The commercial., October 10, 1919, Image 4

About The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?

Image provided by: University of Tennessee

THE COMMERCIAL (
Marshall & Balrd, Union City, Tenn.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 10. H19.
Entered at the peat office at Dniom City. Tea
aeaaee, a second-das mail aiatter.
Democratic Ticket.
For Sheriff Watt Cherry.
For Trustee Armour Ratliff.
For Tax Assessor Will Robey.
RUSSIAfilZIHG THE RAILROADS
(Continued from first page.)
back in spite of the entreaties cf the
President.
Failure of Socialistic Enterprise.
Again we are assured that great
economies in operation, which would
accrue to the public benefit, would
be effected bf this plan. To sustain
this bold assertion there ts no proof
whatever; in fact, the whole record
cf socialistic enterpriso and of Gov
ernment direction of industry is that
expense and inefficiency both increase
in marked degree. Nowhere has
this been more pointedly illustrated
than in the record of our, railroads
themselves under Government di
rection. The whole record of public
ownership in this country and
throughout the world' has proved
clearly that it does not promote either
econcmy or efficiency, ?na, further,
that it carries with it political dang
ers cf serious importance, which have
bred far-reaching troubles. That
the disastrous experiences of othter
countries in this field would be re
peated in our own somewhat loose-J
Jointed democracy is absolutely cer
tain. Such a venture on our prrt Into
the field af radical socialism could
bring oily industrial and financial
disaster, which would sot this coun
try back many years, and if, on a
basis of their success in securing con
trol of transportation, the Socialists
should proceed further in thleir pro
gram of nationalizing industry, busi
ness chaos would be assured and an
other Russian cataclysm 70uld im
pend. lethargy of the Public.
The amazing fact is that, in spite
of the obviousness of this situation
and its menace, human ignorance ana
lethargy lend an ear to its alluring
Utopian promises. With thle tragic
collapse of Russia looming before
us, with the total failure of the com
munistic ccheme in Hungary and the
admission by the new President of its
provisional Government, himself a
'labor' leader and minister of social
welfare,, and that henceforth his par
ty would stand "for full democracy,
with rights Of private property and
full political liberty," it seems im
possible that any sane man would
give credence to the plea of socialism.
Yet we are informed that 2,000,000
railroad workers and all other mil
lions in the ranks of the American
Federation of Labor, perhaps 6,000,
000 in all, support this unsound plan,
which would certainly work the un
doing of labor as completely as that
of capital and ruin the business of
the country, in which the prosperity
of all is involved.
Organized Opposition Needed.
Tho alternative presented to the
public, unless the demands of the bro
therhoods are approved, is, in the
words of the acting president of the
railway department of the American
Federation of Labor, that the brother
hoods will , "tie tho railroads up so
tight that they will never run again."
The deflnilo threat is made to "paral
yze the nation," unless labor can
work its will.. We are further as
sured by Mr. Plumb, the spokesman
of the brotherhoods, that . this "is
going to be a fight to the finish,"
and, further, that "we will not stand
for any modification of the principles
and proposals set forth in our plan."
Before such high-handed declarations
there would seem to be but one posi
tion for men. with courage and an in
telligent regard for their own inter
ests to take, namely: that of definite,
organized opposition, and determina
tion to Join isues on this question In
the court of public sentiment.
I am Just as certain on my part as
the brotherhood leaders are on theirs
that 'if public sentiment could ever
really be informed on this question
thiere would be no doubt as to its de
cision and its protection of its own
interests against any class appeal for
socialistic experiments.
Class Rule and Class Profiteering.
Stripped of all its fine phrases and
socialistic rhetoric, the Plumb Plan
is simply a schemo for class rule and
class profiteering. It provides for
government of transportation of the
railroad brotherhoods, by the brother
hoods, and f for 'the brotherhoods.
There is no modest restraint of profit
sharing in the plan, because it
i ciii-
ployces on a practically perpetual
lease under a Bcheme of control in
which they fix the return to them
selves through their power over
wa
ges, to the complete exclusion of
ttle
public interest, and under
lease thev accept no
this
risk
of 1 the business whatever.
That is borne entirely by the
Government, or, stated more fairly,
by the public. There . is no provi
sion for securing a fair rental for
the property, no effective control of
rates by public authority, and the
control over wages lies in the hands
of & board that the employees would
directly control by a two-thirds ma
jority, and completely control by
reason of political influence.
What the consequence may be of
this class control over transportation
is forshadowed by the already liber
al increases which labor has secured
through the Government control of
railroads, and the large additional
advances labor is now seeking.
Since 1915 railroad labor has aver
aged a wage increase of more than 85
per cent.; more than $1,000,000,
000 has been added to the wage roll
under Government direction, and de
mands now lie before the Govern
ment authorities for increases ag
gregating $800,000,000 more.
