Evening star., 1932-08-25
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF INDUSTRY URGED
Rail Labor Heads See Plan
as Only Hope Of Main
tanning Wage Level.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, August 25.-Emer-
gency governmental control of industry
was proposed today in political
economic platform adopted by the ex-
ecutives of 81 railroad brotherhoods
with the possibility of support from
a united battlefront of organized labor.
I'm cooperation with all other in
dustrial and agricultural organizations
Of workers." the railroad labor execu-
tives said. I'VE propose before the cleo.
ton In November to put on record
every aspirant to public office either
for or against labor prosperity pro-
gram"
Taking the view that present re-
duced wage levels cause reduced con-
sumption, which in turn forces re-
duced production. the program adopted
by the Railway Labor Executives AS
ISOLATION calls for a federal "moblliza-
ton" Of industry to halt the vicious
circle.
Program Is Summarized.
The labor prosperity program was
summarized by the executives as 1ol-
lows:
Wage cutting must stop. Competi-
ton in wage cutting and price cut
ting is simply competitive suicide;
Adequate wages, adequate prices ana
adequate employment must be restored
Our national resources and national
credit should be mobilized and en-
ployed as they would be- in time OF
war, for the purpose of co-ordinating
and compelling the use of the INDUS
trial facilities of the Nation for the en-
ployment of all those capable OF SELL
support.
Adequate compensation thus insured
to the workers will provide the pur-
chasing power necessary to support the
agricultural and industrial production
of the Nation.
For Emergency Control.
1--WE are opposed to any permanent
socialization Of business or properly:
But to meet the dangerous failure OF
the managers of private industry to
maintain their operations and to ex-
change their products through volun-
tary cooperative methods. we believe
that an emergency governmental con-
troll is now as essential to the national
welfare as 1t would be in time OF war
I'VE, therefore, advocate civil
mobilization, under civil authority, TO
organize our resources for national de-
fense against the destructiveness Of
present uncontrolled economic forces
1--WE are opposed to the private or po-
litical dictatorship of any class interest.
But it is time for representative lead
ership to be organized in accordance
with our democratic institutions and
traditions and to substitute an agrees
sive. courageous program Of self-reliant
action for policy of faith, hope and
charity
In addition to adopting the govern
mental control policy, the association
decided to oppse all further consolida-
tions of railroads until additional leg
islation is passed by Congress protect
ing the public and the employees against
increase Of unemployment, property
losses and the destruction Of COM
munity interests"
Work for Six-Hour Day.
The association further decided to
seek early action by Congress on the
Pittman -Crosser siX-hour-day bill; de-
cided, in cooperation with the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and other in
terested organizations, to press for con-
gressional enactment of the Costigan-
La Guardia bill to give heads Of fami-
lies $500 credit for the purchase OF
necessities of life; and called for early
hearings before Senate and House Com
mittees upon the Wagner-Crosser bill
to provide retirement insurance and
pensions for railway employees.
Recalling the 10 per cent wage cut
accepted by the railroad brotherhoods
last January, the executives said it
was taken on assurances from the rail-
way owners that it would permit them
to increase employment, although the
eYnnIoveS held the reductions were "not
the appropriate means to restore pros
perity."
Since the wage cut, 100, 900 additional
railroad men have lost their jobs, the
association said, adding, "the tragic
march of events has demonstrated that
we were right"