Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-16
A WAR OTHE BITTER END
GEN. ECKERT AGAIN IGNORES
THE STRIKERS.

The Men Fling Back Their Defiance and
Profess a Determination to Fight
1t Out-Gould UphOlds Eckert-The
Strikers Referred to Their Superin-
tendents for Terms.
NEW YORK, August 15.-At noon to-
day committee of six striking oDera-
tors formerly employed by the Western
Union Telegraph Company waited on
Gen. Eckert and asked for an inter-
view, which was granted.
The committee said they represented
the Morse operators, the Wheatstone
operators and the linemen in the employ
of the Western Union, but that their call
was not to be considered as weakening
ON the part of the Brotherhood. Their
purpose was to inquire upon what terms
the men would be taken back into ser
vice.
Gen. Eckert said he would recommend
that those now out should apply to their
respective Superintendents as to terms for
the resumption of work.
The Executive Committee of the Wes-
tern Union Telegraph Company met
to-day. Among those present were jaw
Gould, Geo. Gould, Russell Sage. CYRUS w.
Field, Harrison Durkee and General Eek
ert. Routine business only was transact
ed, and no reference was made to the
strike.
After the meeting the committee held
an informal conference in regard to the
application of the committee of the
strikers to General Eckert and heartily
indOrsed his action in referring them to
their superintendent for information as
to the terms upon which they will be taken
back.
The following letter was brought to the
Associated Press office this afternoon.
dated at the Manhattan Hotel and ad
dressed to the Associated Press:
NEW YORK, August 10, 1888.
Ur. Thomas +. Eckert, General .Hoad0ey
and Acting President of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, Nelc York:
SIR-On the 10th of July the Executive
Board of the Brotherhood of telegraph
ers waited on you and presented a peti-
tiOn on behalf of the employees of your
company, requesting your cOnsid-
GRAFTON of grievances which they de-
sired to have redressed. You
stated at that time that you
could not recognize the right of that board
to speak for your employees, and have
since repeatedly asserted your willing
ness to receive committee composed of
senting any organization. Believing that
you were sincere in your desires so
to act an Independent committee of
operators and linemen, representing
your employees in three of the most
important cities. called on you
to-day for the purpose of effecting an
amlcable settlement of the existing diff
cultles. Your reception of that commit
tee was, to say least, arrogant and decided,
hiG~nG f1l nd fIo,.
dence on your part, of desire to treat
with the gentlemen who waited on you.
Your action to-day will readily show to
the public that the company has no inten-
tion to deal justly by its employees or the
public, and it Will he still fur
ther apparent that in yOur
avOwed desire to treat with the employees
individually you have no other object in
view than to break up the Brotherhood,
thereby denying the right of wOrkingmen
to combine for mutual protection, and i'm
order to discriminate against those whom
you may be pleased to regard as the lead
ers III the movement. Since all our at
ten pts to effect reconciliation
have proved futile, we now
desire to state that it is the intention of
the members of the Brotherhood to ignore
your ultimatum, and carry on the fight
with renewed yigOr and determination by
every legitimate means in our power. BY
order OF the Executive Board. Respect
fully yours,
''ISigned JOHN CAMPBELL
Although this document came in an
irregular way, was characterized by
some erratic spelling and was written in
cramped hand, entirely unlike the free
and usually handsome chrographv pc.
culiar to telegraph operators, there is
little doubt that it is authentic.
Master Workman Campbell saws to-
night that there are no signs of weaken
ing on the part of the Brotherhood. not
WlthstandIn5 the numerous reports to the
contrary. Encouraging dispatches were
received this afternoon and evening from
all parts Of the country. A call for finan.
cial assistance will be sent to all
labor and trade organizations throu ghOut
the country, and enough money will be
raised, it is expected, to enable them to
carry on the fight as long as may be nee
essary. At the Western Union office to-
night 1t was stated that eleven strikers
applied for work during the day, and that
all OF them had been employed. No more
wires have been reported cut.
The Western Union officials said this
morning that everything was remarkably
quiet, and that the wires were not
tampered with last night, and that con-
sequently there was no delay in getting to
work this morning. They also stated that
business was increasing every day, and
that they were able to handle it promptly.
Notwithstanding all the reports to the con
trary. The attitude of the Western Union
Company remains unchanged with regard
to the strike, and there is now, apparently,
very little prospect that the Brotherhood
VIII OBTAIN what 1t has demanded.