New-York tribune., 1920-03-09
Railrnen Strive
To Erase Public
As Pay Factor
Leaders Believe They Can
Do Better With Roads if
Third Party Is Eliminated
From Settlement Demand
Hopes in Next Congress
Change in Sentiments of
Present Members Laid to
Propaganda by Farmers
By Stanley Frost

SPECIAL Dispatch TO The Tribune
WASHINGTON, March 8~-The lead
ers of railway labor have been chas-
tened little. temporarily at least,
since the passage of the transporta-
tion act over their violent protests.
They have abandoned something of the
confident and almost arrogant manner
which they had shown ever since their
victory in the enactment Of the Adam
son law in 1917. They are beginning
to suspect that they have overplayed
their hand, and have dropped for q
time their projects for political action
to strengthen labor's position.
What they will do depends on the
success Of the American Federation Of
Labor's political campaign this fall.
If they win any considerable strength
they will be ready to go back to Con-
gress with a vigorous program Now
to the matter of getting wage in
creases.
Take Credit for Adamson Law
The change in the attitude of these
leaders dates from the passage of the
Adamson act, while they sat in the
gallery and held stop watches on the
Congressman. ut is true that much
of the credit for passing that law
labor men have claimed it. Their at
titude was strengthened by the
speeches that were made by and to
labor during the early months of the
war, and when the government took
control they seemed to feel that they
were not merely to share in the man.
agement of the roads, as the President
promised, but were to dictate to it.
This attitude did not begin to weaken
till a few days before the transporta-
tion act went through. They recog-
nized the change in Congress, but
kept up the fight till the bill was
signed.
The change in Congress they lay,
quite correctly, to the farmers. Mem
bers have been hearing from the farm
ers, and what they have heard has con-
vinced them that it is not wise to be
too friendly to organized labor. The
labor leaders charge that there has
been vigorous propaganda to turn
the farmers against them. The point,
SO far as the political situation is con-
cerned, is that this propaganda has
been successful. 1t has consisted
chiefly in the single argument that the
farmer works twelve hours q day or
more and the union man works eight
hours 81 day or less. Labor in general
including the railroad men, hopes that
the campaign this fall can either change
or offset the hostility this argument has
aroused
More Pay the Real Goal
There has been so much bluff about
the railway labor campaign recently, so
much talk of political action of ono
kind or another, that one is likely to
i forget the real aim. 1t is perfectly
simple: more pay. To get this the
unions will use whatever means
within reasonable limits-are handy
and will work All their demands in
the end come back to this.
The policy by which the leaders hope
to achieve prosperity, except for the
direct demands for wage increases, is
decidedly opportunist, and is not we'll
thought out nor are all the chiefs
united on it. 1t cannot fairly be said
that the unions" want this or that
political measure tried but the gen.
eral tendencies are plain.
The rank and file are interested only
in wages directly. But the leaders be.
lieve that more can be made if funda-
mental conditions are changed, as unde,
the Plumb plan. At present they do no,
want to share in the management, as
that would bring responsibility, but
they are willing to take the response.
bility it they can get practically com
plete control This Is the basis for the