The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-28


their vigilance and efficiency de-
Dends the prosperity Of the Company
and if they should become sullen,
discOntented and rebellious, no
amount Of skill and energy on the
part of the managers uld save the
road from disaster. For this reason
il should not wantonly 0ppress its
employees. or ask them to work for
insufficient compensation, unless, as
i'll the present instance, there was
some solid, substantial reason for
cutting down expenses to the low
est possible figure.
: Whena privateemployerfindsth
he is carrying on business at a loss,
he simyly stops work and closes up
his establishment. His employees are
left to shift for themselves and to
earn living as best they can. 1t is
this suspension Of work THAT restores
the equilibrium between demand
and supply. After the excess Of
stock has been consumed the manu-
tacturerS resume work and go on as
before. Nobody pretends to censure
a manufacturer for stopping his ma
chinery when Ire finds that it can only
be run at loss, yet the effect of the
suspension brings poverty and pinch
ing want into many homes. 1t hap
pens, however, that railroad compa-
uies cannot take care of its reserve
capital as the private manufacturer
does when he finds that he is losing
mOney--namely, by quitting work
and turning its employees adrift. 1t
is public corporation, chartered for
public purposes and must keep on
running trains for the public cOnve-
nienc whether it makes or loses. It
cannot suspend operations and wait
for better times as private indiVid-
ualS and private corporations do.
All that it can do is to reduce wages
and cut down expenses. In ding
This they often encounter "strikes,"
such as the one now in progress on
the Baltimore and Ohio Road, but
we cannot recall any instance in
which those who participated therein
improved their own condition by in
tlicting loss on others. 1t must also
be remembered that the managers of
Il railroad are only agents or trustees
for the shareholders, and are always
supposed to be acting for the best in
tcreSts ofthe thousands who have in
vested their means in its bonds and
stock. Should theT earn nothing,
there are widows and orphans
and helpless persons on every hand
who would be deprived Of their
means ofsupport. The loss suffered
by the Baltimore and Ohio Company
during the last few days will be felt
by thousands ofpersOns who are quite
as dependent on the Company as are
the dissatisfied tiremen. We are
awale that great deal has been
said about the policy of the Company
in making ten per cent. dividends out
of the earnings ofthe Company when
it only ought to have divided six per
cent, but this is IA matter on which
the tiremen are not competent to
pass judgement. Up to within the
last two years we believe that the
Baltimore and Ohio Company paid
its employees the same wages that
were paid by the other trunk lines,
and certainly the money which went
to make up the ten per cent. dividend
was not deducted from the pay Of
the firemen. But whether the em-
ployes were stinted for the benefit of
the shareholders or otherwise, it is
morally certain that the tiremen's
strike will not weaken the motive
nor lessen the necessity for the prac-
tice of stringent economy until such
time as the transportation business
again becomes active and profitable.
We have thus far commented upon
the tiremen's strike as if it were
mere refusal on the part of certain
employees Of the Baltimore and Ohio
Company to perform their accustom-
ed duties. We recognize the right of
every man to quit work when he is
no longer satisfied with his wages.
But this is not a mere abandoning of
their engines by the firemen. BY
threats of violence and riOtous dem
onstrations they prevent the EN-
ployes of the Company from moving
its trains. This puts the strikers in
the position Of law-breakers and
dstU berS of the peace. There can
be no justification or excuse for such
a wanton disregard for the rights of
their associates in the employ of the
Baltimore and Ohio Company as has
been exhibited by the striking fire.
men at Martinsburg. Whenever
strikers 60 about from shop to shop
compelling men to quit work by
threats of violence, they become COM