The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-07-19
LIGHTNING STRIKERS.
Thousands Of Telegraph Operators Va
cate Their Desks.
Their Organization and Memorial to
the Company.
Reply and Stand Taken on the Part Of
the Company.
The Situation as Viewed by Those
Interested.
Determined to "Strike Till the Last
Armed Foe Expires"
The Quiet Manner and Gentlemanly
Conduct Observed.
Tho Cifuoffnn Far md Near
The Quiet Manner and Gentlemanly
Conduct Observed.
The Situation Far and Near.
Inside Views of the Matter.

CQaU las Deeu hWdlIeu ny Iuc IIoeucIhoou
of Telegraphers, for the past few days, from
the chief of the brotherhood, went like q
flash throughout the United States, com.
manding that all members OF the
brotherhood vacate their desks, and
it is estimated that within
almost the twinkling of an eye 10000 opera,
tors were arrayed in one of the greatest
strikes the world ever saw. At the Western
Union Office here eleven Of the operators,
mem bers Of the brotherhood, all OF whom
were on the night force, walked out of the
office leaving nine operators, two of whom
are lady operators. They walked about
the city part OF the day going in body,
but later spreading and went their way
to their various places of abode.
they were very gentlemanly IN their de-
stain from intoxicating drinks. which
strikers usually indulge in on such occa-
sions. When approached by the reporters
thew said that they had nothing to say, but
simply awaited further orders from
the Headquarters OF the brotherhood
and stated that the strike was not
accompanied bv any malice towards the
Western Union company, but that they
were simply fighting for what they deemed
was hung out in front of the office of the
western on'0n NOTICE
Operators on a strike. All business done at
the senders risk. "; n BAkEh,
The following is an official statement from
the executive officers of the Brotherhood oil
Telegraphers, concerning the difficulties ex-
isting between telegraph companies and
their employees, which was posted on the
cali board of the Merchants Exchange yes.
terday at noon, and which were distributed
here and there. The statement reads:
On Monday, July 10th, the executive
board Of the Brotherhood OF Telegraphers
of the United States and Canada pres ented
United atates and Canada a memorial
placing before the companies the
grievances of the operators and
employees generally, and petition
ing for the redress of the same,
The companies to whom the memorial was
prese nted embrace the following. In
Canada, the Great Northwestern and the
Mutual Union; in the United states. the
Western Union, Mutual Union, American
Rapid. Baltimore & Ohio (commercial),
New York American District and the New
York Mutual District Telegraph com
panies; also, the Metropolitan Telephone
company OF New YORK, and the Chicago
reiephone company OF Chicago.
The bills Of grievances are as follows:
AMERICAN COMMERCIAL INTERESTS,
SEQ 1. Believing that mans physical
mental wTllare requires that at least one
day in seven be accorded MN ior rest ana
recreation, we ask for the total abolition OF
Sunday work as a compulsory duty, unless
compens sated as xtra service;
SEC That eight hours shall constitute
regular day's work, and seven hours reg.
Mar nights work, and that both sexes shall
rroeiye equal pay for equal work.
SEC 3. That universal increase OF 10
per cent. Oh ali salaries paid, shall be peti-
Toned now for.
CANADIAN COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
The memorial of the Canadian commercial
telegraph employees, is identical with that
preseni ed by the American employees, with
fired oompensation for Sunday WORK OF
forty cents per hour; section 3, that salar-
ies now paid shall be increased according TO
the following schedule: Employees now re-
c.lyipg $65 per month and upward, l0 per
cent increase; employees receiving from
s45 10 400 Der month. 70 per cent. Increase,
employes receiving $35 10 $45 per month,
9o per cent increase; and tnat the loves,
salary paid shall be s35 per month. This
appIies 10 all practical telegraphic en-
Moves. such as operators, clerks and line
men.
The American Memorial asks for the
linemen, that eight hours shall constitute
DAYS work; that compensation at the rate
of two day's pay shall be allowed Tor all
sunday work; that the lowest salary paid q
regular linemsn shall be S65 per month and
for helpers $50 per month, and that the
duties OF linemen shall be confined solely
to their legitimate work.
The American Memorial petitions on be-
hall of the fir-t class Wheatstone operators,
thar they shall be paid at the rate OF $75
per month, and for the second class opera
Tors $50 per month; that their working
hours shall be the same as the Morse oper'
ators. This completes tne several Memor-
sis' (Ihe first-class Wheststone operators
are st the present time receiving but $50
nor month, and the second-class operators
mi AGO.
The members Of the Brotherhood claim
r., ,hetr ORGANIZATION il the result of the
,yrsnioal and unjust treatment meted out
~ them during the past ten years, and
,hst their demands are not unreason BILE,
-, view of the systematic reductions that
bsvs been forced upon them at different
time, by the Western Union Telegraph
nary which fxes the standard oi
conp a The United States and
C.a. Tbsx give the follow.
-. a,,,..tivs fac,s- in rupport OF
-, r7s,ms. Betvekp the years
iszo and Is74. tso general reductions took