From the broad standpoint of pub
lic interest it seems so obvious as to
be beyond argument that the control
of this great service of transporta
tion should remain in the hands of
the public, and not be delegated to
any selfish class. That mistakes
have been made under previous sys
tems of control, or lack of control,
constitutes no proper argument for
attempting this radical departure
from the assured bounds of exper
ience. -
No Wall Street Bogey Involved.
We can brush aside the cheap
buncombe about "watered stock"
and "Wall Street conspiracies." for
whatever financial mistakes may
have been made or could be made
under existing conditions, nothing
that capital ever contemplated in
its own. interest has been half so
far-reaching as this proposal of la
bor. Of course any student of rail
road economics knows that railroad
stocks, takenras a whole, are not wa
tered and actual railroad values are
hundreds of millions of dollars above
their capitalization and, further
more that railroad rates and operat
ing expenses bear no relations what
ever to capitalization and have been
left entirely out of consideration by
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Furthermore, any unprejudiced stu
dent of the situation knows well that
the attempt to stir up political sup
port by Invoking a Wall Street bogey
In the present situation is entirely un
warranted; first because there is no
such bogey, and second, because it
would not be allowed to-Aroction if
it did exist. This is a pure case of
"dust in the eyes," which ought not
to deceive the most casual reader.
This whole question of involving
Government credit in such a finan
cial experiment also takes on a new
phase, in view of the great public In
terest in Government finance through
the bond holdings of twenty million
buyers of Liberty Loan issues, who,
aside from their interest as citizens
in efficient transportation, have a
large stake in the situation, as it is
absolutely sure that more large
Government Issues will bring de
creased values to those already out
standing, and would involve hazard
ous experiments in the Government
finance in which; Government credi
tors must suffer.
Only Way Solution Can Be worked
Out. .
The railroad situation to-day pre
sents many real problems, but these
problems cannot be solved propeny
in the interests of any class or unuer
threat or force. Only patient ana
fair-minded study, from tne view
point solely of the general interest,
can bring a proper solution. The
securing of that solution is Just as
vital to the railroad brotherhoods
and to labor generally as to , any
other interest involved, for after all
they are all citizens of the United
States : and only as the United
States prospers as a whole can they
long prosper. Continued prosperity
can be based only upon sound eco
nomic and political principles, and
any venture into other fields must
bring disaster to all concerned.
' Our Duty.
The struggle is, on between de
mocracy and socialism. In spite of
its shortcomings, we have developed
in this country a system under which
its people have enjoyed the greatest
prosperity of any . people In the
world's history. To-day all the
world turns to us for help, and if we
Jeopardize not only our own powers
of service but also our own national
future by departing so radically
from the system which has made us
great we will be recreant to both our
duty and our opportunity. . Individ
turns these properties over to the
ual freedom and the incentive to suc
cess, which have built this country,
cannot be forsaken without pulling
down over our own heads the struc
ture we have so proudly reared. It
seems unthinkable that such a possi
bility could even be discussed, and
yet here it faces us, not only a possi
bility, but a probability, unless the
intelligence of the country Is aroused
to meet it.
On this question of Government
ownership of railroads we stand to
day In the first line trenches for the
protection of the private ownership
of all property. It this position is
lost the whole line will be seriously
threatened. Men who -believe in
American institutions, in property
rights, in orderly Government,
must line up In opposition to this at
tack, or live to regret the day of their
unpreparedness. Guaranty Trust
Company of New York.
Prussianism's Fall.
"We stood alone in the world."
So writes Ludendorff of the beaten
Germans In November, 1918, a lit
tle more than four years after they
had set forth to subjugate the world.
No more striking picture of Ger
many's collapse has been made than
that by Ludendorff in yesterday's
Courier-Journal.
The empire disintegrated, the in
vincible armies capitulated, the
Kaiser and War Lord a deposed fug
itive, the Princes of the States abdi
cated, the mighty military machine
smashed and its head, Ludendorff,
himself, kicked out, what was left
of Germany, deserted by her allies,
friendless, despised throughout the
earth she had meant to conquer, in
deed "stood alone."
"The troops," so their former
chief says, "lost all discipline and or
der, and streamed home in wild con
fusion, plundering as they went."
"The bulk of the troops in depots
went over to the side of the revolu
tionaries." "Men who had foughi
magnificently against the enemy lost
their nerve and abandoned the army
and the country, thinking of nothing
but themselves. Officers even were
among them, forgetting the duties of
their class."
Out of this world Btruggle. she
comes weakened and diminished in
every respect, and robbed of districts
and peoples which have been hers
for generations. .
She loses her colonies.
Her right to defend herself is
taken away. The German has lost
the right to serve his country in the
army.
Germany's merchant fleet disap
pears from the high seas. Her in
dustrial strength is broken, and the
fragments that remain are placed un
der enemy supervision.
The indemnities we have to pay
are beyond our power.
The debt which the revolution has
laid on itself does not end merely
with this terrible peace. It makes the
heavy yoke, under which It has sent
the German people into bondage, into
an absolutely crushing one.
