Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-25
The Railroad Strikes.

The Railroad Strikes.
We publish elsewhere the more important
particulars of the railroad strikes which foi
the past week have startled the country with
their magnitude aud terrible excuses.
In order to properly understand the causes
which led to these, it will be necessary to
comprehend some points. 1t seems that
some time last winter the executive officers
Of the great Eastern and Western trunk lines
met, aud agreed to cut down the wages of the
switchmen, fremen and brakemen on their
freight trains ten per cent, this reduction to
take effect upon all the roads at some desig-
mated time during the summer and the com
panies agreeing to stand by it, "come what
might" This reduction was the second or
third which had been made upon the lines
of the Baltimore and Ohio, aud the Penn
,ylvania Central, during the past three years
Upon the former road, dividends of ten per
cent. have annually been made to the stock
holders, for long time; and the road is be
lieved TO be very strong financially. Yet by
fremen, who had been on the road years,
were paid but one dollar and fifty-eight cents,
and second-cass employees but one dollar and
thirty-fve cents per day And even with
these wages there were unusual hardships.
Men were frequently paid for but four days in
the week, and were compelled to pay their
expenses away from home part of the time
And this, bear in mind, was when the roads
were, by the sworn statements of their Off
GERS, earning sufficient to pay handsome
dividends to stockholders, and extravagantly
large salaries to the higher grade of officers
at the road.
We have said this by way of explanation
OF some of the causes from which this strike
originated. OF course there is no excuse or
palliatiou for the outrage, the destruction
of life and property and the general alarm
OF all good citizens which the strike has EN-
gendered. Those who have led the rioters
in this deplorable affair." and all who have
participated in the horrible work, are feons,
and, until they lay down their weapons and
sue for mercy, should be treated as such.
and their punishment should be swift and
exemplary.
Notwithstanding all this, there is little
doubt but that the sympathy of a large por-
ton of the people along the line of the route
was in the commencement of the strike,
with the strikers. That they have forfeited
this sympathy, and rightfully so, by their
wanton destruction of life aud property, there
can be but little doubt, and their punish
ment will be severe.
But there is one alarming fact to be taken
IN connection with the strike, and that is
the readiness and the inclination of the idle
and riotous to join and make common cause
with the strikers in all their excuses. The
latter class are few in number, and would,
as heretofore, have confined their violence to
making the strike effective by hindering
any of their own union or outsiders from GO
ing to work on the trains. A great riot and
instruction against the state authorities
was not in their plan. Their grievance i,
with the railroad company, and not with
SOCltlN. DuJ 10 Jilt tuOuSdtlus WIN SWtiltu
the mob in Pttsburg and in other railway
towns, the strike was only an occasion OF
lawessness. They are in for row of any
sort. They are of the sort that in London
or Paris seize upon any pretext for demon
stration against the state of things" Many
OF them are no doubt men out of employ
ment or on low wages owing to the hardness
OF the times, but many of them also belong
to the increasing class Of idlers and roughs
who never work if they can live without
work, such men as in London come out of
the slums to swell any demonstration which
promises disorder and chance of plumber
1t is unfortunate for the workmen who
have struck for grievance, whether real or
fancied, that they are joined by the disrep-
utable idlers and rowdies. Their cause is
thus, in action, made identical with that of
riot and instruction, and there can be no
question but the authorities will put down
the latter with the strong hand The rioters
are as much the enemies of the workmen as
they are of the public peace. The safety of
all persons and of all property depends upon
the prompt queuching of the spirit of VIC
lAuce and iuSurrpptinn