, 1870-01-19
Fed OF ruE rELEeRAPH STRIKE.

The strike Of the telegraph operators is
st En- end. Yesterday the GRIND Chief !
Operator issued hla proclamation dissolving
the Telegraphers Protective League, eb-
solving the members from thelE oaths
md obligations, and advising them to re-
turn to their work. The strike commenced
On the morning Of the Sd Of January in
California, and extended over all the cir
cults of the Western Union Telegraph lines
1t WAS the most formidable strike ever
made in this country. Tie Western Union
Telegraph Company own the greater po1-
ton q the wires in operation, nnd in nsny
parts Of the country exclusively, and for
time it was thought the strike would
so interfere with the business o( the public
that the company world have to yield. The
Protective League WIS well organized. but
its weakness in the present instance con-
a1sreo III 49, ~ant Of any valid resson for
strike The company-s ulcers It San
Francisco, some time mnce, increased the
salary Of two operators; subsequently,. they
proposed to reduce the price BY the dis
charge Of two men, End to re-arrange the
sa1ariea, adding to scne, and not reducing
the aggregate amount paid to those en-
Tloyed n the Office. Arumor flashed ao1oas
the country that the company had reduced
the salaries and had discharged two mon
for refusing to work at the reduced rates.
Upon this erroneous statement, backed by
strike in the California and Nevada offices,
the Grand Chief Operator, by general rs
quest, or general consent, ordered a strike
throughout the country. Whatever public
sympathy was felt a& the outset for the
operators wns weakened rs soon as the real
facts we've made known. In few instances
the operators themselves saw the nsr.
row basis Of the strike and resumed work
but The great body Of the men, hampered
by their obligations to The league, felt con-
strniDed to perserere in what they felt Il
penn unnecessary sacridce. Altar fifteen day.
II struggle, in which, perhaps, $500 mel
rsre been out Of employment, the Grani
Chief Of the ie--zue comea forward ant
.bsolves them from their oeths, and adviser
hem to resume work. The advice is e1cel
ent, but to many it comes too late. Ths
irand Chief, like many other men hsvlne
nthotity to order strikes, begun at ths
Fropg end. He ordered the strike first
nd examined the facts and counted tn
oet afte1ward. HAd ho made thase e1am
oations first, he would have saved many At
anoceut person and his fnmi1y the loss c!
resent wnges and future employmen.- Th1
allure Of thia s:xike il u warning t.
ther wo1kueu that stike il reu1od,
ut should follow, and not proceeds, al
iher attempts to secure redress Of gFiev
noes. Estikes cannot be maintained i
country unleas for such causes a. Vi
noal to the public sense Of justice IA
rplay.
Il Is to be hoped that the tslegrap
ouoenY viii restore Is many Of the
isguided young men to thair plAct
possible. OF most Of Them it can /
id that thei1 offence was haste rather TIN
,subordinaHon pride rather than malice
ally to the league rather than tislo,
" to their employers. Good policy "
,d1cats to the company that the loss
.ady incurred by them fs punishune'
cough for al except, possibly, the origin
,usuters of The disturbance