The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
r. II. RIOTERS.
THE LABOR WAR.
u. ;. Troops and state Militia.
Millions of PROPERTY Destroyed
cd

The strike which was inaugurated at
Martinsburg, West Virginia, on Monday
week last, did not disappear within twen
tyfour hours, as was predicted by care
less observers.
The strike at Martinsburg originated in
an order reducing the wages of fremen
and brakemen 10 per cent. or from 81 10
and 81 so to 81 So and 81 35 per day.
The employees of the road declare that
they can not live on such wages. They
60 so far as to demand an increase TO -
u day. This demand was perhaps maze
with view to final compromise, and
they would, no doubt be willing to go TO
work at the rates paid before the recent
reduction.
The Governors of West Virginia, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jer-
sey, called out the Militia, and the Gov
ernors of Maryland and West Virginia
called upon President Hayes for United
States troops.
The small beginning at Martinsburg
spread like wild-fre, and the strikers
swept like an organized hurricane over
six States, or along the great railway in
those States. From the beginning to the
ending from to 10 million dollars worth
of worth of property was destroyed and
the number of killed and wounded viii
reach into the hundreds. At Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, the most terrific scenes oc-
Cured, the STRIKERS having complete
possession of the city for some 4S hours,
having driven the Militia and Federal
troops from the field, and compelled them
10 seek protection in the Arsenal and
store houses. Wherever a solliers head
was to be seen, it served as target for
the strikers shot guns. The reign Of
the French commune in Paris was only
parallel. The war extended all along the
lines of these great railways leading into
Baltimore and Pittsburgh, and at every
important station the rioters held sway,
not only stopping trains, but burning and
killing wherever resistance was offered.
The President procIamation-the procla-
nations of the five Governors was laugh
ed to scorn, aud the terrible scenes of
blood, fire and destruction ruled the hour
in every direction.
There are many symptoms of more Sc
rious trouble than this or any other
country has ever known from labor com
binations. Among these may be noted
the facts that the people along the lines
of roads involved in the trouble sympa-
thize with and encouraged the strikers
that many unemployed meu-men who
have no special interest in the rate of
wages paid railroad men-have joined
the striking forces; that tramps trav-
eled from all parts of the country to tn
seat of war that the militia in some
stttes fraternize wi h aud refused to II e
upon the strikers, an that the labor or
ganizations in all parts of the country
are known TO sympathize with the move
ment, which threatened to become general.
The additional facts hat the strikers did
not permit saloons to sell liquor, and that
they conducted the campaign with
the determination to avoid blood-sheI,
if possible, indicated discrimination to
accomplish something IN the way of actual
relief from The low rate of wages which
has been determined upon b. the roads
In West Virginia aud Pennsy Ivania the
strikers declare that they VIII not resist
Federal troops. II they are outnum bered
and dispersed they viii, they declare,
take refuge in the mountains aud operate
against the roads after the manner Of
guerrilIas. If they are determined to
pursue this course there are not Fedora
troops enough in the country to keep the
roads in running order. Ohe hundred
determined men could, if driven to des-
peration, do more damage to a railroad
running through mountainous region
than could be repaired in month. And
it would be utterly impossible for any
number Of troops to capture the strikers
or prevent damage to the ron al.