The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-01-14

promise, millions of men marched
bravely to their. Calvary. The re-
ward for their sufferings must be
equal to their sacrifice.
In this forward movement of all
men, organized labor is taking the
dominant leadership. Within the
forces of organized labor the Plumb
Plan League is a wonderful proof
of the strength and unity of this
movement, for this organization has
given industrial democracy" defin-
tie course ard meaning, a concrete
plan for its realization. 1t is a
wonderful and inspiring movement
because it springs from the hearts,
the needs and the purposes of the
millions of men who support it.
1t recognizes that labor, instead Of
being commodity, is human
strength and effort applied to the
creation of the things which man.
kind needs. 1t is the application
of the same kind of force that fash
Toned the universe, force which
every man possesses.
This plan recognizes that every
man who uses his great power for
the service of his fellowmen-for
that is labor-is entitled to receive
and enjoy for himself the gains
which his own industry produces
We recognize that most industry
today is organized, in great cor
porations; that no industry exists
by itself alone. but exists solely for
the purpose of serving others; that
society cannot be divided into two
classes. one engaged in production
and the other interested only in
consumption, but that all men -
with the exception of the idle, priv
LEGGED few-are both producers and
consumers; that industry consists of
two equal elements, that which pro-
duces commodities and that which
consumes them, and that every man
who labors is equally interested in
both of these elements. The pro-
ducing element contributes capital
and labor to prepare commodities
for consumption. The consuming ele-
ment contributes an equal amount
to every industry, for the consumer
must pay in price an amount equiv
alent to all of the costs of produc-
ton, including a return on capital
invested, as we'll as the wages of
labor employed. The consumer must
eventually pay enough, not only to
provide additional capital required
for the extension of industry, but
also enough to repay the capital
contributed by the original inves-
tors. Here is the great new realiza-
ton of an old truth, that the con-
suming element in industry, since it
contributes on an equality with the
producing element, is entitled to
protection and reward equal to that
enjoyed by the producing element.
We realize that it is the purpose
of all organized industry to enable
men engaged in production of one
commodity to exchange their pro-
ductive efforts for an exact equiva-
lent in the productive efforts of
others. That every mans earning
power is measured by his own eff
cheney; that the purchasing power
is measured by his own efficiency;
that the purchasing power of the
dollars he earns is measured by the
efficiency of those who produce
what he must buy. Wages and
price. therefore, are equal elements
in determining the extent of en-
ioyment which man possesses over
the gains of his own industry. 1t
is the prime purpose of government
to protect its citizens in that en-
ioyment. 1t must, therefore, guard
both wages and price.
The Plumb Plan solves this prob
lem for the railroad industry. That
is its great contribution. This is
the practical application of democ-
racy to that industry. We must
spread the gospel to all men, that
by this principle each man is equal
ly protected, both as consumer and
as producer, so all men become
equal in opportunity The coming
year will see a great expansion Of
the idea.
Through this discussion will be
evolved an understanding of this
principle that will solve all of the
problems of organized industry. The
future is bright with this promise.
1t is the rainbow after the storm.
With the acceptance of this princi-
pie we may rest assured there shall
be no more war, no more slavery,
but equal rights for all. A democ-
racy on earth where men shall
build houses and in habit them; they
shall plant fields and reap the
fruits thereof, and none shall make
them afraid"