Omaha daily bee., 1883-08-11
THE DAILY BEE~oMAnA, SATURDAY.. AUGUST II. 1883.

paid for at regular salary, ON the basis of
seven hours to a day.
This rule, although granting more than
the brotherhood are now ready to accept,
providing a compromise and recognition
of the brotherhood can be effected, at
that time was rejected without consider
alton, and the men were ordered out 10y
the brotherhood, with the promise that
their absence would block the business uf
the country to such an extent that the
Western Union would be forced to sur
render at discretion. SO great was the
reliance of the operators upon the wis
dom and integrity of their leaders, that
the most implicit confidence was placed
in their assurance of IN early success and
n restoration to their old positions ut in.
creased pay.
Since that time they have been daily
RECALLED with stories and promises, but
few of which have been fulfilled. 1t was
promised that all hands should 90 out,
and asserted that there were not men
enough in the country who knew the 4
b c of telegraphy to man the keys and
transact the business of the country.
Time proved that there were plenty of
operators in the country who, though Il
little rusty, could soon be broken in.
Step by step the places of the strikers
are being filled and the rusty fellows are
getting frightened up. Tho business of
the country has suffered some %inconven-
icnce, but no serious arrangement.
For n week or more the leaders of the
Brotherhood promised that the railroad
operators all over the country should 90
out and kept the strikers every day on
the Qui vive for that important event.
The order was finally issued, but scarcely
q score out of several thousand men
gave any heed to it.
Then they RECALLED the strikers with
startling stories, magnifying the troubles
they were giving the country and the tele-
graph companies. One day the story was
reported at all their meetings that Prcsi-
dent Green had cabled General Eek
ert to make n compromise with the
Brotherhood ut once. On another day
it was reported that General Manager
and Acting President Eckert had re-
signed. On another that Jay Gould and
General Eckert had INDUCED in a little
t"isticutf of their own; that the entire In
dianapolis force had struck a second time;
that all the chief operators in Chicago
would march out on n certain day; that
the Western Union did not dare remove
their notices ~''subject to delay" and
many others of a similar character, all of
which proved false.
Is it any wonder that the reporters
should say that the boys are growing
weary That Uhlich's Hall, instead of
l.,,. E11ol ~ -,ol,. .lll ..-
contain but scanty audiences! In fact,
considering the intelligent character of
the strikers, it is surprising that they
should have consented to be filed with
chatf and wind so long. 1t is well
known that most of the men who struck
were not very well provided with means
when they went out, and it is said the
leaders have not fulfilled their promises
to provide for their support. Some of
the strikers, though now in need, are
said to be too proud to apply even for
the little aid they could secure.
That the Brotherhood has been a sealed
mystery to the bulk of its membership is
well understood. The Executive com
mittees' hold their secret meetings and
then announce to the body of operators
"iit'NNSi OSih hSNNoSaig W. i'hN tii'i
together and give them courage to con
tinue "A contest that everybody else sees
to be hopeless. Is it not time that the
operators had begun to think for them
selves.
The struggle of the men who organ,
lied and brought about the strike,
to keep it alive is undoubtedly desper-
ate, for they will see thpt
if it fails their power is gone and
their leadership a thing of the
past. Little they think of the families of
the operators. Yet those families are
more directly Interested in the result
than anybody else. 1t would lie wise in
all fathers who have dependent families
to heed the ties of home and its wants
rather than the wordy promises of men
who are the mouthpieces Of ambitious
and selfish schemes. They owe Il duty
higher than to any voluntary order.
Their exhibition of devotion to what they
esteem their Brotherhood obligations has
been sufficient to excuse them in the eyes
of all honorable men from any further
sacrifice Of home duties.