The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-18


Rulos
The present troubles of the Western Union
Telegraph Company are manly attributable to
the incompetent management Of the board Of
directors, or executive committee. Starting
upon the absurd idea that the telegraph, in
stead Of being the agent OF the press, could
make itself its master, they have endeavored
gradually to take into their own hands the
collection and control Of news, and by this
means have thought to compel the newspapers
Of the whole country to comply with any terms
they might impose and to submit to any die
tation they might see proper to assume over
the business affairs Of the press. Thus. while
the large daily journals have been the most
profitable customers the telegraph has had, the
management Of the Western Union has sought
to place all manner Of restrictions upon them,
and has displayed an arrogance and independ-
ence of manner at once unwarrantable and
offensive. Towards the papers of more limited
influence the company has been yet more
arbitrary and unjust, and the prevailing
sentiment Of the press outside Of New York
is apprehension of new encroachments on the
part of the Western Union, and an earnest de-
sire, for their own protection, to encourage the
construction Of competing lines. This feeling
was evinced at a recent convention of the edi-
tors Of Western journals, held in Cincinnati,
by the unanimous adoption of resolution in
the following language Resolved, That we
are pleased to know that the telegraphic facili-
ties are being largely increased by the con-
struction Of new and competing lines that 1t
is the interest Of the public and the press to
encourage competition in this business and,
while we shall not be partisans Of any com
pany, we shall deem it our privilege to distribute
our patronage in accordance with correct BUSH
ness principles-patronizin those who offer the
best facilities" 1t is precisely this point that is at
issue between the proprietors Of the press and
the managers of the Western Union Iele-
graph. The former hold it to be their right. as
it is the right Of every individual doing bust
ness over the wires to distribute their patronage
as they may see fit, and to patronize the lines
that offer the best facilities. The latter assume
to prohibit the journals that do business over
the Western Union from using any other line,
and endeavor to dictate other terms to them
equally absurd and unwarrantable.
But the press is not alone interested in this
new phase of telegraphic management BY
converting itself into a news agency, selling
commercial and other intelligence and making
all the operators along its lines the collectors
and pedlers Of news items, the Western Union
renders the messages Of private individuals
and business men insecure and destroys the
confidence that is so essentials feature OF the
telegraph Any stakeholder of ordinary in
telligence can understand the ruinous effect of
such policy. Ifpersisted in 1t will drive the
leading newspapers Of the country into the con-
struction Of line for their own use, and will
deter commercial men and private citizens
from entrustng any intelligence Of import
ance to the mercy Of the wires. It will
be well for the stockholders OF the
Western Union 10 bear these facts 10 mind.
They have the remedy in their own hands. The
present executive committee, who own less
than ave hundred shares among them out Of
the forty-one million stock Of the company,
have very small interest at stake In COMPARE
son with the heavy holders in this city alone.
They can afford to quarrel with their best Gus
toner and to knock down the business and the
stock in order to crafty their own whims, or to
obstnately persist in their own mistaken and
shortsighted policy. But what may be
satisfaction to them, even n INDUCED ct loss,
is ruinous to the large body Of the stock
holders, and the sooner the latter take hold Of
the affairs Of the company and make an entire
change in It's management tho better. They
should at once turn ont their present incompe-
tent and laundering executive committee and
ill their places with men who will confne
themselves to the legitimate business Of tele-
graphing, leave the collection Of news in the
hands to which it properly belongs, content
themselves with sending press messages aud all
other messages ut fair rates over their wires,
and trust to their facilities. industry and re-
liability to secure . profitable business for
their line despite competition. Let them do
this and they may jet save their property from
destruction.