The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-11-19

willing to work, then we cannot say
that we have even made an approach
to our problems. If we imagine
that we can stifle discomfort born of
injustice and privaton by coercion,
oppression or bludgeOning of the
workers, then, indeed, are we in for
some perilous days.
The only answer that our leading
politicians have so far given to the
great questions of reconstruction is
that labor must be put in it's place.
We find this formula reflected in
the open shop campaign, legislation
proposed by various states that has
for its object the taking away from
workers of the right of organization
and collective bargaining. These in
sincere and incompetent students of
events would cure oppression by APP
plying more oppression, would coun-
teract injustice by more injustice.
They would take from those that
They would experiment with the old
barrels.
After the unemployment prolem
has been solved there will be other,
if not so important, issues demand
ing attention. But we may con-
tent ourselves with the reasonable
assurance that after we have dis
posed of industrial injustice we will
be well on the way to that goal of
economic emancipation to which
millions have been looking for many
years. When we have economic JUS
tice we will also have political and
social justice. When we have indus
trial democracy, we will also have
political democracy, for the one is
the necessary complement of the
other.
A nation that maintains an indus
trial autocracy, a feudal overload
ship, is not a democracy. 1t may
be termed democracy, but it is
something far different. That we
are not today a democracy, in any
true sense, must be clear to every
person who can appreciate the mean
ing of the large and disquieting in
crease of the number of shadowy
characters who have started on the
heart-breaking hunt for jobs.
One of the first problems to be
considered by the new administra-
ton is that of railroad administra-
ton. The session which convenes in
December will also be called upon
to give it renewed attention. 1t is
established that rates established re-
Gently by the Interstate Commerce
Commission do not yield the per
cent guarantee of the Cummins- Esch
bill. 1t is necessary for the rail-
roads to secure additional increases,
which will further reduce net oper-
ating income. 1t seems to be per
fectly clear to all but railway ex-
ecutives and politicians that higher
rates are not the key to the rail-
road riddle. 1t has been pointed out
by various reputable economists
that the railroads are now operating
on basis of diminishing returns.
AS rates are increased revenue di-
minishes, because higher rates con-
tract traffic and reduce gross in
come.
When the railroads asked for new
income of 81 $780, 100000 a year they
felt certain that this would be suf-
ficient for all operating require
ments and leave over and above a
sum for dividend requirements. But
the increase for September, when
record volume of business was trans
acted, shows that the new rates
will yield less than half of the
guarantee. Congress has made it
incumbent upon the Interstate Com
merce Commission to increase rates
until the per cent is certain, so
it may be expected that in a few
months, at the latest, the public
will be compelled to take up and
carry new burdens of transporta-
ton.
The railway executives expect to
strengthen the provisions of the
transportation act. They will come
to congress with a demand for the
abrogation of any labor section
which they believe beneficial to the
workers, advancing the plea that ex-
perience teaches them that they
must have free hand to deal with
their employees. There is no rea-
son for the optimistic conviction that
congress will not do this great in
jury to the workers. If we are to
Judge the future by the past, we
may anticipate that the plain people
of this country are in for some
things that they will scarcely relish.
The profiteess and the exploiters
will point to the recent election as
warrant for their demands. They
vail interpret the overwhelming vic
tory for privilege and reaction as
justifying any demand they may
make On congress. And congress,
likely as not, will look at the latter
in the same way.