The Portland daily press., 1883-07-21
oomments of the Press


Comments of the Press.
New York, July 20--The Herald says of
the telegraphic strike: So far they have kept
within the bounds Of law and proprety, and
pursued course which entities them to the
popular sympathy, which they have evidently
received. The Herald condemns the order of
Gen. Eckert, that messages are to be taken
subject to delay and to mailing enroute, II
necessary" and says: "The Western Union
has no right to impose such a condition. nei-
ther the notice nor the condition is binding.
The company is legally bound to carry on its
business without serlons interruption, to re-
ceiye all messages offered and TO transmit
them with reasonable promptness. 1t cannot,
Ia the way attempted, shift the disastrous con-
sequences Of the strike from itself to the pub
lic,p
The Tribune says: III the Brotherhood of
Telegrapbers had compiled with the require
ments of their own constitution ii is probable
that the present strike would have been avert
cd. One of the provisions OF that document
Is that "no strike can be instituted until after
an attempts at arbitration have ialied.' Ii
the telegraph operators have substantial griev-
anees, there is no doubt that fair presenta-
uon oi their case would meet with considerate
treatment by the managers OF the various tele-
graph companies. But the course pursued by
the operators has been reckless and unwise,
and In direct antagonism to the constitution OF
their association. Instead OF making an at
the door against 1t. As a whole the demands
OF the operators was unreasonable and was es-
pecially Objectionable in the way that it was
presented. There is nothing In the condition
OF business TO warrant such large advance in
wagesand the strikers will undoubtedly soon be
convinced OF the fact. In the meantime, public
business suffers slight inconvenience, bat that
will not long continue. Strikes are a moor way
Of settling disputes, and without public SYM
pathy rarely succeed. In the present case the
txIsA haya ada d fnnifah rniQ
sake, which they will no doubt long regret,
The Times says: "The Western Union Tel
egraph Company, by its cavalier treatment OF
the executive committee OF the Brotherhood OF
Telegraphers has succeeded in throwing the
sympathy of the public wholly on the side OF
the operators. No one can read the statement
OF the case by the executive committee with
ont feeling that the operators had a very sub
stantial grievance. The company has been Pc
riodically screwing down the wages OF its em-
ployes to lower aud lower figures The opera
tors did not wish to leave the employ ment, bat
to be fairly treated in it.
The only means of securing a redress of their
wrongs was TO form powerful organization
and act together. This they had right to do,
and we're justified in doing, and refusal to
recognise that organization and its authorized
agencies was q 70 usG. to entertain the COM
plants and to redress the grievances OF the op-
orators. The company put itself in the wrong
IN taking this course. Meantime the compa-
nies have their obligations to the public. I'm
der their chartered privileges they are bound
to carry on the business of transmitting mes
sages, and we know of no reason why the OBJ
legations of common carriers should not legal
ly apply to them. They should put themselves
without delay in position to perform TO the
full the functions for which they are chartered
by whatevers means may be necessary.
The World says: The telegraph operators
strike yesterday was an unfortunate affair
Unfortunate for the employees, because at the
moment the strike occurred a Western Union
committee was prepared to listen to their COM
plants, and to make concessions which would
doubtless have led to a settlement; unfortunate
for the business interests of the country, which
suffered severely from the parti1 interruption
OF telegraphic communication. Less unfoTtu-
nate for the companies than for any others in
interest, because they were enabled TO continue
business with less delay than was thought pos
slble, considerin the extent of the strike" 1t
recounts the different forces at work in the
country, and says: From these facts it appears
that the strike has not been a success, except
in temporarily impeding the facilities
The Sun says: "Whatever may bs the re-
OF the gigantic telegrapers' strike thai was be.
gun at noon of yesterday in this city and else
where, the proceeding was as orderly, syste-
matte and quiet as the preparations for it had
been, and the brotherhood Cf TelegrapherS
gave an illustration OF their continental power,
at once interesting to philosophers and instruc-
tive to corporations. As in military history,
the train bands OF the middle ages were super
seded by colossal armies of modern times, so in
industrial history the petty local strikes OF 9th
er days have given way before continental
combinations like those of the railroad strikers
of 1877, and the telegraph strikers of yesterday
These things are significant to those who know
how to look into them, and their significance
will neither be Increased by the success nor di-
minished by the failure of the strikers of to-
day." 1t calls attention to the notice Of the
Western Union Company that all messages
must bs stamped with the word Accepted,
subject to mailing or other delay" and SAYS
there is necessity for watchfnlDess over
the company's business in this crisis since
the decision Of the general term oil the Su-
preme Court OF this State, in January last, in
the mandamus suit against the railroads grow
ing cut Of the freight handlers strike. The
Sun says: 1--WE do not think this will be a
long strike"