The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-21
NEW YORK.
The Operators Quiet, but Actve-The Conn
panies Doing Business as Usual

The Operators Quiet, but Active-The Conn
panies Doing Business as Usual
New York, July 20-The striking tele-
graph linemen held meeting this morning.
1t was stated that there were about 800 line
men in this city and vicinity, all OF whom
were ON strike. The telegraph companies,
it was said, are badly crippled and last
night the Western Union brought into the
city twenty-five linemen from the country
districts. These men were met on their ar
rival by the strikers and persuaded to at
tend the strikers meeting this morning,
where they were initiated into the organza-
ton. 1t is stated that word has been receiv-
ed from Chicago that 275 in that city had
gone on strike. The linemen attended the
telegraphers' meeting later on.
At the latter gathering it was stated that
reports had been received from scouts who
had been watching the effect of the strike on
the companies. The Western Union office.
it was claimed, had but six good operators,
and these were being worked day and night
All OF the city offices were reported to be
closed, and reports from other cities showed
that the situation was everywher. the same
II was the general opinion among tile strikers
that the trouble would only last few days,
and that the companies would be obliged 10
concede everything The telegraphers' meet
ing was largely increased by operators who
had come here to confer with the strikers.
committee was appointed to devise
system for the disbursement OF Brotherhood
funds TO the needy. The disposition seemed
to be that nothing short of complete conces-
sion by the companies of their demands
would be accepted.
At the Western Union office force of
about $50 operators was at work. Apparent
ly about half the desks were occupied Su-
perintendent Dealy said the outlook was
very encouraging. The desks were being
gradually filed by new hands. They had a
full force, though not the regular number of
operators OF the ladies, seventy-tve out Of
the regular force OF l30 had remained faith
full. and they had succeeded in obtaining
about thirty-five recruits. About ohe-Guar-
ter OF the men were with them and their
wires were all working clear with the excep-
ton of Boston and some of the Southern
points where there was still some delay.
Communication with Brooklyn was found
TO be cut off this morning, the trouble being
the bridge. They expected 10 be able
to do all business brought in to
them to-day without any difficulty. Sumo
OF the new operators were ist-class men,
and many OF them were old operators who
had not been il the business for several
years.
The chief of the cable service reports that
there is no delay whatever there and that
everything is working satisfactorily.
W. B. Somerville said it was not true
that any OF the chief operators had gone out.
but that every one OF the twenty-five re-
NAMED at his post. The following city
Offices, he said, were re-opened this morning:
Fifth Avenue Hotel, Harlem Manhattan
vile, Beaver street, Windsor Hotel general
postoffice, Grand Central depot, Carmins.
vile; Stock Cotton, Produce and Maritime
exchanges and at some other points. 1t is
expected that more offices will be opened
during the day, to accommodate the public
The subcommittee was in session again to-
day, but nothing was done that would be di-
vulged. Mr.. Somervile stated positively
that the company would not yield, but
would fight it out to the bitter end. Eras-
tus Wyman, one of the Western Union di-
rectors, and president of the Great North
western company. which controls nearly all
the Canadian lines, said that so far as the
Canadian lines were concerned any compro-
mise and concession to the strikers was sim+
ply an impossiblity. TO increase the COM
pensation would destroy all profits. This
was because Parliament regulated the rate at
which messages were sent In Canada only
twelve offices paid salaries, and these were in
the large cities. All their other employees
worked on commission. They employed
about c, 900 men, and only half of these were
Oh a strike, and the only reason they struck
was because they were compelled to Join the
Brotherhood, and their co-operation
was secured by the operators in the
United States, In order to prevent importa-
ton from Canada, such as occurred in 1870
They had no gievance rs they were paid ex-
ira for all Sunday work and there had been
a constant increase in wages, instead OF re-
ducTion. lie had just received the following