The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-05


ERN UNION LINE.
NEW YORK, Jan. About o'clock this
afternoon the operators of the Western Union
Telegraph Company in this city, belonging to
the Telegraphic Protective League, comprising
most Of the operators here, left their instru-
ments, and the officers of the Company not
having been able to arrive at any satisfactory
arrangement in regard to the alleged action Of
the Company's officials towards their employ
ees in California, they express their determi-
nation to resist by all proper and legal means
any attempt to reduce the compensation paid
Geographic employees. A meeting of the
operators was held this afternoon and another
this evening, at which much enthusiasm was
manifested. Reports were received from many
of the principal offices OF concurrent action on
the part of their brethren. 1t was reported at
the meetings that the operators south Of Wash.
ington had quit work in body, and that at
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington only
two or three operators remain in each Office for
the transaction of the business of the Com
pany. 1t was also reported at the meetings
that the operators between New York and
Boston had generally quit work or would do
SO tomorrow
The Western Union officials furnish for pub
location statement in regard to the difficulty
with its employees. They assert that there is
no reasonable ground in fact for the attempted
strike here and in the West. The telegraphic
correspondence between the officers of the
company here and at San Francisco, say they
fully sustain the press kilograms ON the sub
ject. They assert that no reduction of salaries
at San Francisco had been either made or con-
templated there, and none had been consider
ed or suggested at headquarters here. Thew
further assert that the whole story appears to
have sprung from the malice of two late en-
ployees at San Francisco who had been dis
missed because their services were no longer
required. Fhe pretext of an attempt to reduce
their compensation is utterly without founda-
ton.
A letter from o. H. Palmer, the Secretary of
the company, to committee of the League
here, is also forwarded for publication, sub
stantlal!y covering tie above statement, and
containing a copy of the following dispatch
from Mumford the Agent of the company at
San Francisco, to Mr.. Palmer:
II have reduced no salaries in San Francis
co or anywhere else, and have had no inten-
ton of doing SO. Two men were discharged in
San Francisco because was satisfied that they
were trying to excite dissatisfaction and make
mischief, and because the force in the office
was larger than was necessary to do our bust
| ness The plea of general reduction is with
out the slightest foundation as a matter of fact
The only changes made were increases and not
reductions, and the salaries now are as high as
ever had been paid here BEFORE" In conclu-
sion Mr. Palmer says Il rely with implicit
| confidence upon the truth of this statement,
and the action of this company will be govern
ed accordingly. We can permit no combina-
ton nor organization of men to dictate to US
who, or how many persons we shall employ for
the transaction of our business. We approve
the action of Mr.. Mumford.'
In subsequent letter in reply to another
communication of the committee, Mr.. Palmer
declined to order the reinstatement of the Ope-
rators at San Francisco or of operators else
where who have struck in aid of the San Fran
cisco members Of the League, he saws:
81 have no reports from Superintendents in
| respect to the operators who have left our SER
vice, or what arrangements have been made
Tor supplying the places of any who may have
lett the service Without such information
and without knowledge of the facts cannot
| in advance determine what action may be right
| and proper, and what may be due to the new
| operators engaged or to those whose places it
has been found necessary to supply. When
SUCH questions are presented in the usual way
| they will be considered in the same lust and
| liberal spirit which this company has always
manifested in its dealings with its EMPLOYEES"
Inc ohclals OF the company also assert that
no lnterception anywhere had occurred to the
business OF the company, nor is any difficulty
apprehended.
Later.-The Telegraph officers authorize the
following statement:
"a part of the men have struck, but force
enough will be on hand to perform our ser
vice."
CARD FROM THE LEAGUE.
At meeting of the telegraphers on a strike,
TINS evening, card was adopted addressed to
all members of the Telegraphic Protective
League. 1t says: "The hour has arrived when
prompt and united action is to decide the fu-
ture welfare of the fraternity. The reduction
| Francisco is we belisve but the torerunner of
similar action to be taken throughout the
country, should it be found that we are willing
| to submit. We have used every honorable
effort with the Executive Committee to end
| the strike by reinstating our brethren at their
old salaries. The authorities by refusing to do
so have expressed their determination to GUST
u.s. The issue now is, lite or death, as well as