Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-08-09
THE BIG STRIKE.
Both the Strikers and Tele-
graph Co., Continue in Their
Belligerent Attitudes.
The New York Operators Begin
the Formotion of Co-Opera-
tive Telegraph Company.
General Notes OF the Strike.

Up to Wednesday morning tnefe
had been no material change in the
great telegraph strike A good many
of the men seem to be tired of loafing
and would be glad to learn that some
ARRANGEMENT had been arrived at
whereby they could return to work.
One of the effects of the strike has
been the wonderful falling off in tom
mage destined to foreign ports. The
decline III this class Of traffic since
Monday last has been more than 80
per cent, and no other cause than the
imperfect service of the telegraph
system IS known to have had any effect
upon it, In canned meats and pail lard
there have been practically no orders,
while other classes Of foreign traffic
have had fewer orders than Tor the
past month in any one week In 9th
er classes of freight there has been
practically no improvement over Mon
day and Tuesday, the principal ship
ments being of traffic arranged for
during last week. The railroads do
not apprehend any permanent loss on
account Of the decline in shipments,
believing that restoration of perfect
| telegraphic service will enable them
to carry forward the traffic which has
been held back as soon as the lines
are once in good working order.
REPORTED RETURN OF STRIKERS.
CHICAGO. AUGUST 2.-Western
Union officials report business moving
well and the circuits generally clear
| -Four OF the strikers, said to be among
the best operators, returned to work
to-day. Reports from brotherhood
headquarters are to the effect that
( twenty men, who had been at wosk
joined the strikers to-day; that en-
couraging reports continue to come
in from every direction, and that fl
nancial aid is being received from priv
ate sources and labor organizations,
including 81, 900 from the bricklayers
union.
NEW YORK, FORMING A COOPERATIVE
COMPANY.
New YORK. Aug. p
Members of the telegraphers'
brotherhood were kept busy folding
circulars tonight. The circulars con
tanned information of the most inn
portant move made by the brother
hood since the beginning of the strike,
namely: the formation of a ''merch-
ants and telegraphists' association, "
with offices in every city, town and
village af the United States, The
circulars, two all, were to-nightmail-
ed to every important point in the
country. and viii be distributed by
the Brotherhood of Telegraphers. 1t
is proposed that the capital shall not
be represented by the stock, but shall
be the aggregation of initiation
fees of life membership. In
lieu of interest or dividends, each
member shall enjoy certain privileges
in the use of the wires, and in case of
death the investment shall be returned
as life insurance TO the heir or devisee
of the deceased member, with mere
ment in some ratio to the prosperity
of the association at the time of death
A membership fee will be 5000, and
each member will be entitled co free
telegraphing to the amount of $50 or
10per cent. While the capital IS in
tact and the surplus less than 10 per
cent, the death payment shall be the
same as the original investment $500.
When the surplus earnings exceed 10
per cent the death benefit shall be
$500 and 500 additional for each 10
per cent of surplus accumulated.