The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-21

one result, that of injury TO a large class Of
employees, who have lost time aud money, aud
in many cases occupation. It is on their ac-
count fortunate that the company while IL
was put to temporary Inconvenience in trans
acting its business, has shown good feeling
from the beginning, and has recognized the
fact that blind confidence and want of judg-
ment led the operators into step the mo-
tives for ordering which they were not per-
mitted to understand, and the consequences
of which they might have foreseen, but did
not.
And yet little reflection would have pre-
vented all this The members Of the League
might have known that the organization was
based upon two principles which at once
gave to it q sinister and dangerous relation
towards themselves. 1t was secret and oath
bound. 1t conferred irresponsible authority
upon, as it now appears, one person. The
first OF these conditions was humiliating, in
view of its object II was intended to secure
that good faith and truth which the organi-
zers could not they implied, leave to the in
dlvidual private honor of the members, and
in that sense was an insult. The strike was
ordered as no other that we ever heard of has
been. A reason was given, which, if true,
was insufficient, but which, being substan-
TALLY false, left the real motive in the dark.
We can understand and sympathize with an
important labor movement, the preliminaries
of which are discussed, and which is impelled
by some manifest wrong. But the tele-
graphers' strike was of totally different cha
racter-it was not labor movement at all,
properly so called. 1t was a conspiracy for a
secret purpose, and that purpose not the ulti-
mate benefit of its victims. The trades
unions appear to have seen this, and hence
the very partial aid which they were disposed
to render.
The strikers are ''absolved" from their
''oath !" There is something revolving in the
cool ease with which that act is consummated
and promulgated. 1t looks as il the &c. G.
o." were invested with attributes scarcely
vouchsafed to ordinary human beings He
holds the power to bind and to loose within
the hollow of his hand. An obligation which
those who took it upon themselves no doubt
regarded ss possessing sacred character, be
treats as mere farce. 1t is to be presumed
that the telegraphers, who have been deceived
and greatly injured, will not rest content
without some effort to trace the hidden
springs by which the strike was set in motion
Some comments by portion of the press
will supply them with few hints The out
cry was raise that the strike was the result Of
a monopoly. Very little was said of the re
muneration Of employees nor of any injus
tice to which they may have been subjected
| But the argument was directed against par
ticular company, which was asserted TO be al
unjust monopoly, and, as such, should b,
| crushed. The inquiry naturally follows
| whether the strike was not forced with view
| of benefting some Interior scheme by embar
RAISING an existing interest. Possibly tn,
wire-pulling was done at considerable dis
| tance from San Francisco, and possibly, also
there were some persons engaged in it o
whom the public little dream at yet. A dis
closure of the facta with reference to thes
| points would prove very interesting.
| Meanwhile, the strike being ended, ther,
remains the counting of the cost incurred
and the advantages gained The first is mad
up of direct loss of money, and we fear some
what of the confidence of the employers.
will take some time to restore the latter, an
the former cannot be replaced. AS to tn
advantages there are none, unless indee
the exposure of an unprincipled set of orga
nizers be reckoned as one. The best way 70
the operators now is to endeavor to effac
the recollection of their mistake, by renewe
zeal at their duties. And, as has been re
peatedly said, the company considers ther
more sinned against than SHINING, and i
willing to let the dead past be forgotten a
far as may be. More than this the telegrapher
could not ask; there are instances enoug
where less frank and really generous treat
| mant has been reSorted to-