The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-16
A Strike Considered Certain Unless
Their Demands Are Granted.
Hints that StOck-Jobbing May Be at the
Bottom of the Trouble-What Is
Said in New York.
AT HEADQUARTERS.

Origin and Strength of the brotherhood
The Basis of the Proposed Strike.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
PITTsBURG, Pa. July 15-The bill of griev-
ances of the Telegraphers Brotherhood has
been submitted by the order to its executive
committee, with power to act. The inter-
ested reports that have from time to time,
been printed during the past ten days, to the
effect that the Brotherhood was so easily
placated that no strike need be feared are
now known to have been without good foun-
dation, in so far, at least, as they indicated
| that there was no serious dissatisfaction
among the operators. 1t may be that strike
Will not be The outcome of the present agta-
| ton, and that the differences between the
| companies and their employees may be ami
cably adjusted; but if this should be the re-
suit it may be depended upon that it shall
only be achieved by the concession of the
Western Union to all the demands of the
Brotherhood. 1t is an unquestionable fact,
| as will appear later on in this article, that
| the Brotherhood is in position to enforce
every reasonable demand that it has
made, and to make this claim
it will probably be of interest to sketch
the inner history of this probably
the most compact and well-disciplined trades
| union at present in existence IN this country.
In 1876 by secret circular from the
Western Union executive committee all va
cancies occurring after that time we're filled
at So less per month than the salaries paid to
previous occupants of the position. In pur-
suance of this scheme, within six months, all
over the country, salaries were forced down
| to $40 and $50 per month for first-cass op-
| orators. About this time the manager of the
ST. Louis office gave wide circulation to
boast that he would be able to fill his office
with first-class men at $50 per month. This,
with the practical operation of the scheme
in other places, demoralized the profession,
and until 1878 it was next to impossible for
operators to mako respectable living out
of the desperation of the men grew the Tele-
graphers Protective Union. 1t was
more democratic than the league.
All power was localized in the cir
cults, as the assemblies were called.
At one time the numerical strength of the
union was placed at 5000 members, but as
they had no ceremonies to make the meet
ings interesting, and as they were without
clearly-defined object like that of the pres
ent organization, the membership gradually
fell away. The union went into a slow de-
cline, and eventually died from pure mac
| tivity
In 1881 the present brotherhood had its in
ception in this city, Seventeen operators met
together one Sunday afternoon and formed
| local secret organization. They met weekly.
| and their numbers steadily increased until
the bulk of the operators in this vicinity had
| Joined the society, which was incorporated
into the Knights of Labor as district assem-
| bly,. In January 1882, the Pittsburg assem-
bly, issued call to the telegraphers of the
United States and Canada for a convention
of telegraphers to be held in this cltv in
March, 1882 for the declared purpose of
forming an international telegraphers' organ
ization and the amalgamation of all existing
| telegraphers organizations into one grand
brotherhood The purpose of the brother
| hood was then declared to be, among other
| things, to secure for its members a proper
share of the wealth they created, more of the
| leisure that rightfully belonged to them,
and equal pay for both sexes for equal work.
On Monday March 20, 1882, the convention
met in this city, with more than one hun
dred delegates, representing brotherhoods in
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston,
ST. Louis, Buffalo, Cincinnati OIL City,
Chicago, Toledo Columbus, and many other
cities. Over 5000 operators were r~sie-
sented and strong letters of e-oouragement
and sympathy were ,evelved from New Or
lo.,.. c. .J,,stncisco Toronto Montraal apd
quebec. Mortimer D. Shaw of ST. Louis
was made president, and John Campbell, of
Pittsburg, secretary of the convention. The
platform adopted as basis of organization
at this convention opened the doors for all
operators male or female, in the United
States and Canada, above the age of eighteen
years. 1t declared the interests of the tele-
graph and railroad companies identical with
those of the men, and pledged the brother
hood to seek the cooperation of their en-
ployers in all their undertakings and
asked only proper recognition of their
rights. They deprecated strikes and avow ed
the surposes of the brotherhood to be to
preserve harmony between employer and
employees, so long as this could be done with
out undue sacrifices, The officers then
elected We're. Grand chief OPERATOR John
Campbell; grant assistant, ]. H. Vestal. of
Chicago; grand treasurer, John A. Hartman,
of Philadelphia; grand secretary. Thomas H.
Hughes, of Pittsburg. Subsequently
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
was adopted, which is now incorporated in
the bylaws of the order. These are:
First-Believng that mau's physical and
mental welfare requires that at least one day
! in seven be accorded him for rest and re-