The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-19
FORMER STRIKES.
An Old Operator Talks of the Last Strike
Why 1t Failed.

Why 1t Failed.
Chicago Herald.
II was in the last strike, " said prominent
operator in conversation on the all-absorb-
ing subject with Herald reporter, "and
have vivid recollections of it. 1t was fail
ure SO far as accomplishing its purpose was
concerned, but it was disastrous to the COM
pany and men alike. II occurred in 1869
under vastly different conditions than now
exist. There were at that time, to begin
with, probably not half as many operators as
there are now. In Chicago, for example, not
over one hundred men at the utmost were
employed, against the $50 or 300 men it now
requires to run the Western Union Office
alone Salaries paid were much higher
than at present. In one instance they
ranged as high as $175 month.
That was at Salt Lake City, and while
it didn't last long as the standard of that Of
fee, it indicated the spirit of the company
to make the expenses OF living the basis of
salaries. Living in Chicago was much lower
than it now is, yet good operators were paid
800 and $110, and by overwork earned a
comfortable bit besides. Well, the peculi-
arities Of certain local managers the spirit of
self interest, one cause and another led to
the formation of an association among the
men. 1t was termed league, and the Off
GERS and various branches fitted with titles
suggestive of their vocation. The league
was built on a wrong basis. 1t was, to begin
with, secret society of the crudest kind.
The new member was obliged to swear i'm
plicit obedience to his suptriors, to literally
die before he would betray the secrets of the
order or rebel against its commands. The
central power was vested in one man. He
was called the Grand Chief Operator, and
was, under the powers the league invested
him with, an autocrat. He was accountable
to nobody, and could order whatever move
ment he chose, and the members were bound
to obey his word"
"Well, the whole concern was organized
hastily. Many of its officers were bright but
hot-headed young fellows not to be relied
on in case OF emergency, as events proved,
The league was organized ostensibly for mu-
tual protection. When it was a few months
old it was tested. The company decided to-
reduce the expenses of the San Francisco
office. The state of business demanded it,
An operator named Jacobs was accordingly
dropped. The act was the signal for a strike.
San Francisco offices went out first, but it
was day or two, | think, before the news
reached Chicago, communication not being
good in the ante-railroad days. One bright
morning in February, 1869, the assistant chief
operator of the league headed the greater ma
jority of the men at this point as they quilted
their instruments and walked out of the
Office. An hour later the Pittsburg office
was nearly deserted. Then the grand chief
operator heard of it, and ordered general
strike. | don't believe he knew what 1t was
for, but nevertheless he was obeyed, and in
two hours the instruments in New
York, Philadelphia, Boston, Wash
cities in the country were silent. The men
ton in every branch of business. There
seemed to be paralysis of trade; the news
papers were, so to speak, thrown on their
beam ends; in short, for time the indispens-
able character of telegraphy as a factor OF
CONNIE rec was apparent to every one; but it
was for time only. The boys didn't win.
They had neglected to take in railroad oper-
ators, had overrated their strength. and
chosen a bad season of the year to exhibit it.
In twenty four hours the big offices were
well manned by operators called in from the
country In day or two the strikers were
beginning to get back to work They had no
money they were the tools of an autocrat
that they had created, and there was nothing
TO do but accept the defeat they themselves
had made possible to their cause.
"The strike was against reduction of wages;
against what they considered a disposition to
oppress. 1t failed because it was untimely,
because there was no real earnestness in the
league, and, above all, because there was too
much bravado and too little determination"