Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-08-01
The Struggle as 1t Stands.

posed. 1t Is the organized protest OF
a particular class, which is occupied
on the railroads. The first question
to be put to this class is whether it
has right to interfere in this serious
manner with the welfare of a vastly
larger number Of people of other occu-
pations. In the nine disturbed States
Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsyl-
vania, New York, New Jersey, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois and Missouri-there
are 1854 railway employees, or were
in 1870, exclusive of clerks and Off
Gals. In the same States there were
56s,4O4 day laborers, to whom are to
be added others in the various trades
and callings, which would swell the
number of laborers 10 more than $780,
900. Each of these strikers is esti-
mated to obstruct the comfort and
daily well.being Of almost eight other
workingmen, with the same CLAIMS to
an honest living as himself. And
there are still other laborers who are
thus subjected to Inconvenience and
Observation-Disclosures, workers in factories,
foundries and shops, and in connec-
ton with express companies, steam
boats, shipping and about the wharves.
The obstruction of the workings OF
the vast and complicated railroad sys-
tenn Of the country by throwing all
things into disorder forces upon all
these laborers incalculable loss. We
have seen it estimated that no less
than three million persons are serious
ly intelfered with in their daily living
in these nine States alone by the rail
way strikers, who number but 1884
men.
But the strike is really conducted
by not over half that number of per-
sons, which only makes the ratio still
more unjust and surprising. No
further facts are required to show that
this il a class movement, made in a
class interest, and in no sense embody-
ing the complaints and dissatisfaction
of labor at large. The object Of its
hostility is the railroad corporations
solely. We beg the strikers to take a
list of the railroads in the United
States and count up the number OF
roads that last year passed their divi-
dends, were turned over to the hands
of receivers, and were declared hope
lessly bankrupt. There are four trunk
lines to the West, from the Atlantic
coast, the New York Central, the
Erie, the Pennsylvania and the Balti-
more and Ohio. 1t is well known
that these roads have for years been
engaged in war concerning the rates
of freight and passenger traffic, the
Struggle on the part of each being to
force its rivals to take up with such
low figures as would cripple them for
service, after which it would have the
field to itself. The result is precisely
what we sea- total inability on the
part Of all of them to make any profits
whatever. In such state of things
the corporations have felt compelled
to reduce expenses at every point.
And this is the particular grievance
which railroad employees have against
the corporations, which originates
with the protracted war among the
trunk lines. This railroad war is
merely transferred to another field
thousands of idlers, unemployed per.
sons, tramps, dissolute people, thieves
and roughs rush in, thinking that an
archy is come, and it is the time to be-
gin indlscriminate plumber.
The first thing for the railroad mer
to do, in order to present their cast
Just as it is to the consideration of thu
great community, which is the sever
est sufferer by their action, is to Gu
loose from every suspicion ola ALI
ance or association with rioters an(
mobs, and take position unequivocall!
on the justice and necessity of thei
claims. Itis peculiarly unfortunate
that the local governments have no
as yet been able to clearly distinguish
between the strikes and the riots, bu
until they do the former must consen
to labor under the weight Of a seriou
popular prejudice. The strikers evi
IDENTIFY saw how they could most e1
fectually coerce the roads, by seriousl,
obstructing the business, the trave
and the comfort and convenience G
the entire community. But the mo
ment there was show of violent re
sistance, they forfeited their claim t
be heard by that community, and
cannot be restored to them until the
discard and danounca tho 1ooao mo