The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-07-23
AN AWFUL WARNING OF IMPENDING
DISASTER AND FAMINE SOUNDED

Is
to issue against automobile makers
stop that industry until the crisis
is passed.
From the weller of this industrial
breakdown, precipitated by the in
ability of the railroads to meet the
national needs, there comes but one
rational suggestion to remedy the
situation. That remedy is govern
ment ownership and control of trans
portation. Nobody now seriously
contends that the railroads will ever
regain the confidence of the public,
nor that they will be able to solve
problem that has baffled their
best geniuses. AS they failed in
1917 so they are now failing, only
more dismally and disastrously.
The only remedy that the railway
managers can suggest is higher and
still higher rates and large govern
ment subsidies. Yet this remedy will
complete the vicious circle of dis
aster should it be adopted. High
freight rates interfere with industry.
fering with railway revenues and
with the production upon which the
national prosperity depends.
Death Knell To Privateers
One of the most competent railway
authorities in this country is Cliff
ford Thorne, Chicago lawyer. For
more than fifteen years he has been
appearing regularly before the In
terstate Commerce Commission in be-
half of organizations of shippers in
terested in the making of freight
rates. Mr.. Thorne has had a hand
in all rate-making undertaken by
the Commission. He is generally
recognized as qualified to speak intel
| ligently on railroad practices and
possibilities.
When he declares that if the rail-
way managers are permitted to have
their way the death knell of private
ownership will be sounded, the aver
age man will be duly and properly
impressed. The prediction is en-
titled to considerable respect, be-
cause it is based on long experience
ditions that affect the operation of
railways.
eff you folks want to sound the
death knell of private operation of
the railroads." Mr.. Thorne told the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
grant these demands of the rail-
way managers. After you have done
that, then please watch the effect on
American industry and watch the
effect on the thought of the rank
and file of he American people"
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion is in an uneviable position. The
railroads cannot live unless their
rate demands are granted, and indus
try cannot live if they are granted.
1t is a case of being between the
devil and the dark blue sea, unless
Congress adopts the only possible
ernative-governmen ownership.
Not one person who has been in
Washington to discuss railroad rates
and their number is legion-has
ed conditions that did not involve
higher transportation costs. The
railroad managers have parroted
their phrases until the Interstate
Commission knows them by note.
There is never a word said about
efficiency, or the elimination of
waste, or the speeding up of man
agement, or the unification of sys-
tens. Nothing of that sort is in
the thought of railway executives,
who frequently happen to be mere
bankers-men who wouldn't be able
to tell the difference between a
switch tie and coupling pin. All
they know, all they care, is that
rates shall be increased until in
dustry will be unable to pay them
and will languish and die.
If the railroads get what they de-
mand, this nation will be perilously
close to the most dangerous period
! in all history. If the railroads
don't get their demands, the rail-
roads will wilt and fade away.
The way out is government owner
ship and democratic control, and it
does not require the gift of proph-
esy to predict that it will ultimately
be the solution of this most vexing
of all our problems.
Take Over The Railroads.
1t is impossible to exaggerate the
seriousness of the railroad situation.
The business of the nation is threat
ened. The newspapers have for sew
eral weeks been publishing facts that
demonstrate conclusively the impot-
ency of private management. Manu-
facturers and shippers are in despair,
and it is not a violation of con-
fidence to say that the Interstate
Commerce Commission does not know
how to deal with the situation.
Private ownership stands helpless
in the presence of this crisis and