In Germany there is civil war.
German property is being destroyed.
The public moneys are wasted and
put to selfisbJ uses; the finances of
the empire, the States and the towns
become rottener day by day. The
fallen morale of the population rush
es unrestrained into the "freedom" of
the revolution; the lowest instincts
of mankind develop unrestrained and
regardless of consequences.
Everywhere are disorders, strik
ings, deceit and over-reaching, ac
companied often by tho most disgust
ing frenzies of luxury, and this at
the graveside of the millions who
have died for the country, and in
the sight of the many cripples on
whom our eyes rest.
Germany offers a hideous and con
temptible spectacle, filling every true
German heart with indescribable
grief, but awakening among our
enemies and neutrals nothing but
contempt. . '"
By the revolution the Germans
have made themselves outcasts among
the peoples, incapable of making al
lies, helots In the service of foreign
ers and foreign capital, and deprived
of all self-respect.
So moaned this Imperialist of Im
perialists, this first of militarists and
typical Junker. That he is typically
German is attested by the fact that
tho only consolation which he could
find in the situation was in the. dis
honor of his countrymen who sank
the German warships. "The future
is dark before us," he wrote, "the
only bright spot being the acts of the
men at Scapa Flow."
Ludendorff throughout his book
has revealed himself as the most
fatuous exponent of Prussianism.
His contempt for the civil Govern
ment of his country was unconcealed,
becoming bitterest when the Govern
ment decided to accept the terms of
the armistice rather than allow him
to continue the war, though he ad
mits it was lost, to the complete an
nihilation of the German people.-
Louisville Courier-Journal.
RYE
OAT
Grass and Field Seeds of all Kinds
Also Corn, Oats, Chops. Shorts, Hay and Bran
Everything for the Feeder
Try .our Tennessee Hog Feed. Best and cheapest
hog feed on earth. We manufacture a complete line
of mixed feeds for horses, mules and cattle, all scien
tifically balanced and guaranteed to give satisfaction.
HOWELL GRAIN &
UNION CITY, TENN.
W. D. WILLIAMS, Manager,
RETAIL DEPARTMENT
EAST MAIN SI BOTH PHONES: Cumb. No. 20; Home No. 68
TO BUGGY OWNERS:
I wish to announce that I have a new machine
for mounting buggy wheels with rubber tires;
also am prepared to do all kinds of buggy paint
ing. All work promptly and carefully done.
I buy second-hand buggies.
R. A. PARDUE
Phone 43
LOOK! READ!
Groceries Meats
SOMETHING TO EAT
For Everybody. Where? Down at our house. We buy
all we can and sell all we can; buy as cheap as we can
and sell as cheap as we can. When you get hungry, see
us or call us and we deliver the goods. We try to have
everything you want. Best in all lines. Everything in
Vegetables, Fruits and Melons the market affords. Every
thing in Canned Goods, from the cheapest to the best.
Our Meat Market is second to none Beef, Pork, Lamb
and Veal; Sausage, Weiners, Ham, Boiled Ham and
Mince Ham. .
Come" to see us. We will trade with you if you have
anything to eat
E. IP. GKSSSOIVI
HOGS VACCINATED
RAYMOND E. WOOD
PERMIT NO. 2073
Will Vaccinate Your Hogs at
Reasonable Price
CLOYS
. ft.CCurvs, Umon Crrx It ha.
USED EXCLUSIVELY
Telephones, - - - Home 232-3; Cumb. 510-W
Corner Main & Third St.
SERUfl
EED
EED
FEEDpliffANY
little' Choice.
"How's politics in the Plunkvillo
region?"
"Aw, so BO."
"Good men to vote for?"
"Naw," said the pessimistic - citi
zen, "it's always the lesser of two
evils with us."
THE NAILLING HOSPITAL
SEVENTH YEAR
A Modern Surgical Institution.
Competent Trained Nurse
DR. W. A. NAILLING Chief Surgeon
Union City, Tenn. Both Phone 41.
J. C. BURDICK
Wholesale and Retail
, Reelfoot Lake and
Mississippi Kiver
Fish Game
Oysters in Season.
New location, East Main Street
Phone 185 . ; UNION CITY, TENN
DR. I. GLOSSON
VETERINARIAN
Phone 12. Main and Third Sta.
L ; UNION CITY, TENN.
Jake H. Park. D.D.S. C. E. Upchurch, D D.S.
Both Phonbs 136.
Drs. Park & Upchurch
DENTISTS --
Mrs. Jake H. Park, Attendant
Office: Rooms 1, 2 and 3, NaillingBldg.
' Over Oliver's Red Cross Drug Store.
Dr. E. W. Y0UNGBL00D, D.V.M.
DEPUTY STATE
VETERINARIAN
Union City, . Tenn.
Hogs Vaccinated; Serum Sold.
Telephones: Cumb. 312, Home 216.
Army Surgeon During World War.