The New York herald., 1870-01-07
ITELEGRAPH OPERATORS STRIKE.
"N0 Surrender" the Motto OF tho Dis
afscted-Wide Spread Of the Con-
tagion- Explanations Pro and
Con-The Oath of the Ope-
rators' League.


as halfpast three O'Clock in the afternoon.
The meeting in the Afternoon was a very
large and enthusiastic affair, there being present not
less than 100 persons, OF whom fifteen or twenty
were ladies. As usual the meeting was dgnlfed
and orderly.
Mr.. J. g. Christy took the chair and, after
calling the meeting to order, introduced John
w. Browning, OF the National Labor union,
who addressed the meeting He said ne re-
GREETED exceedingly the cause OF the strike;
but the Western Union Telegraph Company
are attempting to break up what little
opposition now remains TO them In tnis country
by reducing the wages OF their employees
twenty-five per cent, thereby enabling them
to reduce their tariff considerably below
that of the other companies. AS q laboring man he
was personally interested in the OF any
ment likely In any manner to break down all such
monopolies. He knew the strike would not last
long, for the public VIII not suffer their interests TO
be tampered wItn He had been told that every desk
the main olce filed full OF matter awaiting
transmittal. he hoped they would accept of no
compromise for II they stood by another they
should. and they doing, the victory would
be theirs beyond doubt, and IL would be victory
OF laborers monopolists.
Mr.. ALEXANDER TRoUP, also or the National Labor
Union said he there to assist the strikers against
the greatest monopoly In the United States He said
the Associated Press was IN with this monopoly
and therefore, the public could not get fair state
ment OF Ihe case. The object of the company was
TO reduce the salary Of every operator in their
employ the statements OF their officials to the con-
M W. L. IVES strikist. on behalf OF the Tele-
graphers' Protective League thanked the gentlemen
the National Labor Union for their kind assurances
OF sympathy and offers or assistance. AS far as pecu
mary assistance is concerned, we have no need OF
Il at present nor do we expect have. all hands
being he believed prepared to light 1t out on this
line II 1t takes all winter. Tne HERALD, ne sald
paper that had set the matter correctly before the
public (vOice-s.Thats so.')
Colonel MARSHALL LEFFERT5, Chief Engineer OF the
Western Union Telegraph COMPANY, appearing at
the door, was admitted, and, havingbeen:introduced
minutes. lie said he had not been sent
there by the company, but came wholly upon his
ali kindness. He advised dgnifled course and
was glad TO know that such had been theirs The
officers OF the company, he assured them, DO not
feel any vindictlveness towards them whatever,
although they tthe offcers think the operators nave
acted somewhat hastily. II he could be OF any as
ssiance 60 the operators In any way ne was at the
service.
great number Of kilograms were received ana
read from operators in every section OF the Union
announcing that the offices OF the Western Union
Company were almost II not entirely deserted ana ana
would stand firm against the unjust demands OF the
company.
THE FORMIDABLE NATURE OF THE STRIKE.
The number OF operators now on strike and those
who refuse to ill the places Of strikers will number
nearly, If not quite 2,5OO In fact it includes
teen-twenIieth OF the whole force employed by the
league did moi not probably number more than 800
before the strike but yesterday and the day before
those who do not Join refuse to work at other points,
which answers every purpose OF the league. The
the opposition lines extend the operators are COM
pletng their organizations and preparing for long
siege Some have gone nome to visit their friends,
the principal one Of which Is their vigilance com.
mittee.
TeleGraphic Messages by Railroad Express.
BROOKLYN, Jan. 9, 1870
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In order to show the public that gross fraud Is
being practised upon 1t by the Western Union
monopoly would that all the teegraphc busi-
ness for Albany and the East. excepting Boston. is
being sent forward by railroad. This informa-
tion comes from one who has seen the
clerks ali occupied in taking copies OF the
said business. All operators viii readily &C
cept this information as fact, having seen the
company adopt this fraud In the event OF storms
mterrupting the wires; but unsuspecting public
possibly had not imagined that such contemplate
tricks could be played upon II by so vast corpora
tion In the event OF lengthy pIolongalion OF the
present difficulties the public may expect similar
TELEGRAPH STRIKER.
The Western Union Compnny's side Of tho
The following card from the officers OF The West
ern Union Company gives their version OF the
orgination OF the present strike:
ExrouTrvE OrFIor,
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH Company
A5 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.
the publication this morning Of the signed by
the oncers of this company explaining the
statement. OF what occurred California has been received
from the company's agent, MI Mumord They fol-
About the middle superintendent Gamble, de-
string resojmt the compensation of the employees
according 70 The yngs Of Their gave no
be reduced from month. third
that his salary would be increased from $lOo to si2o
OF the three ten dollars month Ao,ss on these notices.
senns Schedule q salaries which they asked 70 have
In s Tssos ns a r. 1 G
crease Of four others was asked for.
Mr. Muford SO far assened to the schedule to make
reduction OF salaries, and allowed portion Of the
s ss ws ,ss H %
diminished business the number OF being than
ised that more men were employed than was strictly neces
Of The 70 wS nu s ss s hy
wsr. the whose salaries Mr. Gamble had
f those men remained & &unssansea snough one q
above men,oned fourth man refused 70 work al hs
schedule price, although was ten dollars month higher
The facts thus explained fully support Mr. Mumford'a
original statement that he had reduced salaries had
10 intention q doing So He bad in fact increased them
who appears TO have le he dissatshed
salary q zen doi,n monih The strike, then, !
SeDo.. s the .ss P"q' ss,s have alleged nod
af w@ees-general or speciai-but in support of the
CAIN o ~ Individual whose raised
high hsare II denied view
81 all the circumstances that the whole strikers
throughout the Union left a nd
OF subec,ng the business OF the entire country 10
delay and deransemsn because John Cali
fornia demanding increase OF twenty dollars SALARY
get only ten dollars This the
further claimed that this company perntted TO
determine how large do s bu.ncyy
And 10 ncrease or diminish II from time time accordingly
o. ID. PALMER, Treasurer
There are now on duty at the main oiiice OF the
Western Union Telegraph Company In THIS city n
operators; IN Boston, 49, in Philadelphia Is: i'm
Baltimore, 81 IN Washington, 10: in Albany q: m
Troy, 4. Business Is going forward Ia good shape
Oaih of the Operators.
IL is said the operators Will not return TO work
because they have surrendered the right OF private
judgment and placed themselves unrcservedly in
the hands OF their leaders by means OF an OATH ad.
mnistered as follows:
You do solennly in the presence OF Almighty God
and the tnesses that you Will make
oembeTs OF this League; thai,