Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-19
THE OPERATORS STRIKE 4,
WASHING ron.


The Western Union Wen Quit Work.
At 1915 pm. today seven men OF the Western
Union day force In the Washington office had
| stopped work. Twelve OF the day men were yet In
the of1ice, but Manager Whitney was not sure that
All OF the twelve would remain: most OF them he
hoped would DO So All but one were upon their
Ieet apparently canvaSSing the situation Nearly
all or the inemb'rs or the night force OF the Office
were congreyated on the sidewalk In front OF or
near the Office. The strikers did not leave I'm a
body. The seventh man left after the departure
/ OF his six companions
Up to 1880 ten men from the day force had
| stopped WORK.
WHAT AN OFFICER or THE BROTHERHOOD SAYS.
An active oficer Of the brotherhood is authority
LOT the statement that strike is to be appre-
hended from operators working wires leased by
brokers. newspapers or private Individuals, where
such operators are employed and paid by the
IsSsecs unless an attempt is made 10y the Western
Union company TO utilize these operators in hand
ling matter not connected with the business or
| such private firms No similar assurance was
given, however, as to such private wires worked
oy men ON the Western Union pay rolls
THE END NOT YET.
The same officer OF the brotherhood asserted
that the greater part OF the brethren now at work
Will strike. before another day.
An authoritative statement from the strikers,
presenting the case from their standpoint is con-
templated, aud will probably be given out this
afternoon.
THE STRIKE OF THE B. AND O. OPERATORS.
Col w. II. Clark, manager OF the Baltimore and
Ohio telegraph here, said TO STAR reporter: "We
are In the same fix as the Western Union. Our
men have gone out; they quit at l2 O'Clock. The
| tors They quit at IL. Chicago uime Then as the
hour OF IL arrived IN other offices further east the
operators went out"
star" Have you men enough LETT to run the
Officer"
Col Clark-"Oh. yes, I've got enough to run the
Office, but can't tell what delay they viii meet at
other points. / think our people made pretty
thorough canvass, and ascertained just how many
NOR
WHAT MANAGER WHITNEY. OF THE WESTERN
UNION, SAYS
Manager Whitney, OF the Western Union office,
said: ave are taking all the business that is
offered, but at the senders risk. We send II that
way when In full force, but now advise senders
that there may be extra delay We have men
enough left to operate this Office"
AT THE AMERICAN RAPID OFFICE
the reporter was informed that that company
would only receive messages for New York,
Philadelphia and Baltimore Business to these
places was being transmitted on the automatic
plan, and the company felt able to cover II,
though senders are admonished that they must
THE BRANCH OFFICES IN TIE INTERIOR AND POST
OFFICE DEPARTMENTS.
All the branch telegraph Offices in the Post
Office and Interior departments closed on the re-
cclDt OF the Grant dispatch At the Post Ofce de-
partment the operator for the H. and o. Telegraph
company, and the Rapid Telegraph company
closed their Offices ana left The Western Union
operator, Mr.. Jas. l. Saifel at the Post OH de-
partment remained at his post, his assistant say
ing, as he closed the Grant dispatch which he
took from the wires: 81 am going, Mr. Satfe!l,"
and with that he put on his coat and lett the
Office.
COULDN'T AFFORD TO STRIKE.
Mr.. Saf1el said to STAR reporter: IL amin SYM
pathy with this movement, but / could not con.
vince myself that II could succeed I saw one
strike and that was miserable failure. 4 have a
family Of children dependent on me, and can't
afford to get up and move off as these young tel
lows do"
"Say. Jim, what are you doing here? Amt you
going to close up this pl,nt7" asked one OF the
SaffelL
mo, am notl" was the firm response, and the
visitor took his departure.
81 hear that Cincinnati is the only place where
they are short handed" Mr.; safrell remarked.
Western Union. dropped in to see now Mr.. sarIell
was getting on.
To a STAR reporter he said: 1--WE are getting
along all right now. We have plenty OF men, but
In some places We are short handed Just at pres
emf. But 1t will be all right soon"
"HOw is It going to end?" asked the reporter
81 don't KNOW" was the reply. "It depends on
what outside backing they have. They have moth
ing themselves" and with this remark Mr.. Young
hurried on.
At the Baltimore AMI Ohio Office nine Of the day
force have abandoned their instruments. leaving
Manager Clarke, who is an operator, with two
men.
The American Rapid employed only one opera
tor. who was also IN ,nager, and he has struck.
The Southern and Bankers and Merchants en-
ploy four men besides Manager Cox, who is also
an operator. All OF these remain at their posts
The operators are very Indignant at Mr.. May
nard, the telephone man, because he has offered
hts services TO the Western Union. One OF them
said with bitter emphasis: 'Yes, and Maynard is
the man who assisted Guiteau to get the pistol
with which he shot the President"
1t Is rumOred here that the report that General
Grant had dropped dead In the street in New
York was the signal agreed upon to communicate
to the operators the order to strike. IL being Well
understood that the public at large as well as the
ha OH IN fbat
story rapidly.
NO SMALL STRIKE
The Indications are that the telegraph compa-
nes are disappointed as to the number of opera
tors who remain at work. The strike is more gen.
eral than Was anticipated. 1t is claimed that the
Knights OF Labor are behind the strike, and one OF
the Oldest and most Influential among the opera
tors said to STAR reporter: "There are 100000
Knights or Labor, and the understa nding Is that
they Will levy an assessment or ten cents per week
upon each man to raise a fund for the support of
the operators as long as they remain out. This is
no small strike"
The ReaI Estate Assessments.