The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-07-27
A WORD THE STRIKERS.
timore American, July -.

The expectation Of those engaged in
the strike Is that the movement will be-
come national, and that the vastuess OF
the field of operation will ensure uiti-
mate success. They should, however,
bear IN mind that the vastness OF the In
terest against which they have COM
bined is calculated to bring against them
q force of puohc apinion that will ultl-
matelv drive them to the wall. Ii rail-
roads are TO permit their employees to
demand heavier pay than they can en-
ploy other men to perform the same
service, then the railroad interests OF the
country are virtually dead. 1t Will be
the establishment OF a principle That Will
bring bankruptcy into every corporation
that employs lator, and will ultimately
enter the wo. kshop. The strikers expect
to be ab 9 TO hole out Tor ninety days,
during which time they believe that they
can prevent the hauling OF pound OF
freight over the railroads OF the country.
They do not take into consideration the
TACT that before thirty days have elasped
the business OF the country will be at a
complete standstill, that nearly sll man
ner oil employment IN the large cities
will cease, and that tens of thousands OF
men will b. thrown out OF work by their
act Each Of these thousands OF lule
men will trace the cause OF their deprly-
alton OF employment to the railroad
strikers, a. i although they may sym.
pathiZe with them now, will ultimately
crowd in their places and set the great
railroad machine in motion IN defiance
of trade unions and strikers. Unions and
Brotberhoods will be wiped out OF exls
tence by the "irrepressibIe conflict" and
labor will be like other commodities, con-
trolled in price by the supply and de-
mauu.
Take for instance the city OF Pitts
burgh When the strike took place tie
sympathy of the people was with the
strikers. They thought that the screw
had been turned once too often IN the
ten per cent. reduction, and thought the
men were r.ght in resisting 1t. Can any
one doubt that the violence of stopping
trains from running, and the subsequent
violence OF the mob which the strike has
led 20, has caused revulsion of opinion
in that community! The strikers, by
declaring that the freight trains should
not run and using their combination to
prevcn. Utuor men from taking their
places. committed an act of violence
the destruction OF property and the she'd
lrnp OF blood. They had nothing TO do
with the excuses of the mob, but they
set the ball in motion which occasloncd
The mob, and the citizen OF Pittsburgh,
amid the scenes OF devastation and blood,
whether he be lsborer or capitalist
will hold the striker responsible for hav-
ips indirectly been the cause OF all this
sorrow and all TINS destruction OF proper
a.. Had they merely stopped work and
zone to their homes, leaving the COM
pgnles to get along as best they could
with the loss of their skilled and expe-
rienced men, they would have retained
the sympathy OF the community, but
ynen thew crowded around the depot, at
,rsctlng mob OF rutiian sympathizers,
they ultimately themselves became the
victims of the mob which had taken the
work OF righting their grievances out OF
their hands.
The strikers of Baltimore having been
the originators Of this great insurrecLion
AGAINST law and order, with ali Its inva-
,!on of private rights and the destruction
ot life and poverty, are, we doubt not
appalled at the terrible events that nave
nown from their acts. They did not all
,lcipste any such sad and grievous re-
suits when they stepped down from their
ENGINES and trains, and now feel that
their position and responsibility is a
most terrible one. We have met and
conversed with quite number OF the
most intelligent OF the strikers, and they
universally denounce the violence that
has accompanied their strike, and desire
LAD wash their hands of all responsibility
Tor Il. IT they could have toreseen what
has taken place We are satisfied that nine
| out OF every ten of them would have
| shrunk from entering upon 1t, But they
! have fired the train which has led to
| this terrible explosion, and they Will be
| held responsible for all that has taken
MACE both here AID elsewhere, rs well rs
! All that NAV vet ensue IN other sections
%, the country. The determination that
no trains should run unless they ran
them was An unlawful act, and all the
,ihcr violations of law that have ensued
we're based upon their assumption OF Il
right to control the property Of others.
We are anxious to see this strike end
mere IN Baltimore where it commenced.
! l. WAS i'll advised and untlmeiy. The
road upon which they were employed
y,ss pssslug through the darkest days OF
It's existence Disasters had come upon
| IT, caused by the very measures which /.
was supposed would increase It's wealth
and greatness. The sling OF OF bust
ness. the competition OF other roads and
the unproducLiye character OF many oil Its
extensions. had led To the necessity OF
cur.siling expenses NJ every point IN
! order TO Keep the trains in motion and
rrescrve ITS credit and standing.
! Wbetker the reduction OF salaries was
arbitrary or compulsory cannot be dis
cussed now. Violence has precluded dis
cussion upon this topic The only ques-
ton now Is the restoration OF order and
the establishment OF law by restoring to
the Company the right 10 do with It's
own property as il may see tit and
proper. No one has the right
! to say 10 II you shall or
YOU shall not run YOUR trains, or
Shall employ me and no one else to run
them.
We would, therefore, urge the strikers
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to re-
mort at the office of the Company imme
distely in body, or individually, As
ready for resuming service. II You do
no, run the road you may depend that
pubic opinion will soon run 1t, and new
men will take your places. There sre
tens of thousands of men now starving
for work, and when they tender their
services to the road they Will not only be
accepted but 8 power greater than the
Brotherhood will sustain them IN their
places. You must bear in mind that this
is country of law, and that private
grievance cannot be allowed