Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-20
The KEYS CLOSED
At High Noon Yesterday and the
Telegraph Operators Walk
Out Psacsably.
The Labur Organizations Offer
Financial Aid to the Knights
of the Key
If Necessary to Carry their Point
cheers for the Men
as They Leave.
The First Gun Fired In a Big Bat
tls of Labor Against
Monopoly.

|
o'clock, Washington reckoning, several
hundred operators in the Western Union
telegraph room laid down their utensils
and started for the halls.
Superintendent Humstone, who was
present, said the number to leave was
about what had been expected from the
reports made to the company. In the OPP
Grating room were stationed several police
men, and these, together with the officials
who were present, asked the strikers to
move out as rapidly as possible, and to
leave the building. The operators who
remained at ther keys did very little
work at first and were interested specta-
tors.
Long Lines of Operators
were soon filing down the stairs. On their
faces were depicted various emotions; the
majority were hilarious, but there were not
wanting those whose features bore traces OF
uncertainty and fear for the future. Many
we're thoughtful, and evidently appreciated
that the strike might mean long weeks OF
idlene ss, with a sCanty salary. The general
feeling was one OF confidence, however,
| and determination TO win was the watch
| word.
As soon as the advance guard Of strikers
reached the basement the hundreds OF
| curious people, who were there and in the
street about the building, sent up a brief
shout thus spreading the news. In a few
minutes more bulletin boards posted the
| facts, and the long contemplated and much
talked OF strike had begun and was fully
known at all the news centers; that ii had
| been largely discounted III the gossip Of tine
pSst week, did not prevent its being re-
| ceiyed
There was no disturbance on the Asso-
| ciated Press wires which tap Washington,
| Baltimore and Philadelphis, with their
| tributary territory, those wires being
manned by Associated Press telegraphers,
| who have made no demand and have no
| grievance The general sentiment OF the
| operators and officials was that the news OF
| the country would be taken care of, the
| operators having only the kindest feeling
| toward the press.
| Shortly after the strikers went out
! band of recruits, most of them ladies, en-
tered the building and were ushered up to
| the operators room, when they were al
1 once set to work. Ii is expected that 9TH
ers will be obtained during the day. Sew
| eral Of the operators who remained ex-
pressed great surprise at the large num-
| Der that had gone out, and said they
thought the
strike would BE Successful.
The Executive Committee of the Brother
| hood, which has been in session this morn
ing, have sent q letter to General Eckert.
Ii SAID: ION Monday, the 18th inst, a
| committee of the telegraph operators sub
mitted to your consideration petition
entrusted TO them for presentation to
YOU by the Brotherhood of Telegraphers.
Tuu expressed your doubts as to
the authority of that committee to speak
TO the employees OF your company,
and have failed To respond TO the petition.
Your letter 10 +. T.. ClOwry, General Su-
perintendent, discloses to the public the
fact that YOU were informed of the nature
Of your employees grievances before they
were presented. Under ordinary clrcum
stances it would require but short time
TO arrive at q conclusion as TO what steps
you would take.
But knowing as we did that this matter
| had besn
Thoroughly Discussed
long before we waited on you. 1t was not
unreasonable to expect an early reply. 1t
is due to the interest you represent TO our
! organization, and particularly TO the general
| Pubic that these matters be speedily ad'
'usted, and that the responsibility OF any
| luture action may rest where II properly
belongs. II is with the earnest desire Tor u
| harmonious settlement OF these dlihcuIues
| md a regard for the social and business IN
Ter, ST of the people that We send this last
| apreal for the recognition OF the rights
and redress of the grievances OF your em.
| plOyes.
No reply was received to this address,
ard the committee, which met this morn
ing at 80 O'Clock, took no action upon 1t,
There Were Present
| at the meeting ex Governor Cornell,
John +. Terry and J. W. Clendeniu. Jay
| Gould was a.sU present, though not me IL.
| her of the committee. Ii was decided only
to hold preliminary meeting this morn.
irg, and after short session they ad'
| lourued. Nothing was done exccDt to issue
| directions To all the heads of the depart
menis and chiefs in toe employ OF the CON
| paGy TO notify the operators under their
| charge to present their grievances, II they
had any, to the committee, and that such
action would be taken as might be thought
| proper. The committe expected TO meet
again tomorrow, but the summary action
| on the part of the employees OF the company
may possibly lead them To make some
change in their plans.
The Operators
in the employ OF the American Rapid Com
psny left work AZ the same hour that those
IN the Western Union building struck. 1t
is said that only half dozen men re-
msined.
New YORK, July l9-The Executive Com
mittee of the Brotherhood of TelegrapherS,
in their paper, issued to-day. publish an
official statement which justities their pc
tit:on for increased pay, and assails the
telegraph companies for reducing their
salaries and refusing to raise them again.
Al washington.
| WASHINGTON. July 19-At one o'clock
?. " tep men Of the Western Union day
force in the Washington office had stopped
woEk. Nine were yet in the othce, out
manager Whitney was not sure, but all
would remain, most of them he hoped they
would. Nearly all the members OF the
night force congregated on the sidewalk,
front or rear of the office.
The members of the Brotherhood con-
nected with the Baltimore and Oaio Co.
are out, as we'll as those VI he Rapid tele-
graph.
An active officer Of the Brotherhood is
| the authority for the statement that no
strike is to be apprehended from operators
working wires leased by brokers, news
papers or private individuals where suca
operators are wholly employed aud paid By
the lessees, unless attempts are mads by
the Western Union Company to utilize
! these operators in handling matter not coa
| neCted with the business OF the private
| firms.
The Boston Operators
Boston, July l9-All the operators here
! but two have struck. The women opera.
IoIs have also gone out, but four out OF
twenty-five being left
| The B. q O. Operators.
ATLANTIC CRY, July l9-Robert Garrett,
! Of tie Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
/ pspy, left here by special car at seven
| O'Clock this morning. He had no confer.
| ence with the Committee of Telegraph Op.
orators, the operators who were to have ar.
rived here last night having missed the
connection of trains. Garrett then tels-
grsphed that he would meet them in New
York.
Philadelphia.
PHILApxLPHIA, July l9,-rhe telegraph
effice was not entirely depleted. and
small force. which has been somswhst in