The Portland daily press., 1883-08-04
DESERVING.
The Union Receiving Con
stant Accessions from Strikers
RumOred Resignation of Manager
Eckert.

New YORK, Aug. 3.-The Western Union
Company report their wires all right and
business being handled promptly to-day at all
points. Two more strikers returned to work
this morning. The Western Union Company
intends to make no change in it's policy, and as
far as it is concerned the strike is over Re-
ports received from east, west and south are
that the company is receiving constant acces-
sions from the ranks of the strikers in all quar-
ters.
The leaders in the strike say the situation as
far as they are concerned is unchanged
Washington special says the Western
Union Office there, which, in ordinary times, is
the best equipped office in existence for hand
ling press dispatches, was practically swamped
Tor its western work last night. The Associat-
ed Press having its own operators for the East,
relieves the general Office, but for the West
there was a blockade and great delay This
was over two hours Correspondents who sent
urgent dispatches to Chicago requiring an
swers were unable tosobtain replies up to a late
hour
At II o'clock last night private message
was received at the headquarters of the Broth
erhood in Baltimore, stating that Gen. Eckert
mad resigned. The construction placed on this
action by the strikers was that the new mana
ger OF the Western Union will arrange for an
early compromise with the men. 1t is report
ed that the news came from Master Workman
Campbell, and the brotherhood express its en-
tire confidence in its accuracy At the main
offices OF the Western Union and Baltimore &
Ohio the rumor OF Eckert's resignation created
much surprise, but was not fully credited.
Jay Gould, in conversation with an intimate
friend, referring to the strike, said that it was
only sklrmlsh line in the fight which has
been projected by the Knights of Labor of
which the Telegraphers' Brotherhood is a
branch. Every corporation or firm, or ipd-
vidual that employs large number OF men,"
added Mr.. Gould, SIS interested in seeing tue
movement defeated for they know its success
means the success of the knights of Labor.
Owing to the great interests involved the Wee
tern Union cannot and will not give in, no
matter what our loss is or TO what inconyepi-
ence the public is put"
BOSTON, August BIN conversation last
evening striker admitted that he considered
the fight as good as lost, for the reason that it
is almost useless TO contend against capital,
and also because the leaders of the strike made
a fatal error at the outset. The striker said
that he agreed that it was useless for wage la
Dor to contend against concentrated and self
sustaining capital, without sufficient funds TO
enter into long siege. AS it is, the Bother
hood is lacking in funds, and many nisrepre-
sentations in that direction have been made.
Under the present circumstances all thar the
Western Union has to do is to hold off and
among the strikers who cannot enter into a
protracted conflict and depend upon tho lin
tied amount which the Brotherhood can give
weekly, as they have families to support
whose demands upon them are imperative and
must be met.
PHILAELPHIA, August 3.-The officers nf
the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Com
pany have arranged system of telephone ser
vice to be used on all lines should the tele-
graph operators in its service be ordered by the
brotherhood to strike. An officer of the COM
pany states the company is prepared at a mo-
ments notice to meet tue strikers.
AS far as external indications show this is
the present stand OF the Western Union and
of the Baltimore & Ohio Company as WE'LL the
latter seeming simply to follow the lead of the
older and stronger corporation.
1t is reported that all the telegraph operators
at the City OF Mexico have gone upon a strike
In consequence of refusal to pay an increase
OF salary demanded by the operators. 1t is be-
lleved that this action will seriously embarrass
the INSTRUMENTATION system Of railroads in
which Jay Gould and Gen. Grant are largely
interested.
WASHINGTON, Aug, 3.-The brotherhood on
orators are very confident that Gen. Eckert has
resigned as superintendent of the Western
Union, notwithstanding the denials of it.
They claim to have the story direct from A. b
Cornell of the Western Union directory through
only one person, and they are building great
hopes upon the accuracy of this rumor They
say that II the story is true II is an indication
that the strike will coon end At the brother
hood meeting here last night the recent acci-
dent in Vermont, caused by an overworked
and inexperienced young operator, was charac-
teriZed as deliberate murder on the part of the
Western Union Company.