The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-02-27
This Home Builders Plan
Is Only Good for the
Aristocracy of Labor
BY J. LOUIS ENoDAHL.

THE railroad brotherhood officials announced plans
for abors latest financial institution under the high
sounding title of the American Home Builders, Inc.
That this scheme will follow closely along
collaborating line laid down for the brotherhood banks
veaed in the statement of W. Lee the $4,000 per year
grand chief of the Brotherhood of Railroad Tanen who
says:
starting among workers but we welcome the
cooperation of all workers all capitalists
ing the opportunity
finance home ownership economical basis"
Labors first "air chance" to finance home ownership
grows out of the wages that labor receives Members the
railroad brotherhoods get fairly good wages compared with
the pttance doed out to the workers the shops Instead
of doing their utmost help railroad shop workers lift
their wages the broherhoods the operating side of
poaton have too often allowed themselves be used
srkebreakers They have remained at work with the shop
strike.
syvana lines appears of the directors of the Amer
lean Home Builders, Inc. 1t is the powerful Pennsylvania
Railroad with brotherhood operating its trains that is
using all OF its strength to crush out the last Vesge of union
With the brides that they receive in increased wages
from the transportation the brotherhood members will
build homes for themselves while the shopmen
i've IN their owy shacks, or such abodes granted
them out of their meager wages.
Many an underpad member Of the Maintenance of Way
freight into home without the aid of the American
Home Builders, lncy which seeks its so-caed Legitimate
profit"
Go into the coal fields. the first contrasts that
presents itself everywhere the startling difference be
seen in the housing of the families of coal miners and those
of railroad brotherhood members The cabins
workers too often the company hacks of the mine
barons fare badly in comparison with the better class homes
OF the tranmen conductors remen and engineers There
is here distinct drawing of caste lines in the working class
The attitude of the brotherhood Chiefs supported by
many members OF their organizations toward the coal min
ers well exposed in the struggle between the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers and the United Mine Workers
OF America when the latter sought unionize the Coal
River Galleries Co. owned by the former in West Virginia.
None of these enterprises, the banks, the coal mines
nor the American Home Builders Inc, is working class
cooperative They are all profit making institutions to all
Intent and purposes to the extent any capitalist
concern The of profits is to breed The profits of the
botherhoods financial ventures in their efforts grow
favorable investment drive toward "open shop
the workers battling for union conditions. This plainly
stated by Mr. Lee chairman of the board when he SAYS
american Home Builders will function safely conservatve,
guided by the best obanabe experience fields
mortgage finance We a legitimate profit"
1t is the task of the rank and file of the railroad
hoods, part of the struggle develop their
class organizations of labor win the banks home builders
associations and other activities like the taking of
mines, away from all capitalist influences and develop
into real working class cooperatves Only that way
they be of benefit to the workers. strengthening working
class in its struggle for the overthrow of capitalism