New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-07
DLSCONTENTED TELEGRAPHlSTS.

Telegraph operators in this city are very reticent
in regard to the strike of the same class OF men IN
the Western Union Company's ONCE AT Denver,
Col 1t is apparent that they sympathHc WIN
them and wish they would succeed. LII Is s3ld
that a majority of the operators In this
city and Brooklyn belong TO the secret ASSOCIATIONS
which have been organized. Sunday - the usual
day on which the men meet Tor consultation, put
they would dvuge nothing OF the nature OF yesterc
dav's proceedings. Tho Grand Chief Operator OF
the Consolidated Telcgraphers' Protective ASsocla-
ton Mr. Campbell, arrived in TINS city yesterday,
and it was supposed that he was mere t 10 Or
ganize the men preparatory 70 stIlAe.
MANY of the operators said they did not know
Who the man was or what was his mission -.
About dozen operators IN { taa n" WITH ms by a.
TRIBUNE reporter Ihey ProleSSed 10 ht Inv
nothing of any intention OF \, getting
no a strike among the operators III w-loFH
or vicinity and would not express dissatisfaction
with their wages and the way they were treated
Several operators were seen privately Dy INC re-
porter outside the Office, aud they were more COM
The members of the secret association in this
city, and of the branch i'll Brooklyn, met TO-DAY
said one but il is useless 10 try TO hnd OUT wnat
was done even if 1t amounted To anything Tue
amount of the business IS. the boys doht Know
their power They haven't else c t%ere would %
be 4 strike tomorrow morning. AlI III
\yould he successful too. The Western Union
Company would lose more in two hours than they
Vonld want 10 Dy "a good deal Let the men sop
when the banks and stock Exchange open t0-nor,
row and throw all the business on the Mutual
Union Company VI leu tneih stop III inc H'Nooo "a
ali the companies IT would only take an hour to
win the fight. There are lew operators OUT
of employment now, as business ID
so good that the companies have St cured
about all they can. The men have good reason TO
bedlssatIsied too. They are paid from 20 10 P9o a
month. Now it's all well enough to get @Jo "a MONTH
Bar the men are not graded justly. t0r Instance,
class man may die, and his place VIII De Ia led
nv second OF thIrdclass one but tue LATER VIII oe
made to work AT the same wages as ne dld before he
was promoted. There Is too much Jealousy ana
rivalry among the operators themselves for them TO
act unlte,ly. they are ali tine while cutting each
others hroats, 1t were by working iOi less IMAM
they should do. some men are worth twice dS nluch
as others and should receive twice as much lhefe
should bo fixed graduation OF wages according 10
expcrtneos." e
An operator who was not member OF
the secret association said lie h'.9
mixed with operators who were members. lie uIq
DOT think from their conversation tnat tney "ouiu
start strike. lie sad he did not thlhh tuc ii1n
had been asked TO assist the striking Operators a.
Denver The hours OF the operators are So'ci' n.y. ~ -
for night and nine hours ior day Inen' ~
office at Denver employed hIteen men. A. % Vo 49,,
heating Office Tor New Mexico, COlOiJuo anu paw
of Arizona. ~, ~ t..-.orL Cam
pany's office In Broadway told lRlBUAh Iepol'Vtii
thaf thc .tlik. winch was begun IN Denver would
be pretty sure to extend Last II the wants Vi VPa"
tors were not listened TO- nave Jus1 nS ~ o' a1
ne that the operators at Denver nave Oecn gwen
what they demanded There Is no DISSATISFACTION
among the Mutual Unions operators, as the com
pauy treats them very We'll flrst-cIss nlen nho
rom $50 10 800 month, lheu Jne company El'oS
thc men TINA 10 eat their meals and does not over
work Them. The Western Union Company treats
its operators like machines. Ihey are lhaue 10
work nlne hours with only short Intermlssion
for luncheon That Is enough To Kill them by ne
orees But the night men are also often made TO DO
day work after working all night. lhoy are pau
tmen bv the hour but ut less than regular rates.
linen should one work over double time and earn
over two months wages III Que. the excess Is de-
teieyronbio branch OF the knights of Labor organ
ization at Pittsburg ls very strong pody, IN
GLIDING as it does the majority of the best operators
In ~ perfectly organized. Until month ago IL was
"A secret as the Masonic fraternity But II Is less
so now No strike will be made without IaiT
warning to the companies. Inc GrAhd
Chief Onerator came Oh 10 learn III
grievances here were such AZ TO warrant a
demand being made Oh the companies. Ii the Ex-