National Republican., 1883-07-20
The Telerrnnhrrn, strike.


The Tolcgrnphcrs' Strike.
1t appears to be one of the laws governing
the relations between employers and ON
ployed that each must instantly assume the
hostility of the other, in advance, whenever,
from any cause, o change is sought in the
measure of compensation or the hours of
labor. In homoly phrase, each side "gets
mad" at any suggestion from tho othor that
it is desirable to discuss the question Of wages
or hours of work.
On Monday last seven gentlemen, claiming
to be tho executive committee of the Brother
hood of Telegraphers, waited upon the acting
president of the Western Union Telegraph
company at New York, and, stating that they
represented the employees of that company,
presented petition for an increase of COM
pensation and reduction of the hours of
labor The paper was in respectful terms,
aud the manner Of its presentation and re-
ception entirely courteous But the head of
the telegraph company told his visitors that
he was not acquainted with them, and had no
evidence that they represented others. He
was told by them that they could obtain the
signatures of the companys employees, but
that this would require time and detain them
in the city to their Inconvenience. And thus
the interview terminated.
On Wedno day the executive committee of
the telegraph company met and appointed
subcommittee of three to hear any grievances
that might bo presented by employees, and
recommend what action ought to be taken
thereon. The communication of the COM
mittee of the brotherhood was not treated as
emanating from employees, or as authorized
posed to be waiting to hear any complaint
which operators may have to make. Mean
while, at noon Of yesterday, the main body of
the operators throughout the country marched
out from the telegraph Offices, leaving the
company to fill their places as best it could,
or to recognize the committee Of the brother
hood as their representatives, aud to accede
to the demand made by them In the opera.
tors behalf.
The brotherhoodappear to be secret organ
ization, and the powers it confers upon the ex,
ecutive committee are absolute. That is to
say, the committee has power to order a
strike, or to make terms; and without con-
sultation with any other authority or any
preliminary report to the order, it can cause
operators to leave work and to resume it, ac-
cording to the situation it creates, Thousands
of men employed in important work, on the
pay Of which they and those de-
pendent on them subsist, are mere automa'
tons in the hands of the Council Of
Seven. If tho demands made had been
agreed on by the order in general assembly
as is probably the case, of course the sever
would not have power to change them. But
it is very evident that in the execution o.
the will of the brotherhood the committee is
without any restraint. We mean to say that
in attempting to secure the desired benefits fol
operators, the committee decides unaided al
questions of policy. 1t can use no diplomacy
or force. 1t has not seemed to keep thu
blow very far behind the word. Th,
papers were filed with assurances tina
mands of the brotherhood were instantly
complied with There could be no surer way
to shut the door against readjustment. Re
quests may be granted demands have to bC
enforced. When requests are accompanied
with demonstrations which give them th
seeming of demands backed by threats, th
peaceful move for treaty, there is u deular-
alton of war. The operators would have
placed themselves in better situation if the.
had deprived the Western Union company o
the power to question the authority of theil
committee by some clear evidence of thei
representative capacity, and had approached
the subject of readjustmont as though it wa
a subject for both sides to settle instead o
one. The question which tho public viii
consider is not whether the operators asl
what is reasonable, but have they asked it il
n reasonable way.
Arbitration is the enlightened way to set
tie labor disputes, and arbitration is a goo
deal easier got at before than after per
emptory demand, followed by a strike. w
shall now see whether the Western Union
company will have the wisdom to offe
amnesty before resorting to black lists, an
whether, in doing SO, it will adopt ton
which will encourage better understanding
instead of intensifying the quarrel. There
o medium between bulldozing and being bull
dozed. A great corporation can afford t
: strike that medium.
Dana on Tnden.
Mr.. Dana has seemingly turned poor ol
Mr. Tilden out to grass. The Kentuck