The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-10
The Great Railroad Strike.


The strike on the Gould system of railroads
was renewed by an order OF the knights OF
Labor week ago. and the business of Mis-
souri, and several other states is paralyzed.
The strikers are at disadvantage in this
movement, and will eventually have to sue
cumb. 1t was inaugurated by the local as
semblies, because the receiver of another road
discharged an employee. When this fact be-
came known to Mr.. Powderly, leader of the
Knights of Labor, he at once disclaimed all
responsibility for the strike, and made over
lures for cessation of the strike and for ar
bitration of the difficulties. He went further,
and said that the Knights would not ask for
the reinstatement of those who had COM
mitted acts of violence. In the meantime the
railroad authorities bad secured new men to
fill the places of many of the strikers. Mr..
Powderly ordered a cessation of the strike,
and the men sought their old places again.
The railroad authorities took back only such
as they needed, and refused to confer with
the Knights of Labor or any other organlza-
ton The strike was ordered to be renewed,
and affairs in the West and Southwest are in
terrible condition. The Governor of Mis-
souri, has called out the militia, as has also the
Governor of Texas. At Fort Worth, in the
latter state, conflict between the military
and strikers took place on Saturday, and sew
The Philadelphia Press says-"However
reluctant the railroad employees in the South
west or the members of the general executive
committee of the Knights of Labor, at St.
Louis, may be to admit the truth, it must be
evident to them at last that the strike is a
failure. The resort to violence proves that
they have lost faith in peaceful methods, and
when this point is reached a collapse is not
far off, Many of the strikers will find an en-
forced idleness following voluntary ldleness,
and that bitterness of feeling which always
results from failure in such an undertaking
is also sure to manifest itself Success can
never follow an undertaking wrongfully begun
and carried on regardless of right and justice.
The failure of the great strike in the South
west is an illustration of this simple axiom.
When the Knights of Labor attempted to force
the unemployment of a man who had been
discharged in Marshall, Texas, for proved
incompetency, they violated this law. They
sought to uphold wrong, aud, although they
called to their assistance several thousand
brother knights and disarranged traffic on
thousands of miles of railroad, a failure is the
result. 1t will be adding one mistake to an
other if the defeated strikers attempt to as
cribe their failure to the power of money.
Public opinion is more powerful than capital,
and it would have forced the corporations to
they been in the right. The decision of the
people was not hasty one. They took time
to consider the question in all its aspects, and
when they gave their verdict it was with a
knowledge of every fact in the case. That
verdict deserves the more respect from the
circumstance that even the admitted unpopu-
larity of Mr.. Jay Gould could not alter 1t.
The whole force of public opinion has been
on the side of Mr.. Powderly and sustained the
course he has pursued. Had his advice been
followed, instead of the foolish counsels OF
senseless leaders, the voice of the people
would have been with the knights of Labor,
and they would have come out of the contest
with credit
The members of the Painters Union, of
Jersey CITY, have informed the boss painters
that hereafter they will demand So per day
of ten hours work, with eight hours on Sat-
urday. About dozen firms have already
complied with the demand. In Hoboken the
plumbers agree to work for So per day of nine
hours.
The Cabinet Makers Union, of Pittsburg,
at meeting on Sunday night decided to de-
mand that eight hours shall constitute day s
work after the LIST of May. The men who do
piece work will demand an advance of 20 per
cent. in wages.
The Executive Board of the Knights of
Labor on their way 10 oG. Louis attempted 10
arbtrate with the Champion Reaper Works
at Springfield, Illinois, on Friday, but with
out success The management of the works
would not recognize them as representatives
of any organization.
F. P. Allis, of the Allis Machine Shops, at
Milwaukee, on Saturday informed his 800
employees that, speaking upon authority from
his company, should an enforcement of the
eighthour rule be attempted, the works would
be shut down permanently
Tuesdays dispatches report heavy rains in
the North and East and snow in the West
and Northwest. Rivers and streams every
where are high, and considerable damage has
been done by the water. The towns on the
banks of the Susquehanna have been partly
submerged, and the damage done to railroads
is immense. Nearly all the lines running
into Pittsburg, Pa, have suffered severely.
Throughout the South, West and in Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey and in New England much
damage has been done to railroads, fields and
towns and villages.
Dispatches on Wednesday reported gales
and heavy SHOWS in the North and West.
Trains are blocked by snow near Detroit,
Michigan, and ice on Lake Michigan was two
feet thick. At Laconia, New Hampshire,
six feet of snow covers the ground, and snow
fell all through New England.