The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-21
|. OPERATORS STRIKE.
r g. --- i
NOT SUCH AcALAmlTf As EXPECTED.


aPeftM DHpdtch 70 INC IHteMtneHeef-
PHILADELPHIA, Pa July 20.-Mr. Robert
Garrett, Vice President Of the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad and the authoritiye head Of
the B. & o. Telegraph Com pauy, wa was met
in this city to-day by the IsrsGLlGEspER
correspondent. He did not hesitate be
said to declare the strike iltadvised, and
to express his opinion that i must end dis,
astrous for the operators. The demands
were unreasonable, and should have been
made in q different manner. Already,
though the first twenty-tour hours OF the
struggle had not passed, there were
desertions from the ranks OF the strikers /;
and when these began, though it was only
In individual cases the first day, 1t was a
bad sign Of their unamimity. and con.
viction that they were In the right
pEfI LABOR HAS RIGHTS. II, = h:
MI. Garrett expressed himself very for
cibly on the rights Of. labor, and maintain
ed that employees had an undoubted right
to hearing by employers and have the
most careful consideration given TO their
demands. Hesaid In, 0 general, way that
the great mistake had been In the'vays stbe
strike had been inaugurated, and that had
wise counsel prevailed 1t would not have
occurred. dRS
THE Il Il o. COMPANY.
: In reply to the further question respect
ing his own company mora particularly
Mr.. Garrett said: "The officials Of the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad Company were
somewhat surprised at the telegraphers
employed by the Company. No intima-
ton had been received by the officers OF the
road prior TO "Wednesday regarding any
alleged complaints on the part Of
the operators, nor waa any goppor!
tunity given for full !, conference
and deliberate consideration regarding
the alleged question at issue. The railroad
company regarded the action OF the opera
tors 10 being hasty and Ill considered. and
the indications last Thursday night prove
that many Of the men upon retlscLion were
looking Ut the matter In this light. He
stated generally that the surprise of the
bad arose as to the hours, Of Labor and that
their employees were generally better paid
than those OF any OF the other companies
having an equal mileage OF wire aud oper-
ated under the same system.
TOOK HAsrr ACTION
It was the firm conviction Of the off.
cials of.his company that many otS'the
Baltimore & Ohio operators had been
drawn into q hasty action, by The brother.
hood, and that this action was instigated
by ths'brotherhood with y viewto giving
social support to the. strikers OF the
other companies, but was not based on
real grievances ON the part Of the Balti-
more 4 Ohio employees. The officials
Of this company were confirmed in
this view only this afternoon by 4 a
notification one Of their leading telegraph
employer, that even II no difference ex.
isted between the members OF the Brother.
hood and the Blltimore'& Ohio they could
not now return TO work without permission
from their chief in New York, who repre-.
sent them in the Executive Committee.
The officials OF the company are keeping
well informed about the feelings Of the men
and are conyiaced that many will shortly
return to their work.
WOULD LISTEN TO ALL COMPLAINTS.
The relations between the company and
the men do not in any way justify this
strike, and we are convinced that the men
will soon see the truth Of this, and come
back to their instruments. The Baltimore
{. Ohio had always stood ready, and was
now ready 10 listen to and consider fully
asy complaints or grievances on the part Of
employees, and he did not believe but that
Ia ndinnimar,f cnuld have hean madP Il IL