The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-07-28
Railroad Strikes.

During the latter portion of last week
q strike occurred upon the Baltimore
and Ohio R. r., caused by ten per
reduction in the wages of brakemen
and firemen, which strike was followed
by that of the employees of the Penn.
sylvania and other roads. These strikes
were accompanied with great violence,
theft and destruction of property.
Martinsburg. Va, Baltimore, Nd,
Pittsburgh and Reading, Pa, and other
important points, were especially noted
for the outrages committed by the des-
peradoes-millions of dollars worth of
property having been destroyed by in
cendiarism and large number of per-
sons killed and wounded in the conflict
between the militia and the people.
The residents along the line of the
Baltimore and Ohio R.R. in the State of
West Virginia sympathized with the
strikers, hence Governor Matthews was
compelled to call upon the President Of
the United States for aid to put down
this riot. The President of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Joined with the
Governor in representing the interests
which were at stake and the powerless.
ness of the State authorities to meet the
emergency. The President, as soon as
he was assured of the necessity, order
ed General French with two hundred
and fifty Federal troops, to march for
Martinsburg, West Virginia, the centre
of the riotous demonstration, and en-.
force proclamation, which he sent on
in advance, commencing the rioters to
disperse.
This ought TO have ended the strike,
and at one time 1t seemed to have done
so. But the strike had become infect
Gus, and on Friday the train-men of the
Pennsylvania and of the Erie Roads be-
gan to quit their trains and array them.
selves against their employers. Riot>
Gus demonstrations were again made on
the line Of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road at Cumberland, and assumed such
proportions that Governor Carroll of
Maryland deemed it needful to issue a
proclamation and order regiment of
soldiers to the spot. AS these soldiers
were proceeding from their armory in
Baltimore they were assaulted by
crowds of the friends of the riotous
strikers, and finally compelled to fire
upon the mob, when eight men were
killed and a score or more wounded.
The Governor of Pennsylvania called
out the several regiments and ordered
the rioters on the line of the Pennsyl.
vania Railroad to disperse. In couse,
quence Of difficulties on the Pittsburgh
and Fort Wayne Railroad, Governor
Young of Ohio called out four conpan-
les to suppress the strike at Newark
Ohio, and Governor Robinson of New
York Issued a proclamation and sent
the Twenty-thrd regiment to Hornells,
Vile on the Erie railroad to prevent dis.
turbances there.
The widespread character of these
strikes would seem to imply a general
dissatisfaction on the part of the EN-,
ployees with their wsges and treatment
and something like a systematic plan ot
operations to force the railroad compa
nies to comply with their demands al
the risk, in case of denial, OF running
the business Of the roads and infictinl
incaleulable damage upon the who'll
country. The question which is nov
presented is not whether the workmer
have been injured in the reduction o.
their wages, or not they have prevent
ed the answer TO all such questions
which might have gained them public
sympathy aud aid in resisting power
tnl corporations, by their laWless &C