The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-27
WASHINGTON.
Seven Operators Stick to Their Agreement
and Are Discharged.


and Are Discharged.
WASHINGTON, July 26.-The seven Western
Union operators, not members of the Tele-
graphers' Brotherhood, who signed an agree
ment to strike il the telegraph committee
took no action looking to q compromise of
the question at issue between the company
and strikers, were discharged at II o'clock
to-day by Superintendent Zeublin. Super
intendent Zeublin arrived here last night
with four men, one printing and three
Morse operators, to take the places of the
seven named. All the discharged were first
class men, and constitute majority of those
who remained at their desks when the strike
began.
The discharged operators say that Superin-
tendent Zeublin this morning appealed to
each of the seven men individually, and en-
deavored to get them TO withdraw their
names from the agreement above referred to.
He informed them that he was instructed
to discharge them unless they consented to
withdraw. Each man replied that he would
keep his pledge to his fellows. The hour at
which the agreement was to be carried into
noon the seven men congregated in an out
side room of the operating room, where, af-
ter few words more from the superintend-
ent, they were informed that they were dis.
charged. They all went to the HEADQUARTERS
of tine Brotherhood, where they met with an
enthusiastic reception, and a meeting was
held it is supposed for the purpose of init
ating the new meIi.
In response to an inquiry from the Asso-
ciated Press office as to the condition in
which the exodus has left the Washing
ton office, Superintendent Zeublin made
the following reply in writing.
With exactly the same number of men, who
arrived from Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Ches-
ter, Pa, last night, with Iour more en- route, we
now have the office fully equipped with gilt
edged, first.elass, loyal and enthusiastic opera
tors. The business will not be Intentionally
mangied and errors caused by traitorous en-
poyes j. E. ZEUBLIN, superintendent.
Mr.. Zeublin has received the following
dispatch from New York:
John e. Zeublin, superintendent-You mes
sage reporting the dismissal of six operators
whom you have discovered in the Washington Of
flee aiding the strikers by their active sympathy
and mutilating pubic business passing through
their hands is received. General Eckert directs
me TO reply expressing his full and hearty ap-
proval OF your action, and qualification that you
have been able to discover and correct so
promptly any disposition on the part of oper-
ators IN service to interfere with the orderly
transmission of business of the public or that OF
the company. CHARLES A. TINKER,
General superintendent.
The men discharged Indignantly denied
that there is any truth in the charge of Su-
perintendent Zeublin that they mutilated
business passing through their hands. They
say the fact that they were urged by Zeubin
up to the moment of their disms ssal to with
draw from the agreement is evidence that the
charges are wholly groundless. Mr.. Zeubln
has removed his headquarters to Washington
for the war.
1t now appears that only six men were dis
charged from the Western Union main office
to-day, and the seventh who signed
the agreement to strike has not
been satisfactorily accounted for by his broth
er strikers or the Western Union officials.
1t was given out to-day, however, that the
entire seven had gone One member OF the
night force is absent tonight. but he is re-
ported to be resting Including this man
there remains in the Western Union main
office five men, including the chief. One of
the five is printing operator Among the
strikers are two brothers of Manager Merean
and son each of Chiefs Young and Bender.
Tonight Chief Young announced that press
reports are going of in good style and the
wires working well.
THE STORY OF THE OPERATORS.
The six discharged operators gave to the
Associated Press tonight their story of the
circumstances leading up to their dismissal.
They said at the time the striking operators