The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-11-13
|REPuBl||jL 7 C;,AI|NS IN
:. !. FOR MIGHTY JOE
-.
biggest Problem Confronting
Them win be to Keep People
Well Fed and Clothed.
Continued from Page One.

has been solved there will be other, II
not~so important. issues demanding
attention. But we may content our
selves with the reasonable assurance
that after we have disposed Of indus
trial injustice we will be well on the
way to that goal Of economic eman-
cipation to which millions have been
looking for many years, When we
have economic justice we will also
have political and social Justice. When
we have industrial 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. feudal overlordship,
is not democracy. It may be termed
a dem ocracy, but it is something for
different That we are not today
democracy. in any true sense. must be
clear to every person who can appre-
ciate the meaning of the large and
disquieting increase in the number Of
on the heart-breaking hunt for Jobs.
They Want More.
One Of the first problems to be con-
sidered by the new administration is
that Of railroad administration. The
session which convenes in December
will also be called upon to give it re-
newed attention. It is established that
rates fixed recently by the interstate
commerce commission do not yield
the per cent guarantee Of the Cum
n1ins-Esch bill. It is necessary for the
railroads to secure additional in
creases, which will further reduce net
operating income. It seems to be per-
fectly clear to all but railway execu-
tives and politicians that higher rates
are not the key to the railroad riddle.
It has been pointed out by various
reputable economists that the rail-
roads are now operating on basis of
diminishing returns. AS rates are in
creased revenue diminishes, because
righer rates contract traffic and re-
duce gross income.
When the railroads asked for net
income sof $1,000, 100000 a year they
felt certain that this would be suffi.
cient for all operating requirements
and leave over and above sum for
dividend requirements. But the in
crease for September, when q record
volume of business was transacted,
shows that the new rates will yield
less than half of the guarantee. Con-
gress has made it incumbent upon the
interstate commerce commission to
increase rates until the per cent is
certain, so It may be expected that
In few months at the latest, the
nllhlio will "A oH~ 81 <ol-
and carry new burdens Of transport
tation.
Railroads Expect It.
The railway executives expect to
strengthen the provisions Of the
transportation act. They will come to
congress with a demand for the abro-
cation Of any labor section which they
believe will be beneficial to the work.
ers, advancing the plea that expert
ence teaches them that they must
hav free hand to deal with their
employees. There is no reason for the
optimistic conviction that congress
will not do this great injury 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 profiteers and the exploiters
will point to the recent election ais
warrant for their demands. They will
interpret the overwhelming victory
for privilege and reaction as justify
ing any demand they may make on
congress-. And congress-. likely as not,
will look at the latter in the same
way