Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1883-08-09
THE GENII OF THE STRIKE.
Ihe Men Who Planned and Executed the
Movement and Now Direct Tt.
(E.rck0nGeA

John Campbell, deputy grand mas
ter OF the Telegraphers' Brotherhood
of the Knights of Labor is the head
man in the present strike. Campbell
is a practical operator, and he has the
reputation of being one of the most
skiIlful members of his trade. He is
80 years of age, five feet eight inches
high, of slender build, quick and
nervous in his movements, has black
hair and black moustache, prominent
nose, upon which he wears gold
trimmed eyeglasses, and he dresses
modestly in black clothing. Campbell
is a good talker, in either public or
private, and he inspires confidence in
all with whom he deals. He was born
in Steubenville, Ohio, where he learn
ed his trade, and has been an operator
IA years. Six years Of this time he
has spent in Pittsburg, where he has
the reputation of being one of the
most rapid and accurate senders in
the United States, and never was
known to have break except on a
''slug," as poor operator is termed.
Campbell was not identified with
the strike of 1870, when only about
1000 telegraphers quit work, and be-
fore they were identified with the
Knights of Labor organization. About
year ago he abandoned telegraphic
work and became what is known as a
general orgdnizer of the Telegraphers'
Brotherhood, travelling through the
country, creating assemblies and per-
fecting the operators union. The Tel
egraphers' Association in New York
did not join the Knights Of Labor un-
til 1881, when j. A. florence was
grand master of the first New York
Assembly of Telegraphers. Mr.. Camp
bell, it is said, favors arbitration be-
tween workingmen and their employ
ers, and his friends aver that il the
Western Union officials had recogniz-
ed the Brotherhood organization, and
had asked for a conference, the present
strike could have been averted provid-
ed that the company was willing to
make fair concessions to its men
Thomas Hughes, Campbell's coad-
tutor, was born near Pittsburg in 1868.
He is tall, dark-complexioned and
youthful looking. He wears a small
dark moustache. He is called the
thinker of the Brotherhood, and re-
Gently was entitled by his admirers
the ''Second Napoleon. It was he who
seven months ago, sent the word over
the wires that if the companies did
not accede to the demands Of the oper-
ators a strike would be inauguraJed
and he also personally communicated
with every telegrapher in the country
It is to him that the operators to-day
are accountable He is not in New
York, and will not be, but he controls
| the movements of all interested. He
is finely educated, and a capital speak
er. He, together with Mr.. Campbell
| signed the first call for the Brotherhood
to meet at the Chicago convention Of
the knights of Labor held in 1881.
John S. Mcclellan is the next most
active man in the organization. He
was born at St. GATHERINGS, Ont, age
81 years. He is light in complexion
five feet ten inches tall, and, like
Brother Campbell, wears eyeglasses
which give him an austere appearance
He is endowed with singular will pow
er, and his personal appearance a
mass meetings is always~the signal fol
an outburst of applause. He has beer
an operator for II years. His residenc
is in Hoboken, at which place he ha
been the State press operator. He
very rapid at both sending and receiy
ing, and was never known to t'break
He is an excellent speaker, and hi
addresses at meetings at Caledonia an
Irving Halls have been listened t
with marked attention and greete
with applause. He is also the chail
man of the executive board of th
Knights of Labor.
John Mitchell, of New York, We
: born at St. John, n. B., age 33 year
He is one of the best operators in til
( world. He was at the New York en-
f Of the cable for many years. Up
t the 26th of last May he was in the en-
e pleyment of the Western Union, b,
since that time has started pap
t called the Ietegrapher's Adyocate. L
/ is a we'll educated man, and wiel
+ great influence over the strikers, ol
) of whom said last night: 1--WE 10,
t him as brother, respect him as
t man, and revere him as leader" E
d was the man who caused all the ma
?. telegraphers in the country to Pied
e themselves to refrain from intoxics
$ ing drink, and to him is due the ia
5 that so far not one case of dranke
It ness has been reported.
It Frank r. Phillips, the man W
e, gave the signal for the strike 2
> Thursday, is stout, steady youth
twenty-five, and is called "Pud" ]
short. He was born in Canada and
y well educated. He has no hair on
1c &c face and might easily be mistaken ]
d. a well fed doctor of divinity.