The daily gazette., 1877-07-24
FIRST CAUSES OF THE STRIKE.


From the New York Tribune of yesterday.
- The conflict between. ailWay. 4eampan=-
ies and strikers, so far as it is one offorce
ought to be settled only by Che phnish-
ment OF law-breakers. Civilized society
can have no compromise with those who
make war upon Its freedom of labor, its
regularity of commerce, its peace, order
and supremacy Of law. But there are
strikers who appeal to public opinion,
and resorting to no violence, rest upon
their undisputed right to quit work. Such
men should be impartially heard. The
misconduct of railway managers towards
stockholders, creditors, and the public
we have not hesitated to expose. Not
one of those whose false accounts or
patched reports bave been dragged to
light will suspect us of disposition 10
excuse any injustice towards railway en-
ployees. As class the railway workers
are industrious and faithful men, whose
care and efficiency have done mnch to
make the railway system useful to the
public. How far are their complaints
justified?
In the flush times during the war and
afterwards, when the miles of railroads
operated doubled within eight years men
competent in that service were in great
demand, and secured very high wages.
Now reaction has come, and they are
called to bear share of it. Capital in
vested in railways mas been forced to
submit to very much greater reduction
| in profits than the companies propose in
wages. Bonds amounting to over $500,
100000 are in default. Little more than
third of tile stock of railways yields
and profit whatever. OF the companies
which still pay dividends, not few OBJ
tain the money only by borrowing. These
enormous losses by capital have continu-
ed and accumulated for years; snail the
labor employed in transportation escape
in proportion of sacrifice? The reduction
proposed is hot greater than has been
found necessary in other branches of la
Dor, though capital invested in transpor;
tation has suffered more than capital il
any other employment. Intelligent mer
know that all industry and trade are steat
lily returning to the basis of profits, wage
aud prices which prevailed in the specie
paying times before the war. WheI
great sacrifices have been snecessaril,
made made by invested capital, by mer
chants and manufacturers and by otbe
classes of laborers, can railroad employ
ees justly ask to escape their share? Befor
the war, railways received for transpor
tation per passenger or per ton more thai
twice as much as they now receive, ant
yet the employees now get very mucl
higher wages than they were then paid
No reduction in wages proportioned l.
the reduction in rates is asked. 1t i
not even asked that wages shall be a
, low as they were before the war. Tn
greater part Of the loss the companie
have borne and consent to bear; the
ask only that some part of it shall b
, borne by those whom they employ. Ca
it he said that this is unjust3
! The strikers say, "Retail prices an
the cost of living have not been cores
pondingly reduced" This is natura
Water does not flow up hill, unless it
forced, and the cost of living does nc
decline until people are obliged to pa
less. Those who have suffered no redut
= ton of wages have not reduced their ex
penses, an therefore have helped I
maintain retail prices at an unnatura
level. Men who are still paid wa
wages for work are not unnatural
compelled to pay war prices for boar
t This is peculiarly the case in town
g where large share of the custom come
from railway or other employees who's
y wages have not been greatly reduce,
Do not intelligent workmen know tn!
tney are forced DOWN. Expansion
e always easy. Contraction OF profits vi
4 ges, and prices is always hard, an
Games only by compulsion. Whenev,
:, workmen find that they cannot pay, an
q q therefore refuse TO pay, the extravsgar
prices which were customary in hus
+, times, then those whose business d.
u pends upon that class of workmen wi
: begin to reduce their charges and Nc
/ before. 5a
The final argument always is, "W
cannot live upon the wages proposed.
Perhaps not, without any change in Ut
: mode of life, in the place of boarding
d or in the conveniences or comforts prt
e cured. Those who are not willing
i make some change for time, and
l. practice greater ecohomy or self~deni
n until prices settle to the new level, al
only trying TO avoid their share OF sa
rifices which other men in every wa
n of life have been compelled to max
s Stockholders by the hundred thousar
= who used to live upon their dividend
= have been compelled to get along will
out any.