Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-07-20
From the New York Times.
The Baltimore and Ohio Strike.

1t is difficult TO conceive of more I'M
Unsuitable and unreasonable strike than
thai which has assumed such formidable
proportions at Martinsburg, West Va, on
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In the
beginning this movement was made to
resist reduction of wages on the part o:
the fremen and brakemen, from $1.75
and $3.50 to S1.5S and 81 35 per day, or
10 per cent. The intention of the compa-
ny to make the reduction had been an
nounced some time previously, and there
was no complaint, so far as we know.
against The company. except that the re-
duction was hardship to the employees,
which every one will admit. But it must
also be admitted that the business of the
road, the stock of which has deprecated
OF late, and which has large floating
debt and rather dubious future immedi-
ately before it, imperatively demanded all
possible economy. That the proposed
reduction did not bring wages below the
market rate is conclusively proved by the
FACT that the company had numerous APP
plications from skilled persons to fill the
places OF the strikers. The latter, there.
fore. cannot allege that the company took
them by surprise, or tried to force them
to work below the current rates of wages.
On the other hand the strike is appar-
emily hopeless, and must be regarded as
nothing more than rash and spiteful dem
onstration of resentment by men too ig-
norant or too reckless to understand their
own interest. From the ordinary stand
point of the intelligent trade-unionists, a
movement OF this kind must be con-
demned; for all trade-unionists are agreed
that strikes, without fair prospect of sue
cess, are simply waste of valuable time
and money and are not only Immediately
but permanently injurious to those who
share in them. The trade union leaders
who understand their business, resist such
attempts, bide their time, husband their
resources, and move only when they feel
that the chances are clearly in their ia
vor.
But if the strike on the Baltimore and
Ohio Road is foolish one, its history up
to the present time shows that those who
are engaged in it are not only bold and
determined. but that they have the SYM
pathy oil large part of the community
in which they live and who are not at all
directly interested in them. At Martins
burg, where the strikers have gone to the
greatest lengths, are situated the work
shops of the company. and its population
is largely made of workmen in the employ
of the road. When, therefore, the strikers
gathered In no very large force to prevent
the running of freight trains, they found
themselves backed by crowd constantly
growing in numbers, and proceeded with
the aid of their friends, TO take forcible
possession of the trains which the compa-
ny was trying to send out. At first they
contented themselves with taking off the
new men employed TO replace the strikers.
Then, when the local police proved too
weak TO contend with them, and the two
companies ofMilitia were placed on one of
the trains, the strikers attacked them,
wounded one soldier. received a volley
from the Militia without finching. al
though one OF their number was killed,
aud finally, partly from sympathy and
cowardice among the soldiers, and partly
from their increasing numbers, success
fully resisted the movement of the freight.
This state of affairs being telegraphed to
he Governor at Wheeling, he started with