Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-08-17

A"AASSu OSkysU0vcu al al.
The Pioneer will observe that the
movement is too large to be smothered
under petty lie.
the 1ELEeRAPHlc STRIKE.
For the Good Of the Public and the Perpet-
ustion of = Well Defined Principle, IT
Should Cease.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.
The telegraph strike has been in prog.
ress now three weeks, and the prospect
of any agreement between the brother.
hood and the telegraph companies seems
as far off as ever. Indeed. the telegraph
companies. while saying they are willing
to arrange with and give employment to
men who went ont on the strike, openly
declare that they will in no case acknowl.
edge or treat with the secret oreaniza.
tion which brought the strike about and
is responsible for all the conseauept
troubles.
Hitherto the Inter Ocean has content.
ed itself with the publication of the
news. giving both the telegraph compa-
MES and the strikers full opportunity to
state their grievances in its columns;
but as conservator of the public good
it seems that the time has come to speak
out against wasteful idleness that ia
injurious to public business. and heavy
tax on workingmen who can i'll
afford to bear it. The majority
of the strikers must be convinced by this
time OF the hallowness of the promises Of
their leaders. even if they do not begin
to suspect that they are the victims of
Wall street stock. .jobbing schemes. II
they have lost their implicit confidence
in the wisdom and Writ ne of their leaders.
and regret hasty action. they only have
the common experience of mankind. It
is weakness of the race that we cannot
foresee events to come as clearly as we
can observe results that have become ac.
complished facts and the result is con.
tinual mistakes. There is but one way
to rectify them, and that is to repudiate
the misleading element and act on in
dividual judgment. founded on what
has occurred, aud not on the words of
men where promises have utterly failed.
On the 18th day of July The Inter
Ocean published the new rule that went
into effect July l, which reads as follows :
At all independent Western Union
offices which may be required to keep
open all day Sunday, nine hours actual
service in the day, six days in the week,
and seven hours actual service at night
seven nights in the week, will constit.
tute a days work. All service in excess
of above named hours, including Sunday,
will be regarded as extra, and will be
paid for at regular salary, on the basis OF
seven hours day.
This rule. although granting more than
the brotherhood are now ready to accept,
providing compromise and recognition
of the brotherhood can be effected, at
that time was rejected without consider.
alton, and the men were ordered out by
the brotherhood. with the promise thai
their absence would block the business
Of the country to such an extent that the
Western Union would be forced to sur.
render at discretion. So great was the
reliance OF the operators upon the wis.
dom and integ rity Of their leaders that
the most implicit confidence was placed
in their assurance Of an early success
and q restorat on of their old positions
at increased ply.
Since that tin.e they have been daily
RECALLED With stories and promises, bul
few Of which have been fulfilled. It VA
promised that all hands should 90 ont
and asserted that there Was not mer
enough in the country Who knew the a
b OF telegraphy to man the keys anc
transact the business Of the country
Time proved that there were plenty O
operators in the country who, though {
little rusty, could soon be broken in
/ Skan hv ofArn tho v,vanAu oS ~
are being fifled and the rusty fellows 1eI ar,
getting frightened up. The business O
the country has suffered some incon
venience. but no serious arrangement,
For week or moro the leaders of th
brotherhood promised that the rallroa,
operators all over the country should Q,
out and kept the strikers every day o.
the qui vive for that important event
The order was finally issued, but scarcel,
q score out of several Thousand men CAV
any heed to it.
Then they regaled the strikers viii
startling stories, magnitying the trouble
they were giving the country and tn
telegraph companies. One day the stor,
was reported at all their meetings ths
President Green had cabled Genera
Eckert to make q compromise with th
brotherhood at once. On smother day
was reported that General Manager an,
Acting President Eckert had resigned
| On another that Jay Gould and Gcners
Eckert had indulged in little fisticu1
of their own; that the entire Indianapo
lis force had struck secoud time: tha
all the chief operators in Chicago woul
march out on a certain day; that th
Western Union did not dare remove thei
notices Subject to delay" and man
others Of q similar character, all of vhic
proved false.
Is it any wonder that the reporter
should say that the boys are CROWN
weary? That Uhlich's hall, instead 9
being filled to overtiowing, should no,
contain but scanty audiences? In fac
considering the intelligent character {
, the strikers, itrls surprising that the
should have consented to be filled Wit
chaf and wind 80 long. 1t is we'll know
that most Of the men who struck wer
. not very we'll provided with means whe
they went out, and it is said the leader
have not fulfilled their promises to pr
vide for their support. some of th
strikers. though nov in need, are said {
be too proud 70 apply even for the littl
aid they could secure.
That the brotherhood has been . scale
mystery TO the bulk of its membershi
ID we'll understood. The aexecutiy
committees" hold their secret meeting
and then annonnoo IN tha R,r<lv ~ S,,,s'