The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-24
THE STRIKE.
No Signs of Yielding by the
Strikers or the Western Union
The American Rapid and Baltimore
and Ohio Inclined to Submit
Unconfirmed Rumor that the Gable
Operators Have Struck

arrangements nave been made DetWeon MT
Garrett, of the Baltimore and Ohio Company
aud President May, OF the Rapid Coz .pany
and John Campbell, OF the TefeSraphit
Brotherhood, whereby the Baltimore ana 0hio
and the American Rapid are TO yield every
concession asked by the Brotherhood, who, In
turn, will put the best operators in the country
at the service of these two companies, and as
sist them in every way.
WASHINGTON, July 23--It is ascertained
that there is some foundation for the report
that a combination between the Baltimore and
Ohio, the American Rapid and the Brother
hood is under consideration TO make an imme-
diate opposition to Western Union. The hopes
OF the parties to the agreement are said to be
based ON the fact that while the wires OF the
two companies do not cover the extent OF ter
ritory which the Western Unions do they
take in the very heart of the country and
reach all the points at which telegraphing is
profitable, This combination, it is claimed.
would be q powerful rival TO Western Inon,
and being able to do rapid service on new
lines, with all the newest and most approx ed
appliances, would soon obtain very profita-
BILE patronage at the expense of the Western
Union. The present stumbling block is the
fact that the Baltimore and Ohio, on account
of ita railroad business, does not wish to rec
ognize the Brotherhood. But negotiations
have been opened TO obtain the consent of the
Brotherhood to such combination. The ar
gument is put forth authoritatively ON the part
OF the Baltimore and Ohio in this man
ner: the strike is mainly against the Western
Union; the Baltimore and Ohio is its rival:
the Baltimore and Ohio Is on its own accou ut
engaged in an irreconclable contest with the
Western Union, and short of an alliance of
fensive and defensive with the Baltimore and
Ohio nothing probably will be better cal
culated to please the Western Union than the
assurance that the guns OF its rival are spiked
as well as its own. 1t is an open question
whether the operators of the Baltimore and
Ohio Company would not do better service to
the cause in which they are engaged by waiy-
ing technicalities, stating their grievances and
demanding relief in plain and direct man
ner. This Goes not necessarily imply any ac-
ton inconsistent with their obligations to the
brotherhood, but ON the contrary is in the
line OF its general object.
Rumored Strike of the Gable Operators.
BosToN, July 23.-it is stated that the order
to the cable operators to leave their KEYS was
issued by the Brotherhood at noon to-day, and
that soon after all the operators at Duxbury
and North Sidney obeyed the mandate.
New York, July 23.-The Western Union
officials deny the report that the cable opera
tors at Duxhury have struck.
The Situation at Various Ports.
CHICAGO, July 23.-Officials of the Western
Union say everything is in good shape, and
that they have more men than they can use
and dispatches are going promptly.
Mr.. McCulloch of the Baltimore and Ohio
Telegraph says he has received adyices from
headquarters to the effect that all negotiations
between that company and the operators have
been broken off, as the company would not re-
cognize the Brotherhood.
The striking telegraphers held large meet
ing yesterday. They claim to have 1000 mem
bers in this city. The meeting was devoted to
reading encouraging letters and kilograms from
other cities. Advice from Harrisburg state
that the strikers there had not returned to
work. They profess the utmost confidence as
to the result. Officials of the telephone COM
pany say that some unknown persons have
been cutting their wires. About so wires
were severed and large number of tags
changed SO that repairers and linemen are
greatly hampered in remedying the troubles;
all the wires cut were private lines, so that the
fact was not at once brought to the company's
knowledge. Officials also state that maps OF
their circuits have disappeared. Yesterday
morning number of linemen engaged in
raising wires TO let a house be moved under
them were sat upon by 26 or 80 persons and
their work impeded to such an extent than the
police we're called cut and the mob dispersed.
CHICAGO, July 23.--The Western Union tele-
graph company has recruited new force for
city and market quotations are reaching sub.
scribers as usual to-day. The situation other
wise is unchanged.
MEMPHIS, Jely 23.-This morning Manager
Howard has ten men at work, having been re-
inforced by competent men from VicBsburg.
The gold and stock indicators at the Merchants
Exchange aDdItwo bucket shops are working
to-day. All the market reports except from
Chicago are received. Strikers con tinue firm.
GALVESTON, July 49, There is now force
of twenty on the rolls OF the Western Union
Office, which is rather in excess of the number
employed before the strike. Railroads oper-
atoFs and clerks from the Gould railway sys-
tenn, together with managers of country Offices
and few amateurs comprise the number. The
strikers are firm and have the sympathy of
the community.
NEW YORK. July 23.-The force of operators
which reported for duty at the Western
Union office this morning numbered about 200
and it was said that none of those who were
at work last week were missing from their
posts Business is light and is still further
diminished by the efforts of the strikers and
the force at work is ample 10 attend to all
business offered so the Western Union officials
says.
The striking telegraphers held meeting
at Irving Hall at which chairman John
Mitchell presided. About 500 persons were
present Of whom so were ladies and great en-
thUsiasm was manifested. Encouraging re-
ports were received from many points and dis
patches from all over the south and west read
by the chairman In several points in the
south offices are entirely vacated as is the case
of Charleston, N. O., where it was reported
the manager and chief operator and all hands
struck. All lawlessness was forbidden and it
was announced the Brotherhood would assist
in the prosecution OF anyone found DESTROYING
telegraph property. Every one seemed conf
dent the strike would soon be brought to
close and the Western Union Company will
concede the demands OF the strikers. Ad-
dresses were made by several members Of the
Brotherhood and by John Gomperse, President
OF the Trade and Labor Union in this city
PHILADELPHIA, July 23.-There is no change
in the situation of the telegraphers' strike here
to-day
BRocKToN, Mass, July 23.-An interview
with the Western Union operator today (who
does not belong to tho Brotherhood bur is in
full sympathy with the moyemenO shows a
decided decrease in the amount of business
carried on at this office. The average num-
Der of messages received and sent before the
strike was so per day with receipts of 5000
per month; the average since the strike is
eight, with receipts of less than 81 per day.
Messages are received subject to delay in
Transmitting and after being held three or four
hours are returned to tho sender, while a
greater part Of those received by wire are dat
ed from "a to 48 hours previous to sending
and avery urgent one received this morning
was filed last Friday. Press reporters are in
formed that they must devise some other
means than the telegraph for transmitting
their news to Boston. AT 3 o'clock this after
noon the operator left her desk through some
mysterious influence and the city is destitute
OF telegraphic communication.
New YORK. July 23.--The report that the
Telegraphers Brotherhood intends TO order a
strike on all Associated Press wires is denied.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, July % AT / O'Clock this
afternoon the operators who were employed by
the Cotton Exchange, Merchants Exchange
and two bucket shops, struck, thus complicst-
ing matters and leaving the exchanges without