Daily globe., 1883-07-22
The Operators, Side.

A committee of the Brotherhood of TeIe-
graphers called at the GLOBE Office last
evening in order to give their side of the
story. All reports heretofore published
have, they claim, been filtered through the
hands of Western Union officials, and have
as consequence been colored to suit the
purposes of the company.
In regard to the local office in st. Paul
the gentlemen state that nearly all the
competent operators are with the brother
hood and have refused to work until the
grievances complained of are righted. The
claim of the manager that business is
being transacted with customary expedi-
tion they scout as absurd, and appeal for
refutation of the statement to any business
men in the city doing business with
the telegraph company. The men
at work, they say, are, for the
most part incompetent or su-
peranuated and not posted in the business
as at present conducted. They refer to
several persons by name who have
been obliged TO send their commercial
dispatches back to the Office for transla-
ton. They furthermore assert that the
wages paid in st. Paul are not as liberal
as has been given out to the public-that
there was but one man receiving as much
as $50 per month, and that the pol.
icy of the management has been to weed
out high priced operators as fast as posi-
bic and ill their places with operators at
less pay, and that the average pay is less
than $50 per month.
The causes of the strike are well known
and the committe did not choose to en-
large upon them, but simply stated that
the public was competent to Judge between
them and the company. They were per-
fectly confident that the justice of their
cause would be sustained by an intelligent
public.
The organization numbers 10000 in the
United States and Canada. Financially it
is in excellent condition, having funds
enough on hand to sustain the members
through prolonged strike, which, how
ever, is not apprehended. In addition 1.-THE
knights of Labor have pledged their as
slstance If 1t should be required, and va
rIous commercial bodies throughout the
country have offered substantial aid. while
merchants have come forward with tenders
of any needed assistance. AS an illus
tration the gentlemen stated that an ex-
telegrapher of Bismarck, who is now
man of means, sent in his check for So. ZOO:
another at Fargo had sent $500, and one
at Eau Claire 500, each with the intima-
tion that more would be forthcoming if
wanted.
In regard to the reports that operators
were interfering with the wires the COM
m1ttee wished to enter most emphatic
denial. They assert that the most import
ant rule of the organization Is an iniunc-
tion to do no unlawful act, and in all orders
issued relating to the strike especial atten-
tion has been directed to this law. They
repudiated the idea that the strikers or
anybody IN sympathy with them had in
any way interfered with the working of
the wires since the strike began, and
furthermore asseverated that in the event
of any person being caught in the act of
doing so, the brotherhood would do all in
its power to secure his conviction and pun
ishment. The disturbances to the wires
within the past few days have been due, |
they claim, to electrical storms that have |
prevailed very generally all over the coun-
try.
Another point upon which the brother
hood wish to place especial stress, and |
have the public fully under |
stand, is that they will not try
to intimidate any person who comes here
with the intention of going to work in the
office. Their committee will do what
they can by means of persuasion to in
duce them to remain away, but will not
countenance any violence or intimations