Morning journal and courier., 1883-07-17

there and the order for strike or the decree l granting our demand will issue from there. Nearly all our members n Philadelphia and
 there were 520 of them on the 1st of July, | are as ignorant of the probable outcome ss 1 sit at our instruments and wait. If word comes to quit work we will do it. If it is to continue we will do it. All I can say is that If the demands are not conceded there will be a strike"
 CHICAGO, July 16.-The Chicago telegraph CTS who are members of the brotherhood will hold another meeting on Thursday evening, and by that time Tn all probability the ques- l ton as to whether or not strike will occur will be settled. It is said ''Dad' Armstrong IS on his way to Chicago. stDad, " as all tel egraphers kRow, is the Individual who ''went back" on the strike of 1870 and thereafter oficiated as 8 tool of the Western Union company. The telegraphers say that they are lon to- Dad" A good many of the country operators are being brought to the city, which fact goes to show that the cona- pany is expecting strike.
 A rumor was current iH telegraph cir cles during the forenoon that General Eckert had telegraphed from New York mod flying his last order and practically granting the demands of the operators. This is denied, however, by the chief officers of the Western Union company, who declare that no such message had been received from General Eckert up to this afternoon.
 BOSTON, July 16.-The action of the Bos- ton telegraphers on the proposed strike will depend entirely upon the attitude of the been received from that city. One of the officers of the company in this city stated this morning that if the men struck their places would be filled. A prominent member of the brotherhood in this city said that everything was in readiness for the strike and kI,.a-% L- denied the statement that this was the first intimation that the company had received of any trouble in Boston, claiming that complaints of treatment and requests for an increase of salary were sent to the manager every day. It was acknowl- edged throughout the brotherhood that the members in Boston had greater cause for complaint than any others. No distinction IS made between the new and old members. New men are often shown more favors and given better salary than those who had been with the company twelve or fifteen years. He said there would be general strike throughout Massachusetts. Another source of complaint was the amount of sal ary received compared with that paid in New York. The average amount received in Bos- ton is $50 per month, while that in New York is much larger. After striking they will not go near the offices and will make no trouble. As they have plenty of money in
 
 are ready to stand long siege.
 BALTIMORE, July 16.-The telegrsphers in in this city are very reticent concerning the bill of grievances which was presented to the various companies to-day. All that can be learned is that they are and will be governed entirely by the executive board of the broth erhood. It is believed that an amicable set. tIement will be reached between the Balti- more and Ohio Telegraph company and the operators and that no strike will take place.
 LOUISVILLE, July 16.-In this city every operator employed by the Western Union con1- pany is prepared to quit work when the order to strike is issued. There are no operators in the city, nearly all of whom belong to the brotherhood. The management awaits or ders from headquarters. Everything is quiet but determined. The Baltimore and Ohio office is happy over the triumph of their demand being acceded to.
 PHILADELPHIA, July 16.-A prominent op- orator in the Western Union office here was asked this evening what were the probabil- ties of strike. He reported that they did not anticipate any strike. The operators had asked the Western Union company for a reduction in the hours of labor and 8 slight increase of salary. The executive committee of the brotherhood were received in 8 cordial manner by the Western Union officials and assured that their demands would ceive favorable consideration. The mere fact of making these demands
 
 follow if rejected. 'sWe do not anticipate rejection, however, as we have not asked anything unfair" When asked if strike was not to follow if the Western Union re- fused to accede to their demands he admitted that such was the case. Notwithstanding this gentleman is so sanguine of favorable settlement of their difficulties, it seems to be the prevalent opinion of operators here that they are thoroughly in earnest and are determined to obtain what they have demanded even if necessary to strike to do so. One of the oldest and most expert enced operators in the business, who has been member of a number of unions and leagues, gives it as his opinion that there will be trouble on Wednesday. He says the Western Union will not conoede anything until they are forced into 1t, that it has al- ways been the policy of the company to grind their employees down as low as possible The reduction that took place a ''sliding scale," was made without any excuse. The company had made more money that year than they ever made in any year before and the men who had worked faithfully for ten and twelve years for the company suddenly found themselves receiv- ing $5 or $1O less per month for doing the same work that they had been doing for years. The operators have not forgotten that injustice. They have been waiting for an opportunity. They are better or Ran1Zed than ever De1ore. IQey nave more money, and what is much better they have the sympathy of the public. His part ing words were: ''Take my word for it, if the Western Union does not comply with the demands made by the operators there will be the biggest row in this country that you ever saw. The boys mean business this time and don't you forget it."
 Telephone Men Threatening to Strike
 CHICAGO, July 16.-Right after the threat ened upheaval among the telegraphers comes a move among the telephone climbers, re- pairers and instrument men to quit work unless the Chicago Telephone company &C., cedes to their demand for reform. They ask that ten hours shall constitute days work, that double rates be paid for night and Sunday work. that overtime be reckoned at twenty six working days per month, that 25 per cent. increase of pay be allowed, pay able twice month, and that workm en shall not be compelled to purchase their VII uni forms. Should the company refuse these demands every man will stop work Wednes. day morning at 9 o'clock. The managers will probably refuse the requests as opera tors and messengers are not involved in the threatened strike.