Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-17
THE TELEG:RAPHElIS.C CLAIMS.
Wh0t IL Known md Said in This City
OF the Impending Strike.

Of the impending Strike.
Very little can be learned In this city OF The
present status OF the claims OF the teegraphers
branch or circuit OF the brotherhood has been or
ganized here, 1t is stated and many operators
who have come here from other cities belonged
to the brotherhood before they came. The brother
nood as an organization is the successor OF the
telegraphers league, which existed when the
western Union operators struck In 1870.
WHAT THE MANAGER OF THE B. & o. OFFICE SAYS
Major W. II. Clarke, the manager OF the Balti-
more and Ohio Office. said to q STAR reporter to.
DAY that little would be known here, probably,
until general order came from the telegraph
companies making the changes asked " the
brotherhood, or an order came from the executive
committee OF the brotherhood commanding q
strike.
ut has been rumored," said the reporter esthat
the Baltimore and Ohio company has acceded to
the demands made upon them"
II don't think that Is So" said Major Clarke,
10 take any steps until they knew whether the
been consulted In making this demand. They
p IN asHea f 10 know how Of their operators
they VIII grant the request and they will do it
Wlshout VIII ,s any nigglng think she demands made
sonn ate S Ihere m s no skilled iaoorer or profes
telegraphers 1t is work that requires
a. constant strain and soon wears them
the demand that ladies shall receive equal
pay Is especially just There are many ladies en-
skillful and efficient in every way as the men, but
because tsc use they are women they receive only half
"What will be the effect on the local offlces here
In case OF striker" asked the reporter.
~ is nard to say" said Major Clarke ''There
are fewer members OF the brotherhood here in
proportion to the number OF operators, than in
any other city. That is principally on account OF
tne iact that many OF the best men are men who
N Cfp oafNC
Major Clarke stated that the salaries Of B. & o
operators ranged from $s5 paid to skilled operators
to s PAID to BOYS nss side
'that the Baltimore and Ohio Company is q close
corporation that looks only after the interest OF
Cne stockholders. That is an erroneous impress
sion. for there Is no company that manifests SO
mucn interest In It's employees or allows them so
many privileges Major Clark thought that all the
Western Union, would be inclined to grant the de.
mands OF the brotherhood
SAID AN OLD OPERATOR,
who was prominent In the strike OF 1870: II they
strike this time there will be Tophet to pay In
New York. You see, the operators have got the
line men with them. In 1870 it was as much as
and two or three others could do to prevent wires
being cut. Now, If they strike In New York In
one nlght, oy using fine wires to connect one wire
with another, they can cut the city OF from tele-
graphic communication with the whole world
ana IL VIII take a week to find out what is the
a STAR reporter ''0A'N
s.'Because the operators found cut thatthey had
reported that they had been discharged because
they resisted reduction OF salary and it turned
Out that there had been no reduction but the dis
charges we're made on account OF the drunken
time"
THERE ARE ABOUT 100 OPERATORS
employed in this city, over half OF whom are
employed by the Western Union company. The
operators in the government offices are rated as
government clerks, and are therefore not per.
Sonally concerned in the threatened strike
WHAT WESTERN UNION MAN SAYS.
Mr.. Moreen. Of the Western Union telegraph
company, stated to STAR reporter this morning
that he knew nothing OF the threatened strike ex-
cept what he has read in the papers. He did not
think there would be much trouble In the Western
Union 0n1ce here, even IL a strike was ordered
Most OF the men were conservative and, he
thought opposed to strike. The best operators
ln the once mere received salaries ranging from
E5 to 500. Mr.. Moreen thought the operators had
just grievance In regard to Sunday work. Nine
tenths OF the dispatches sent on Sunday were un-
necessary. He thought It would be good plan
ior tne company to charge double rates for all
and to pay the operators double rates for working
on that day. He was sure that in case OF q strike
th there would De less number to quit work here
than In other Cities but it would, OF course stop
business here the Offices In other cities were not
open to receive dispatches
WILL THERE BE STRIKE TOMORROW?
1t was reported on the street to-day that the
operators would strike ct II o'clock tomorrow IL
their demands are not complied with One opera-
tor, not employed by any company, assured STAR
reporter that that was true, but 1t was impossible
TO get any definite Information from operators
companies yesterday requested a reply, not in
fortyeght hours, but "aS early as possible II is
thought that no day has been fixed upon for
strike