Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-03-21
DAILY POST -INTELuGEhcR
rive .TRIKEs.


The railroad strike IN sns 5o1sn ~s''A'
vhieh vas recently ended By ihs COB
ssaaion on the part Of shs companies Of
al nat vas demanded on the part Of
shs EMPLOYEES, was one Of the most re-
raarkabls of she many labor strikes
that have taken plaos in the United
states within the past ten or niI'en
years. II was remarkable both OF sc
eouut Of tbs psaaslal oannar IN when
a vss eouductsd and % account Of toe
eomulsse victory With which u was
crowned. The strikers maintained me
utmost good order throughout lnsS
asrnandad she restoration Of wages 70
tha figures that ksd lately ralsd and pro
es.d.d 10 enforce their demand By pre-
venting the shipping Of frnieht. Fre'eh'
ears we're sids-srssled svsryvhere; ioeo
uottves we're run into the round houses
ana In many OASIS passenger trains
were stopped, only tie locomotives Aho
mail cars being allowed 20 pFoceso-
While those proceedings we're not sifi0s
Iy lawful, while thsg wsFd, indeed pre-
e,snly similar 10 the action takea IN
1877 q. Cumberland by the Baltimore
and Ohio strikers, the result vas tar
different. In 1877 both the strikers and
the company bsesnaa enbitsered. TIE
latter called on tbs stats Authorities tor
AID. some shots we're fred, some men
killed. and the train wa fred, when
caused an explosion that shook the Gov
ernmeut 20 It's Foundation. At PITS
hore. A. Baltimore, at Chicago and 81
numerous other cities, riots began. 1he
worst elements Of the population came
TO the trent. and for several days the
laws were set a. defiance by bowling
mobs. Many lives wers lost, and rniii-
ions of dollars worth Of property vas
destroyed.
This year all wall different. Neither
marty losg lee temper. The trains were
stopped In a good natured bat deter,
mined gay that caused even the railroad
officials TO pause before calling upor
tho STATE Governments for aid. Pos
sibiy they remembered the way IL
which their dspots and round,h houses
were given to the flames sight year
AGO, and hesitated to incur the risk Of
lighting another p,Iwdsf train. what
ever motive may have induced the com
panies not 10 put their trains through
by force, they made no move in c''eE
Give dirsetion. After holding ont for
ssw days they yielded TO the striker
and restored wae,s to their formei
rates. The men returned 10 work, ant
the strike was over. No burnt sns
sharred dspots or bridges have 10 be re
built, and II is probable that both EN-
ployess and employees are happy. i
vas a fortunate termination TO a for
tunate strike.
Another strike Ia drawing 10 a close
which has been far different from sh'
enc Just mentioned. In April, 1854
almost one year ago, the coal miner
employed by the mammoth corporation
or consolidation Of corporations, whiel
operates the coal mines in the Hooking
Valley, came out Of the mines and an
nouncsd their intention Of striking
The struggle which followed has bell
one Of the most desperate in the ANIMAL
Of labor troubles. That the miners hal
serious grievances cannot be denied
The monopoly had for months main
tanned domsnserInR and dictatoria
attitude. Wages had been re
duced 10 what SEEMED TO be th
lowest living rates, and the imme
aiate cause of the strike was th
announcement Of another reduotioi
which, rs the mineus claimed, loft then
without means sufficient TO support thei
families. The employers, when tn
strike began, assumed a policy of co
ercion. Their nerAcing attitude wa
met by violence on the part Of th
strikers. Breakers were burned, ton
nsls destroyed, men shot and for mont
after month the Hooking Valley was
valley OF horrors, q dark and blood
ground. TIE company organized dc
teetive foFoe, which 'Eas little more thai
force Of hired asssssins. The striker
retaiiatsd BY organizing themselves int
military companies. drilling and meet
Ing their enemies ils hes, they could
Foreign miners wers imported into Oh
district, and many e. them fell victim
10 the Infatuated strikers. The loss &
all parties concerned can scarcely b
estimated. IL mounts far up In Oh
millicns. Both parties Lost their tempsl
This struggle. however. draws to a
end a Inst. net ~ in the case of To
Southwestern railro,.d strike, by q vie
cory for the lsborsr1 but by . victor
for the employers. The miners a.
forced 20 accept the reduction. an
work 10 10 be resataed. Tbs Hockin
Valley strike 10 over, but what suiisrin
Il has caused. vhA, Ialsery. what passio
II has arsaaed, What cruel,y called for,
who can tealF
=-.----------=-s
One Of the coolies, and most undb
wuin.a ntiaas,,ta vak vnasla A., ..aonra