New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-19

that only for their dutIrs as ticket.
sellers; their bonds would not be affected in the
least by n refusal to handle Western Union bust.
ne7s There is not a weakened member of the
Brotherhood. When the signal is given # II should
be necessary to give it, every one of them whether
IN the city or country. will quit work-that is GER
tain. The company >can no more depend on the
country men to help them than it can on the city
men,
! FIFTEEN THOUSAND MEN TO QUIT WORK
How many men gong ont ~ said an operator
to the reporter We'll, | should say that in case q
strike is necessary at least $4,000 operators will
leave work. We are stronger in the cities than in
the country, and think that in New-York nine out
of every ten in the Western Union main
office are with to the end The proportion is about
| the same in tae other companies The country oper-
ators who are not members of the Brotherhood will
help us by sticking to their offices. At least large
proportion OF them will. How long vail we stay
outf All, two or three hours But, joking aside, we
are Prehsred 10 SUCK as ong as the company 49, III
the difficulty should last twenty four hours the
BOYS would become scattered. and it would be a
dfncnlt matter to get them back. They would
gafd IL q good deal In the light OF summer
tlon and 20 In for good time for couple of weeks.
whether would choose the CatskilIs or the tramps
colony, down near Philadelphia 1 think the ma
JsGnty ct !, us would haunt General Eckert in his
We are not afraid of the graduates of the schools
| OF telegrsphy taking our places" said middle
aged operator They are not worth the salt it
would take to get the freshness out OF them. They
can neither receive nor send, aud if the comp any
depends on them aud such plugs as IL can pick up
around the country, it will sO0a have to call US
back"
You newspaper men complain that we won't
talk said a prominent member Of the Brotherhood,
who s supposed TO know all that ia going on. Just
wait until after the seal of secrecy Is taken of by
the committee and Well overwhelm you with
Hood OF talk that will fully. satisfy you.
feel though / would like to
hire man 70 go in back room with
me and talk him to death. Until that time, how
ever can only say that the committee will do what
is right, and Will not order strike If 1t can be
avoided"
The linesmeu, of whom there are in the neighbor-
hood OF 300 in The city, are even more excited than
the operators Tney will strike to man when the
time comes. so they say.
DISAPPOINTED AT THE CoMPANYs ACTION.
The operators greatly disappointed at the
action of the Executive Committee Of the Western
Union Telegraph Company They expected to re-
ceIve q decisive answer to their petition either
way or the other, and regard the action effort
10 secure postponement of the STRIKE
Their tactics will not be successful in this case"
said an operator who is in constant communica-
ton with the committee. 1--WE want cate
gorcal answer 10 request and want it in
sOna0le tlme Our committee have been kept away
from This work for a long time now and are at con-
siderable expense We must have plain answer
yes or no, an early date. so That decisive action
can be taken. can say of course positively, but
think that the committee will confer with the
Western Union committee appointed this afternoon
before they make their report 10 the Executive
Commit tee and request immediate answer
should this be refused and an effort made TO gain
further delay our committee will take action at
once TINS Is my impression, and IL ls generally
that OF the best informed among the Brother
hood"
Some of the operators think that the appointment
OF the committee is a sign weakness on the part
of the company and an indication that 1t is willing
10 maks CONCESSIONS should the committee OF the
Brotherhood be IN concIlatory mood. by others
the action regarded as a device TO gain time TO
canvass the offices sndinduce doubtful men to stuck
by the company. Some say that the ielegrapheIs
committee made mistake IN not ordering q strike
yesterday, as was tue original Intention. They de-
clare that the men were all ready to go out and
tna by the delay some OF the force Of the movement
has been lost.
john b. Taltavali one OF the editors of Tie Teleg-
raheS Adroodte Is iauthory for the assertion that
tine Western Union Company has employed dete c.
tlves TO watch the movements OF tho commit tee
since its arrival here
SUPPORT OF THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
George Blair. one of the leading me mbers of the
Knights Of Labor in this city, in speaking of the
probable teleGraphers strike, SAID - The men who
will be engaged IN this strike have been organizing
and preparing for it for the last three years Their
organization includes soma of the brightest and
most tellgentIneu in the labor movement They
nave accumulated during that timo large surplus
fund. which will allow them TO pay all the needy
members the full weekly benefit for probably
two or three weeks When they have exhausted
their own funds they arc entitled to call OIL tho
knights of Labor for benefit OF % weekly Tor SIN
g,e men and $40 weekly for marrsd men. This
amount tEey can draw Tor indefinite time. Tue
knights OF LABOR have large reserve tund that IS
asAIlabe at any time. Under our constitution each
member vi the organization lstaxeu a sInalramOunt
weoky for the benefit of the strikers, so that the
source of supply Is practically inexhaustlble The
Knights ct Labor have a membership now Oh
over half million in the United states
aud Canada, so that the weekly payment OF
each member will be small During the cigarette
stnke Rochester tho local assemblies in that city
furnished The strikers with $1,000 weekly. AS
rule, are opposed TO strikes aud this will be the
hrst important one that we have had on our hands,
should It occur The teiugraphers are we'll prepared
for hgnt, so lar as money Is concerned, even win
the Western Union Telegraph Company"
some Otuer members OF the knights OF Labor
deny that there Is any reserve or strike fund They
SAY that the only means OF raising money IL Oy
weekly subscriptions. Mr.. Blalrs estimate Of the
strength of the Order was confirmed however.
PREPARIYa AN ADDRESS To The PUBLIC.
The committee of the Brotherhood adjou rned at
II o'clock last night, after fourteen hours ses-
SION. he members said that they had no statement
10 make TO the press Ii is understood among the
Brotherhood that tho NAN work OF the session was
the preparation of an address TO the pubic which
will lie published when u strik is ordered. Ii was
so stated that the committee had decided To See the
Western Union COMMITTEE, 10 demand an lmne-
daJo answer, aud In case OF REFUSAL W oruer INC
men TO quit work
THE TELEGRAPHERS' BROTHERHOOD
FACTS ABOUT The ORGANIZATION WHICH HAVE
BEEN LEARNED BY THE WESTERN UNION.
There is Strong impression, which is shared by
tho photographers themselves, that nearly all the
secrets of the Brotherhood of Teegraphers open
secrets TO the officers and directors OF the Western
Union Company. The agitation which has cumi- |
mated in the present movement has been going !
on for two years and there Is no !
doubt that it has been watched by shrewd |
eyes from it's inciplency ana that information |
has been carried straight TO headquarters |
by men who have held membership in the Brother
hood for the purpose of advising their employers of
its dongs Many profess TO believe that the in
Of ha mil a