Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-08-08
The Net Result.

The Net Result.
AS the object the railroad strik-
ers had in view in opening the
campaign which is now in progress
was the lettering Of their condi-
ton, it may not be inappropriate
to ask how far they have been
successful mp to the present mo-
ment. What is the net result OF
of the the strike in gain to the
strikers, and to what extent has
their condition been improved
Has it been improved at all Z Have
the strikers not, on the contrary.
suffered immense loss already, and
are they not increasing the loss by
every hour the strike continues +!
Every sensible man among them
must see that this is the true state
of the case. In the first place
they have lost outright the wages
of four days, which is not only an
immense loss in the aggregate,
considering the thousands of men
involved, but q very considerable
loss to each individual. To the
workingmen receiving even the
low wages of one dollar a day the
loss of four days time is equal to a
reduction of more than fifteen pei
cent. upon his wages for the
month, so that, even if the ten per
cent. reduction were cancelled, he
would receive no benefit from the
change for Eo months. Nor is
this all the loss, even if the strike
were ceased at once. Thousands Of
those who have been engaged in il
will in all probability, lose Their
places and find themselves without
any work whatever while all o.
them who pay taxes will find theil
burden in that direction largely in.
creased by the necessity of paying
for the property destroyed during
the reign of King Mob, for which
they are responsible.
There is another loss still. Thu
stoppage of business has already
during the comparatively few
days that the strike has been il
progress, perceptibly raised tn,
price of the necessaries OF life
and as the strikers, whether sue
cessful or not are mortal, the,
must live, and eat, and pay th
advanced price. To the loss il
this direction every hours contin
nance of the strike adds materi
ally.
And almost as great loss as an,
we have named is the loss of sym
patty which the strikers have sus
tanned. The damage occasioned b
C. cir acts TO the business Of tn
country, the increase 10 the cost G
the necessaries of life, and othe
Incidental injuries, fall quite a
heavily upon the rest Of the com
munity as upon the strikers; an
it is not in human nature tina
those who regard themselves as in
nocent in the matter should Ion
continue to sympathise with
grievence which makes itself fel
at their expense. Thousands q
citizens who have earnestly hope
that the strikers might succeed
and thousands even who have stoo
quietly by while robbery and pil
lage, the secondary consequence
of the strike, were going on, wi
condemn the strikers most hearth
when they find themselves compel
ed to pay the expense, though n
more heartily, perhaps, than tn
strikers will condemn themselves.
On the whole, therefore, th
strike is wretched failure. TIL
strikers have injured the railroad
companies very largely and inlict
ed a considerable amount Of suffer
ing upon the community at large
But IL was not for these purposes
that they inaugurated their move.
ment. Their object was, as before
suggested, to better themselves
and 10 this they have failed mos
signally.-Free Press.