The Washington times., 1922-08-02
GLENE.PLUNb,
RAIL STUDENT, {,
PASSES AWAY
Author of Plan to Nationalize
Roads Succumbs to Can
grenous Infection.

To Chicago, the city Of his first
triumphs as advocate for the people
and the railroad unions, the body Of
Glen e. Plumb will go today. He
died last night at Georgetown Uni
versity Hospital from heart disease
consequent upon gangrenous con-
dition which necessitated the ampu-
tation OF his left leg last May.
He died while, figuratively, there
sounded outside his window the
reverberations Of battle between the
rail men he long represented and
the executives who but a few hours
before had delivered heavy
counter-attack on their striking EN-
ployes.
How much the present contro.
yersy had to do with Plumbs end
cannot be gagged. His wife and
physicians did everything to keep
him from worrying over the in
dustrial strife. Yet only week
ago 1t was said he. might soon be
well enough to be. interviewed on
the situation. The end followed a
sudden relapse.
began AZ Lawyer.
Plumb was born in 1866. Besides
his wife. he is survived by two chill
dren, Isabel and William Plumb.
Plumb was the author of labor's
plan to nationalize the railroads.
His name has been in public prOmi-
nence for the past several years.
He started life as a lawyer, and
his first practice was I'm corpora ton
law. By chance. he became attoT
ney for a small independent street
railway. That gave him an oppor-
tupity long sought. lie learned the
management, operation and statute
laws regarding street railways, and
also learned the ''laws' as they
worked In practical operation of the
traction systems.
When the Chicago Street Railway
Company tried to grab" the right
to use any street In the city as ii
pleased, claiming II had the right
under a ninety.nine.year franchise,
Plumb was asked 10 handle the case
for the city. With characteristic
thoroughness. the Chicago traction
companies had retained every other
lawyer in the city who knew any.
thing about its business.
. Plumb fought and won his ca nc
for the people. That was hack in
lS04.1906, and the Chicago railways
TO get even" with him, bought out
the small traction line of which ne
was counsel, and forced him four
years later TO begin his practice
anew.
Harvard Man.
He was an expert on valuation
and was for years preparing for
the fight for what is known as the
Plumb Plan" His knowledge ot
the roads came from practical ex
perienCe. and the plan he devised
was based not on mere economic
theory, but on the results OF his
work. He was one Of the few mer
in the United States who devoted
his life to the belief that this coun
try can be operated as reaI
| democracy. His legal training was
gained at Oberin College, the Har
ward Law School and Northwestern
University. lie held the degrees OF
bachelor Of philosophy and bachelor
of laws.
Physically. Plumb was a man
with strong fighting jaw. and
kind, though piercing eyes He had
modest and retiring manner.
He lived with his family in Chevy
Chase, having moved here from
California recently. when II became
apparent that his work as counsel
for the four brotherhoods would
mean the direction OF mighty
fight. His wife was heart and SOU
with him in his fight. He has one
son who was a corporal in the army
1 n n NHynr