The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-08-15
THE STRIKE.

THE STRIKE. !
PEN PICTURES OF The LEADERS OF
THE LABOR REVOLT.
The Men who Inaugurated the Great
Strike Against one Of the Great
est M0nopolies Of the Land.
The men who originated the telegraph
ers' brotherhood inaugurated the great
strike against that great monopoly, the
Western Union, and who first made it a
chapter of the Knights of Labor are John
Campbell and Thomas H. Hughes, both
of Pittsburg. Late in the fall of 1880 Mr..
Campbell talked the matter over with
Mr.. Hughes, and when the first of the
Of the year came round their plans had
been discussed over the wire with every
operator in the United States and Cana
da. John Campbell was born in Steu-
benville, Ohio, and is thiry-five years
old. He is five feet eight inches tall,
usually dresses in dark clothing, and
wears eyeglasses. His complexion is
dark; his hair and mustache are black.
He has prominent nose and black eyes.
He is well educated, and the tribute paid
him at the Chicago convention of the
Knights of Labor, of Honest John
Campbell is a sufficient description of
him, if his career as telegrapher is ex-
pected. He has been an operator for
fourteen years, and for six years sent
press stuff from Pittsburg. He has the
reputation of being one of the most rapid
and accurate senders in the United States
and never was known to have break"
except on "plug," as poor operator is
termed.
Thomas Hughes, Campbcll's coadjutor,
was born near Pittsburg in 1858. He is
tall, dark complexion and youthful look
ing. He wears small, dark mustache.
He is called the thinker" of the brother
hood and recently was entitled by his
admirers the Second Napoleon" Itwas
he who, seven months ago, sent the word
over the wires that if the companies did
not accede to the demands of the opera
tors strike would be inaugurated, and
he also personally communicated with
every telegrapher in the country. 1t is
to him that the operators were account
able. He is finely educated and capital
speaker. He, together with Mr.. Camp
bell, signed the first call for the brother
hood to meet at the Chicago convention
of the Knights of Labor held in 1881.
John S. McLellen is the next most active
man in the organization. He was born
at St. GATHERINGS, Ontario, and is thirty
one years old. He is light in complexion,
five feet ten inches tall, and, like brother
Campbell, wears eyeglasses, which give
him an austere appearance. He is en-
dowed with singular will power and his
personal appearance at nlass-meetings is
always the signal for an outburst of ap-
plause. He has studied medicine and
now holds diploma as an NJ. D., though
he has never practiced. He has been an
operator for twelve years. His residence
is Hoboken, New Jersey, at which place
he has been the state press operator. He
is very rapid at both sending and receiv-
ing, and was never known to "break." "
He is an excellent speaker, and his ad-
dresses at the meeting at Caledonia and
Irving halls have been listened to with
marked attention and greeted with ap-
plause He is also the chairman of the
executive board of the Knights of Labor.
John Mitchell, the master workman Of
New York, was born at st. Johns, New
Brunswick. and is thirty-three years old.
He is little man but one of the best
operators in the world. He was at the
New York end of the cable for many
years. Up to the 26th of last May he was
in the employ of the Western Union, but
when the word came he went out and
started a paper called the 7slegraphcrs'
Ad,oca.e. Since then he has been q
jealous advocate Of their interests, and
| in May last was made the head of the
movement in New York. He has pre-
sided over all their meetings, and il
considered to he the best man for the
position. He is well educated man
and wields great influence over the
strikers, one of whom said, 1--WE love
him as brother, respect him as man
and revere him Us a leader" He was the
man who caused all the male telegraph
ers in the country to pledge Themselves
to refrain from intoxicating drink, and
to him is due the fact that so far not one
case of drunkenness has been reported
Frank R. Phillips, the man who gave the
signal for the strike, is stout, sturdy
youth of twenty-five, and is called "Pud'
for short. He was born in Canada, and il
well educated. He has no hair on hit
face, and might easily be mistaken for 9
well fed doctor Of divinity. These ART
the men who control the $4,000 operators
throughout the United States, but Al
they are only branch organization, 9
description of the men who control them
and SO9, 600 others, will also be of inter
est. T. v. Powderly, the grand master
workman of the Knights of Labor, il
Mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, AZ
office that he has held for three terms
He has been grand master workman fol
three years. He is typical American
and is forty three years old In person
he is tall and commanding, and wears .
long and flowing mustache. He lisa goot
speaker, uses everyday language, ant
knows when to sit down. David Healey
the next highest member OF the organi
zation has earned the title of honorable
by being elected to the legislature Of New
York state. He is q six-footer of fint
address. His complexion is dark and
thick brown mustache ornaments hi
upper lip. He is q good speaker, and
knows how to infilse into his audiences
the enthusiasm which animates him.
Women as Workers.