tired child finding sure haven of
rest NJ last, Ada's head sank TO his
shoulder
"And the surprise for motherr
whispered Randall ardcntly. ut shall
he here the first thing Christmas
morning. all the sweet old songs she
loves, and oh, my treasure may | In.
clude the Wedding March7"
Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-12-07

Of Brocton. had all but confessed his
love. A decisive understanding TO his
proposal was stayed by an Interrupt
ton. The next morning Petrie was
suddenly summoned by a relative I'm
another town. lie had expected to be
gone only few days but his soJourn
ran into months. Twice he wrote Ada
There came no reply. A third letter
was returned TO him marked. IRE.
fused" He had later made Inquiries
regarding her 10 learn that she and
her mother had removed TO the city,
and he gave her up as lost to him. As
the car stopped for new passengers
Petrie moved TO make room for one OF
them. He jostled something In the
seat. A small hand bag. His quick
senses discerned It's ownership He
left the car at the first stop. Like
some miser greedy of a treasure in.
estlmable Randall Petrie hurried into
public restaurant and sought It's re-
hottest corner. lie held something
that had belonged TO Ada A fitting
excuse was given TO return II 70 her.
Its contents would surely give some
clew TO her place OF work, her resi-.
dence, He opened the hand bag. A
purse showed the edge OF a card In
little pocket Petrle drew II out.
"She remembered-she has kept that
all this timer he exulted. "Then-"
Words failed him. His heart beat
nightly. He had brought TO light
photograph of himself he had once
given to Ada. He fingered over several
little packages and Christmas cards.
then an envelope. unstamped and I'M
sealed. addressed TO "Mlss Laura
Deane BrOctOn." Instantly Petrie re.
called q close friend OF Ada. II was
no prying instinct that caused him to
withdraw the enclosure One line
perused. his dazzled eyes refused to
leave the written pages
''Your discovery that II was not
Randall Petrie, but relative a. his
name who led such n Wild. evil life. /
the report Of which caused me to strive +
TO forget. comes too late to bridge the
mistaken past, but, oh Laura how
can ever repair the injustice donei /
Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-12-07
Cedar Chests"

lis distinctive features add charm 10 any
home. an everlasting gift. all sizc,.
Community Plate in sets or IN yelvei-ined
glfi boxes. The Silverware Of quality.
Buy only useful gifts this year aud this
IS the store you vii find them Mll,e your
selections now