The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-18
THE TELE
THE OPERATORS MOVEMENT FOR
MORE PAY AND LESS WORK.
Comments OF the Northern and wost.
ern Press on the Situation.
ny telegraph 10 the Dispatch. I,


----
IBy telegraph 10 the Dispatch.l
NEW YORK, July 1.-THE executive COM
mttee OF the Western Union Teleeranb
Company will meet tomorrow. and tie pc
tifon OF the operators will then be brought
10 their consideration. One OF the officers
OF the company said to-day that ii was Inn
possible To say what action would be taken.
Inc general opinion was that the demand
was excessive and unreasonable. No action
has yet been taken by the Mutual Union,
the American. Rapid, or the Baltimore and
Ohio companies.
THE NEW YORK HERALD's VIEWS.
The Herald editorially says OF the threat
ened strike OF the Brotherhood Of Tele-
graphers that, "although their petition is
couched in respectful terms, II leaves an
impression Of asking too much. 1t re-
quests that days work be made eight in
stead ri nine hours, and nights work
seven instead OF eight hours-a reduction
OF one-ninth in one case and one-eighth in
the other. At the same time II wants all
the wages increased Is per cent, irrespec-
tive OF the age, skill, or position OF the
operator, besides extra compensation for
sunday work. The real effect OF these de-
mands will be best illustrated by an exam
pie: A day operator receives, say, S75
per month, or, counting nine hours 10
the day and six days to the week,
about thirty-fiye cents per hour.
Under the proposed rate monthly wages
will he SS6.25. A days work will be
eight hours during SIX days in the week.
or about forty-five cents per hour-an ac-
tual increase Of more than y per cent. In
regard to the WheatstOnc operators an in
crease OF s. per cent. is demanded. On
the whole, it may be doubted whether the
operators have presented strong case.
That evils exist cannot be questioned, but
they will not be remedied by the course
TAKEN"
AN UNwIsE AND UNwARRANTED MOVEMENT.
CHICAGO, July 1.-THE press comments
here regarding the threatened strike Of
telegraph operators, while kindly in tone
to the operators, are in opposition to the
proposed movement, which is regarded as
unwise and unwarranted.
The Times says: "All familiar with the
history OF strikes know that success in
striking against employers OF abundant
means and determination has rarely IL ever
been achieved. Such efforts commonly
lead 10 great loss and suffering among the
strikers and ultimate resumption OF work,
when allowed to resume, at rates atfordiDg
no recompense for the sacrifice. With
none but the kindest feelings for the ope-
rators, and without entering into the me-
rits OF their controversy with the telegraph
companies, the Times is constrained to be-
lieve that admitting the worst that can
be reasonably predicted in the way OF in
convenience to the business community
and OF the loss TO the companies, the only
really irreparable damage that can result
from the coming suspension Of work will
be to the operators themselves. They pro-
pose to throw away earnings amounting to
from $4,000 TO $4,000 per day, more or
less: and then, IL their utmost demands
should be conceded in the end, the in
crease OF pay they ask would hardly in one
wear make good the amount they will lose
| in month. The situation deserves calm
and judicial consideration, which there is
some reason to fear the mass OF operators
have not given it,"
! SENSIBLE TALK OF THE " INTER-oCEAN."
The Inter- Ocean saws: "The telegraph
operators are as body very intelligent
Young men. They should appreciate the
|
| in refusing to work at present rates. The
general tendency Of prices in the leading
commodities OF trade is downward. and
they should weigh well the chances OF
success or failure. They should scrupu-
lousy avoid making any unreasonable de-
mands. for the public will be impOrtunate
In calling for Geographic service. The
pressure for wireworking will be tremen-
4 T.. e, 81
storm OF last winter, brief and partial as
was the interruption resulting from il. cost
the public S1,000,000. One week OF sus-
pended communication by telegraph would
| be a crisis and render imminent the danger
OF panic. Businessmen. like children, are
afraid OF the dark. Those who propose to
strike should consider the public interest
as well as their own relations to the CON-
pany. As public servants, the operators
are an absolute necessity, and though they
NAV find sympathy in their grievances
now, a day or two OF suspension OF bust
ness will change that sentiment. They
may not be paid as much as they
think their services are worth. Very
few salaried men are-but they have had
no reduction in compensation, and it is a:
liberal as other men of equal abilities re-
! ceiye in other lines OF occupation. Inc
Western Union Company is determined tC
resist their demands to the end. This an
nouncement is made authoritatively. Ope
rators' grievances cannot justify these con
SEQUENCES, and they should not enter upor
a movement which can bring them no pos
sible good"
THE CHICAGO TELEPHONE WORKAEN Will
STRIKE TO-DAY.
CHICAGO, July 1.-THE officials OF the
telephone companies to-day sent for tn,
foremen OF their gangs Of repairers ant
linemen and asked what the men wanted
The foremen, in reply, referred them t
the Executive Committee OF Telegraphers
brotherhood. The officials refused to re
cognize that committee, and ii is stated
that at 4 subsequent meeting OF the men
was decided to strike at A. M. to-day.
4