Daily globe., 1883-07-23
No Strikers Need .Apply.
[Chicago Times.

lOIlASciSO A4u1SSsl
''We will take the strikers back" was the
dlcision of Col. R. G. Clowry, general
superintendent of the Western division,
which is all the territory west of Pennsyl-
vania, yesterday afternoon, to a Times
representative, "only, however on one con-
dition."
"What is that!"
"That they withdraw from the Brother
hood of Telegraphe1s."
"And do you think they will do it?''
1--WE do not care whether they will or
not. We are perfectly independent"
eff they made such stipulation, what
redress would they have in the future?"
Il don't care," Mr.. Clowry responded,
'what they could or what they could not
do. They did not show US any mercy. 1t
was matter of life and death with us, and
they left us-walked right out without
giving US minutes notice. Long before
the strike we had decreased the time of a
working day to nine hours, and given
them other concessions. Now their de-
mands are equal to 80 per cent. increase.
We could not pay it and we have chosen
the alternative. So have they, and they will
have to abide by it."
"1f they agree to withdray from the
brotherhood, would you accede to their de-
mands?"
"That I do not know; but what do
know is that we have been but very slight
ly lnconvenienced by the strike. We have
eighty men at work now, who are amply
sufficient to transact our traffic without
much delay, and by tomorrow we will have
others. In New York $50 men remained
in the main Office, and reports from there
are encouraging. Overland circuits from
here to San Frrncisco are
ALL RIGHT,
and throughout my division 1 have moth
ing to complain of. One-third of our men
on the board of trade remained. As a
matter of fact, but small proportion of
the operators on the lines of railroads and
in the small offices struck. The greatest
dissatisfaction was manifested in the large
cities, because in the cities the most reck-
less element is to be found, besides which
the force of example is very strong"
''What inducements do you offer to op-
orators who remain loyal to your" Col.
Clowry was asked.
He thought awhile before answering,
when he said: "We will treat them proper
ly. you can be sure. We made no direct
proposition to them, but when they re-
mained and refused to join the strikers, we
said to them: You stand by US and we will
stand by YOU They need have no fear
that we will not reward them. We will
pay them more than the men who quit
work received, anyhow. They are quite
well satisfied, and if it is satisfactory to
them it need not be subject of complaint
for Others"
sit may seem strange" Col Clowry said,
''but we are rather glad the strike has
taken place to-day instead of day or two
hence. Why? Well, because now the
agony is over and we know exactly what to
expect. Before the strike, the anticipation
of it was most disadvantageous in its eff
fects. The men we're uneasy, and so were
the officers. Now it has taken place, and
we see exactly where we stand. 1t was
just like two armies approaching each
other in the dark. Neither knew
the others strength, and both
probably exaggerated the opposite sides
capacity. We thought from all the talk
that all our operators would strike at the
drop of the gavel, but now we know ex-
actly what their forces are, and they are
far from formidable. The expectation
"do AhOi0 CIlASdtSIiIII9 lHdu tll0 1dcl. Lie
strike is weak. Why, not one manager,
chief operator, or sub-chief in any Office in
the country struck. We feel much easier,
and that feeling is shown by the rise in
WESTERN UNION STOCK.
1t fell to n when the strike occurred. but
at this hour, 3:45 O'Clock, it has jumped to
1928. That the strike is weak is evi-
denced by dispatch from Supt. Wallick,
of Evansville, Ind. He wires me: THE
strikers at Evansville want to come back.
They say they were acting under a misun-
derstanding. What shall do?'"
'And what did you reply?"
Il made the same answer that 1 would
return to the strikers here. I instructed
him to take them back if they would agree
to withdraw from the league. 1 have not
heard yet whether. they accepted the prop
osition."