The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-23
AN EVIL SITUATION.

The switchmen's strike on the Reading
aystem at Buffalo arose over demand for
higher wages; the Reading Company re-
fused to grant the advance on the ground
that they could not yield without also rais-
ing the wages Of their men at New York,
Philadelphia and everywhere else on the
system. which was impracticable. The
officers OF the road claimed that they could
find plenty OF non -nnion men who were
satisfied to take the places of the strikers
at the old wages: the strikers at the start
Immediately resorted TO violence, fearing
that if they kept the peace the company
would be able to iii their places. By their
resort to arson, by their threats to kill any
new men who took their places and by their
attacks on the sherifFs officers the strikers
forfeited their claim to oil sympathy on the
part of the public. Violence was deliber-
ately adopted by the strikers as the chief
feature OF their Tdan of campaign. Presi-
dent Mcleod, of the Reading system,
quotes from a report of meeting of the
men held July -, the following passage:
The worthy master said that the present oc-
casion would be = good one 10 decide how tho
strike should bs conducted. Mcnamara said
he was in favor Of using force shoul q IL become
necessary ~ do so; that his plan would be to
run cars of the track, 60 through tho ward,
knock holes in engine tanks cut hose etc, SO
as to disable engines.
This Mcnamara has been arrested and
is now under 81 600 bonds 10 answer TO the
charge Of conspiracy to obstruct railroad
traffic by violence. AT the same meeting
ss fl a..
declared at midnight, aud arrangements
were made to run of the track and wreck
freight and coal cars enough from II
o'clock midnight mp 20 a NJ. 20 block up
the whole read for a week, as the ward was
full Of cars. This rlsn WAS carried out 10
the letter. and now that il has been car.
ried out. il is virtually endorsed by the
union to which the strikers belong.
The sheriff summoned the miiitia: the
law OF New York forbids railroad corpor.
alton To employ rinkerton guards to pro-
tect It's property. but by the time the
militia had arrived the strikers had de-
s,royed several hundred THOUSAND dollars
worth OF railroad property by inceniiar-
ism. for which the taxpayers OF Erie
county Will be obliged 30 pay. The sher-
ifTs posse comitatus VAS found ~ he inst
as ineffective at Buffalo IS it was ~ Pitts
burg, and, Just As at Pit:shurg, the mill
ta-y arm Of ths government was no; in.
vckei until after the cars had been
burned, the arernen's hose cut. the
water tanks smashed, the trains
ditched. the shesits resisted and
the railroads subjected not only 20 great
destruction az property. but To vas. con-
tinsent damages due - the loss and diver
sion Of traffic from two great railway
lines The insane insolencs OF these str;k.
srs was manifested by demand TOR TIE
withdrawal OF the military, 50 that II.
strikers might succeed IN iutin,iiaisng the
workmen or terroriEing the employers
iaso submission 10 save their propertv
from destruction. The strikers won; have
tie fiukertons and they won't have tie
miitis, because they had out tia, the
militia sle al eqaal obstacle 20 she.r cam.