New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-18
lead one to expect. The company cannot afford to
recognize the Brotherhood at all"
PREPosTERoUs DEMANDS

PREPOsTERoUS DEMANDS.
General Somerville was in high glee over Vice
President Eckerts request in his interview with
the committee of the Brotherhood, for the names
of the Western Union employees whom it
claimed to represent. "H the organization
is as powerful it claims to be- couldn't protect
the men from the vengeance the company might
try to wreak on them p he asked. "They ought to
have had the list ready, as to be able to furnish
it in day. General Somervillc said that it was
even doubtful whether the Executive Conlmitte of
the company would consider that any request
whatever had been received from the employees.
There was authority to show that the Brother
hoods committee spoke for the operators He contin
ued Look at the preposterous demands made for
the linemen. The company is asked to give them
two days pay whenever they work on Sunday.
Wouldn't that tend to make the men slur the
work to be done on Saturdays so as to obtain the
extra pay for Sunday work For weeks the line
men have nothing to do, but it is only reasonable
that when repairs or connections are to be made
they should keep on till the work 10 finished
Then take the general advance of 10 per
cent asked for That wonld really
give the high-priced operators more important
advance than would be received by the mon who
got only $50 or $50 month. have reason to be-
lieve that many of the who joined the Brother
hood did so with the understanding that the move
ment for higher pay would not be carried to the
extremity of strike. i have BEEN told so by sew.
eral members that have talked to. For that rea-
sou do not believe that the Brotherhood could count
on as much support, should strike be ordered, as
some Of the members are claiming. Thcn the proper
ton of married men among the operators is greater
to-day than it was in the strike of 1870 Those mon
would be loath to 60 out. If they remained with
the company they would share In any advance that
might be obtaned; if the strike failed. they would
have saved their salaries Of course IL is impossible
to say what service the company could render in
case of strike; that would depend upon how many
operators left their instruments We
arc receiving numerous applications from per-
sons who have learned telegraphy for positions
in case strike occurs Not few from the young
ladies graduated from the Cooper Union School Of
Telegraphy. Should strike occur believe one
third of force would remain. and think that In
two days we would be working with half our
force"
When asked as to tho probability of the Baltimore
and Ohio Telegraph Company yielding to the
Brotherhood w. c. Humstone. the superintendent
of the Western Union. said: John w. Garrett
is not the kind of man to surrender TO
demand. In some respects it might be good
speculation for the company. But in case tho ad-
vance was granted don't you SOC that the wages OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad operators will
have to be advanced. and many of them do the
commercial business at the railroad stations Of tho
road
Have you done any figuring on the terms Of in
crease asked by the Brotherhood ~ continued Mr..
Humstone. Taking the 10 per cent advance In
wages and the reduction in the hours of labor. the
minimum increase would be 81 and the maximum
increase 78 per cent"
WHOM DOES THE COMMITTEE REPRESENT
A well-known director of the Western Union
Company said that the company had taken no
action in regard TO the demands made by the
oprators. 1--WE want to know first" he remarked,
"who it is that we are dealing with. We don't
know ything about this comnittee-whetber
it represents any large part of our operators
or not. Its claim that It is backed by
10000 or $4,000 of them is absurd. We
have not had complaints that would indicate
so general dissatisfaction. We are making adavnces
in grade and pay every week. The promotions are
made on merit-that is the only test. Why, the
committee which has the charge of these matters
has had two meetings this week, aud at the
one to-day 1t advanced the pay OF at least
twenty men. We are continually doing this
No, before do anything with this committee
we must know the names of those whom II repre-
sents OF course, cannot say whether there will
be strike not, but IN my opinion
there is very little probability OF 1t. The
Il
Wall Street specuiatOrs who hoped TO affect the
price of the stock That is the rumOr have heard,
and believe that there is good foundation for It,"
Contrary to the statement published In most OF
the ne newspapers yesterday, the Executive Commit
ice of the Telegraphers' Brotherhood WAS received
on Monday. not by Messrs. Bates. Tinker, Merrlhew
and Hunsone, as we'll as General Eckcrt. but, as
The TRIBUNE stated, by General Eckert alone. The
telegras purportng 10 be from ex-Governor Cornell
and +. L. Ames, published In me Heratd are oinclay
received from those Western Union directors on
the telegraph situation or any other subject.
FEELING AMONG THE OPERATORS.
The feeling among the operators is one OF intense
excitement over the possible strike, and knots OF
telegraph men were to be found yesterday at all
their favorite places of resort, discussing the out
look The feeling is almost universal that strike
cannot be averted, though there few sanguiIe
spirits who still pretend to believe that the trouble
will be settled without the necessity OF
extreme measures. The committee re-
manned pretty closely about their headquar-
ters in the Manhattan Hotel all day and
held frequent consultations with prominent mem.
bers of the Brotherhood. In the afternoon II held
a secret sessioD, the result OF which was not made
public There were a good MANY runors current
as TO the probable action OF the COMMITTEES to-day
One operator, who spoke as II well informed.
said: "Thc committee will 90 to the Western
Union offices at tomorrow and as soon as the
Executive Committee of the Western Unioa Com
pany has concluded it's meeting. will ask for an
answer to the petition. Should the company pro-
pose a compronisc it will be considered Tomorrow
night and a decision reached by Thursday morning.
Wnile we all think the demands are only just and
reasonable the coiamittee may be willing 10 make
cOmprOmse points. On the other hand, IL tho
answer is an unqualified refusal. all the members OF
the brotherhood throughout the country VIII be
ordered to quit work at once"
Another operator stated that the committee would
not wait until after the meeting of the Western
Union Executive Committee. but would demand an
answer at III o'clock Washington time. III the de-
mands were not all granted they would order a
strike immed lately.
BOUND TO HAVE PROPER TREATMENT.
downtown member of the Brotherhood said
"The men have been preparing for this trouble for
a innA faaI fhat fha MI