Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-07-21
The STRIKE.
The Situation Unchanged
The Operators Firm and
the Company Ditto.
Many Western Offices Comfort
ably Taking Care Of
Business.
The Brotherhood Appoint Committee
to Look After Their Interests.


graph operators simply exercised legal and
moral right which belongs to all dissatisfied
people working in a free country. So far
they have kept within the bounds of law and
propriety, and pursued course which en-
titles them to that popular sympathy which
they have ever received.
The Herald condemns the order of Eckert
that messages are to be taken subject TO de
Law and to mailing en- route if necessary, and
says the Western Union has no right to i'm
pose such conditions. Neither notice or con-
dition is binding. The company is legally
bound to carry on its business without serious
int. rruption; to receive all messages offered
and transmit them with reasonable prompt
ness. 1t cannot, in the way attempted. lift
the disastrous consequences Of a strike from
itself.
The Times says that the Western Union
Telegraph company, by its cavalier treat
ment of the executive committee of the
brotherhood of telegraphers, has succeeded
in throwing the sympathy of the public
wholly on the side of the operators.
The Tribune thinks the telegraphers should
have awaited the result of further arbhra-
ton before resorting to strike. 1t consid-
ers the demands of the operators unreason-
able and that they have made a foolish mis-
take.
The World says the strike yesterday was
an unfortunate affair; unfortunate for the
employees, because at the time the strike
occurred the Western Union committee was
prepared to listen to their complaints and
make concessions which would doubtless
have led to a settlement; unfortunate for the
business interests of the country, which suf-
fered severely from partial interruption of
telegraphic communication less unfortunate
for the company than others in interest, be-
cause they were able to continue business
with less delay than was thought possible,
considering the extent of the strike. 1t re-
counts the different forces at work in the
country, and says from these facts it appears
the strike has not been success except in
impeding facilities.
The Sun espouses the cause of the strikers,
and says the quiet and systematic proceed
ings of yesterday gave an illustration of the
power of the brothyrhood.
The Weston Union bankers and merchant
companies are the only companies receiving
messages at the stock exchange and are sub.
Ject to the conditions imposed regarding de-
lays, etc. Yesterday the Baltimore & Ohio
and Mutual Union were not receiving mes
sages at the stock exchange office. Intelli-
gence received from the striking operators
headquarters, this morning, shows the situa-
ti0n unchanged. Western Union officials do
not regard the situation as alarming, and
seem to think the men will return to work in
few days. In the meantime, it is said
operators are being brought from large cities
or Canada.
Everything is quiet at the Western Union
building today. The manager of the operat-
ing room reports that every principal wire in
the office is manned by a competent opera
tor. Constant accessions of operators are
being received and there is no delav of any
kind of business.
The cable wire suffered no stoppage or in
terruption. Supt. Cowry of Chicago reports
the situation improving rapidly.
The striking telegraph linemen held a
meeting this morning. 1t was stated that
there were about four hundred linemen in
this city and vicinity who were on a strike.
The telegraph companies were badly crippled
and the Western Union brought into the city
a gang of twenty-five linemen from the coun-
try districts. These were met on their
arrival by strikers and persuaded to attend
the strikers meeting this morning, where
they were initiated into the organization.
1t was stated that word had been received
fro Chicago that 275 linemen of that city
had gone on strike from the Western
Union office. 1t was claimed the office had
six operators, and these were being worked
day and night All the city offices were re-
ported closed, and reports from other cities
shows the situation everywhere the same. 1t
was the general opinion among the strikers
that the trouble would last only few days ;
that the companies would be obliged to con-
cede to everything. 1t was claimed that
not more than quarter of the operators re-
ported to be at work could receive or trans
nit messages.
The chief of the cable service reports that
there is no delay there. Eleven city offices
are reported re-opened this morning.
Jay Gould said that they did not propose
to recognize any committee Of the brother
hood, and if employees of the company per-
sisted in their present action they would not
get cent. They had already made fools of
themselves and would realize it before long
BosToN, July 20.
The superintendent of the Western Union
Telegraph COMPANY here. states that some
new accessons to the Office force have been
made, and by night about sixty operators will
have been secured as against forty yester-
day. force Of thirty are now at work in
the Boston Office None of the Eastern
offices are closed, but all are short handed.
NEW HAVEN. July 90
The operating force consists of the chief
operator and one lady, the railroad opera-
tors refusing to do Western Union business
HARTFORD, July 20.
The telegraph operators position remains
unchanged practically, only the manager and
chief operator being in attendance.
SPRINGFIELD. Mass, july 20.
The telegraphic situation remains nm. D..
changed with the exception of an addition of
two operators from the country to the force.
The strikers remain firm.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, July 20.
The Western Union Office here has re.
ceived number of more operators TODAY.
and business is being forwarded as fast as il
Is received 10 all points not crippled.
The strikers maintain an excellent denort-
ment They continue active in trying to
persuade working operators to join them.
The Western Union subcommittee was in
session again today. but nothing was done
that would be divulged. An official stated
positively that the company would not Weld.
but would fight it out to the bitter end.
Erastus Ulman, president of the Great
North Western Company. which controls
nearly all or the Canadian lines, said TODAY
that concession to strikers was simply inn.
possibility: to increase compensation would
be to destroy all profits. This was because
Parliament regulated the rate ut which me,-
sages we're sent in Canada. They EMPLOYED
about 1000 men and half of these were on the