The daily gazette., 1883-08-16
STRIKERS WEAKENING.
ASKING THE COMPANIES FoR
TERMS.
A COLD REoE IfN MET WITH
General EcISert Refers Committee to the
District suPerintendents-The Situation
in Chicago.

/
New York, Philadelphia and Boston, and
desired to learn upon what terms the strik-
ers would be taken back into the employ of
the company. The spokesman stated that
he hoped that their visit would not be re-
garded by the Western Union Company as
a sign of the Brotherhood weakening, as
they had called without the sanction or
consent of that body.
In reply, General Eckert informed them
| that he was not aware what vacancies ex-
listed, and advised them to apply for infor-
nation to their different superintendents.
The committee evidently expected that their
| proposition to compromise would be met
half way, but in this they were disappointed.
| The pretense that the committee did not re-
present the Brotherhood was soon dispelled
| by the arrival of letter at the Dey sire t
building from Master Workman Campbell,
telling General Eckert that, inasmuch as he
had spurned the proposition for settlement,
henceforth it would be war to the knife be-
tween the brotherhood and the company.
This threat was not alarming.
RENoUNoING THE BROTHERHOOD.
Seven Of he strikers returned to the com
pany's service to-day, among them one or
| two members os the strikers skirmishing
| committees. The company required each
who returned to work TO sign paper re-
nouncing his allegiance to the Brotherhood,
and promising not to join any secret organ
ization or trades unions so long as he re-
mained In the compaDy's employ. The
striking operators in 1870 were obliged to
sign this sort of paper when they returned
to work. 1t is claimed by many of the men
that the knights of Labor have not given
the strikers the financial support they had
a right to expect.
The losses suffered by the company on ac-
count of the strike will probably never be
known, but they must aggregate tens of
thousands of dollars. 1t is also somew hat
singular, In view of the complaints of cut
wires, that the company has been unable to
secure the arrest of single offender, despite
the promise of $1,000 reward for the detec-
tion and conviction of any person found ma
liciously tampering with the wires.
The United States Senatorial Sub-com-
mittee ON Labor and Education continued
its inquiry to day regarding the telegraph
strike. The examination of Jonn 8. Nc
ClellaRd was resumed. He submitted In ac-
cordance with the request of the committee
a quantity of the evidence which he had
prepared in regard to the ironclad oaths
which employers in various industries were
in the habit of administering to their work
men when they received them into their ser
vice.
The witness furnished statistics regarding
strikes which had occurred during recent
years. Since 1870 the number of recorded
strikes which occurred in Europe was 1859.
The statistics showed that during the ten
years 9,072 weeks, or "a, 1862 days, had been
lost by the men who engaged in them, rep
resenting wages amounting to S22,23f ,750.
THE EUROPEAN STRIKES.
Ofthe entire number of strikes occurring
~ were known to have been won by the
workmen, 1S9 lost and 81 compromised,
leaving about 1000 unaccounted for, and
which, in all probability, had been lost by
those who had engaged in them. There were
no collected statistics in regard to strikes in
this country.
A remedy suggested by the witness of Sc
curing a more equitable distribution OF
wealth between the laborer and the capital
list would be that the Government should
take charge of all branches of industry as it
had of the mai-carrying for the country
This System could, he thought, be applied
to all private industries as well as to the
telegraphic industry.
NOTHING TO HOPE FOR.
John Mitchell, the editor of the Tele-
qrapherS' AdUocnte, was the next witness
He gave an account of his life as an opera
tor in the telegraph service.
Patrick j. Tierney, an operator In the
Western Union office, testified that the
longer man remained with the company
the smaller his salary became. He said that,
owing to the migratory habits of the aver
age telegraph operator, the company was
enabled to fill the positions vacated with
first-elass men at lower salary.
Alfred H. Seymour, an old telegraph ope,
rator, testified that, in his opinion, the
salary of a first-class operator should not be
less than $100 a month, and his hours of
labor not more than eight. Other operators
gavt similar testimony.
GENERAL EoKERT's ACTION ENDORSED.
New YORK, Aug. 1.-the executive COM
mittee of the Western Union Telegraph
Company met to-day. Among those present
were Jay Gould, George Could Russell
Sage, Cyrus Field, Harrison Durkee and
General Eekert Routine business only was
transacted and no reference was made to
the strike. After the meeting the commit
tee held an informal conference In regard to
the application OF the committee of strikers
to General Eckert, and heartily endorsed his
action in referring them to their superinten-
dents for information as to the terms upon
which they will be taken back.
THE STRIKE REMAINS UNCHANGED.
PHILADELPHIA, August 16.-The condi-
tion of the striking telegraphists and the
| Western Union Company remained un-
changed Yesterday in this city.
Everything is working charmingly in
| our office" said Superintendent Zeublin,
ttand four Philadelphia strikers, and three
from the South went to work this morning.
Some of the prominent strikers have ap-
piled for positions, but we have no use for
them. Du Berry, of Richmond, wants to
90 back to work, but he cannot get a posi-
tion with our company. Hewas the leader
of the strike in Richmond, and he cannot
work for u.s."
DETERMINED TO STAND OUT.
CHICAGO, August 15.-This was probably
the most important day In the history of the
telegraph operators strike since they quit
their keys, July 10. In the twenty-six days
that have elapsed since then only nine men
have forsworn the Brotherhood and gone
back to work, while the Brotherhood has
been receiving accessions to its ranks every
day.
Yesterday was the weekly payday and 80
was disbursed to each married striker and
81 to each unmarried brother. To-day the
entire body of strikers renewed their obliga-
tions to abide by the decision of the
Brotherhood. In response to communi
cation from the strikers the Typographical
Union issued circulars to the various chapels
constituting the union, calling for weekly