Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-08-01
Wednesday, August 1 1877
The abroad Strike.

paramount interest. AL insignificant
strike of eleven fremen and brakes
men, at Martinsburg, spread with
such rapidity that, in a few days, it
extended from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. effecting business OF every
kind and involving the loss of many
lives and millions of dollars That
there was some cause that excited this
unexpected revolution, none can deny,
and the facts revealed by it, demand
the careful scrutiny Of the people
From the developments of the last few
days, we learn the dependence of the
great interests of the country upon the
prosperity Of the railroads. These
lines of communication are shown to
be as important to the health and ex-
lstence of the nation, as at present
constituted, as are the arteries which
course through the humanbody bearing
sus.enance to every member to the
existence of the individual: Such
being the dependence of every interest
upon these roads, society is compelled
in self protection, to exercise her aus
thority, to enfore such a policy upon
railroad companies, as will protect
every interest involved, and in so
ding will protectthose Of the com
panies themselves. 10 discuss tie sub
ject fully and to point out all the
causes to which the present state
Of affairs could be traced would re-
quire a much longer article than
could be published in q single
issue of a newspaper. We will,
however, refer to few Of them. It
Is openly asserted, and we have seen
no contradiction, that the four large
trunk lines which carry an immense
amount Of freight to and from the
West are either bankrupt or are en-
deayorirg to escape bankruptcy by
reducing the pay Of employees to
such an extent, as to deprive then,
not only of every luxury but, in macy
cases, Of even the necessaries of life.
This condition has been brought
about by ruinous competition be-
tween the several roads and the
several cities that are grasping for tbs
Western trade. While corporations
may have the right to indulge in these
railroad wars, so far as their own in
terests and property are concerned
they have no right to jeopardize the
interests Of other classes Of society.
When by tleir ruin0us policy, they
effect the property and prosperity o
others they become wrong doors 70 as
great an extent as are the strikers
when they undertake to stop the
traffic of aroad. Society must pro.
tect itself, ard certainly has the right
to demand that this ruinous policy
shall cease. That the employees Of
the road had the right to demand
higher wages and in the event they
were not granted to refuse to work
no one can deny. But when they
attempt to prevent others from work.
ing, they become wrong doors aud
must expect to submit to the penalties
prescribed for violating law. They
encroach not only upon the rights o.
the workmen but upon those oe every
class the success Of whose business is
dependent upon free communication
with every section of the country
They violate law and put the officers
of the law at open defiance. How
ever just may have been their cause,
they canuot expect their demands to
be a:ceeded to so long as they occupy
this position.
The strikers allege that the wages
are not sufficient to support then
families, and the companies respond
that they are Row paying as much o,
more than they did in January, 1861
Why then should persons suffer wbcr
receiving the wages upon which they
lived without complaint before the
war! The difference in the price Of
clothing and food will not accoun
for it. There is another cause, ont
which effects not only railroad EN-
ployces, but almost every class O.
people. It is the lack Of appreciation
of the value of money and the ex
trayagance which resulted from tn,
large amount of money put int,
circulation by the war. Its effect!
en- be seen in every community
where almost every family will spent
money for triAirg luxuries which they
would not have purchased before thu
war. These little indulgcnces may
seem of no importance, but " hen they
encroach upon the amount necessary
for a supply of the neeessaries Of life
the effect is ruinous.
The policy of corporations and the
habits of individuals were both formed
under circumstances of prosperity
which do not now exist. Instead Of
plenty money and active work in
every department. of business, we
have now an extravagant government,
a contracted currency and millions OF
once prosperous workmen thrown out
of employment and almost entirely
dependent upon public charity fer the
Il &c re. :