Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-02

] LIHIDEDIt Iutt4ao ~ u ps-LIt ~ y = -No IL.
Clay Chapman. Hon. Joseph German, Thgs.
Harper, w. NJ. Slocum, c. w. Si6dsil, DR..
G. A. White, William Gutenberger, John
| T. Farnsworth, J. d. Jost. II. M. Bernard,
J. T. Griffitts, William Geary, J. +, Clark,
r. o. CravsnF, Hon. John We'll, Hon.
! Christopher Green, II. b. Nielsen, Joseph
Hahn, Dugald ellis, Q. r. Parsons, DR.. W.
r. Cluness, J. II. Sullivan, E. G, Blessing,
DR.. G.. G. Tyrrell, /. j. Lithauer, Edwin K.
Alsip, Joseph Wisemsn, Hon. Joseph R u
tier, Eugene J. Gregory, JAMES I. Felter,
Philip Scheld, John n LsrlLin.
Secreteriss-Bing Brier, w. S. Leaks,
John Barrett.
Prominent among those occupying seats on
the stage was Governor George Stouemau.
! From the manner in which ne applauded the
speakers throughout the evening, it was evil
! dent to all that he was deeply interested in
the photographers strike.
NJ. II. Brewer, upon assuming The duties OF
| the chair, mad an abia and eloquent appeal
on behalf of the strikers, briefly outlining
the causes that led them to leave their keys
| He said these noble men and women who
are asking for simple justice, have
with them the press, that great civil
! lizsr Of humanity, not only of Sscra-
msnto. but of the State and the whole couu-
Try. They have the sympathy and kindly
feelings of every fsir.minded man and woman
in the United States. The mercsn lie per.
ton Of our citizens would rather go back TO
where cur fathers were than to zee these no.
| bic men and women fail. He referred to the
manner in which the telegraph company has
been doing business since the strike. He said
that, under the present state of affairs, per-
son had 10 guess whether the dispatch meant
what it said or something else. We want TO
get back to where we were few weeks ago,
| .v,1 ithaca robie md fob axr
fair compensation for their labor. The speaker
was frequently applauded.
Hon. Henry Edgerton was the next
speaker introduced, and was received with
rounds of applause. He gave brief outline
of tslegraphy, from the time of Samuel +.
B. Morse down TO the present time. The
Western Union, with its large earnings on
watered stock, was an exacting and grinding
monopoly. He upheld and applauded the
movement. Mr.. EdgertoB spoke for about
twenty miaute3 earnestly and eloquently,
and was frequently and loudly applauded.
Hon. Z. Es Leake, of SOlano county, was
the next speaker. He had served ten years
of his life in the service OF the telegraph
company, and knew from experience that the
strikers were right; that the statements Of
the Brotherhood were true, snd that
the men and women who are endeavo4ing
only to secure that to which they
are justly entitled should have the sup
port and sympathy Of every fair-minded
and liberty-loving person IN the country. All
the Brotherhood asked was honest psy for an
honest days work. He paid higa compli,
ment to the prsss CT the country, and PSF
ticulsrlv that of Sacramento, for having es-
poused the CAUSE of the strikers. The
Sacramento journals have won the admir-
alton and respect of the laboring classes of
the State for the bold stand they have taken
in this matter, and for the Heceulssn blows
they have dsily dealt TO tia gigantic and most
grinding of all monopoiies-the Western
Union Telegraph Company. He advocated
tho building OF opposition lines by private
capital, and said he thought the tins Gu5pici-
ous for the Government to step il and con-
struct a postal telegra Oh. He said the
photographers, as a rule. both men and womes,
were Intelligent, well educated, generous
hearted, and submission at this time meant
nothing less than starvation. The Western
. ni0n Company was heaTtless, despotic snd
tyrannicsl. In conclusion ne said : "pd
rather live IN want and die in obscurity than
crowd my fellow man out CT position by &C.
cepting it at lower wages. I'd rather walk
your streets free snd honest man, but with
the humble conviction that l had made a
noble sacrifice for my fellow man, as did the
operator at Colusa and the managing officer
AZ GEDCAbOT, Lilau 10 occupy lu5 position CT
the remoTsele5s, avaricious syndicate,
"That sit upon their bags,
And, with a look that he'll might be ashamed Of,
Turn the poor away without aims"
And at last die, leaving the world no bet
ter for their having lived"
The President announced the following
Committee on Resolutions j. J. Ayers,
Judge J. II. McKune and Hon. John We'll.
Z. NJ. ClaTken was next introduced,
and made an able address. He fully conceded
with the remarks of those who had preceded
him, and asked that the people Of 5acra-
mento stand by the photographers in this their
strike for that reduction in hours of labor
and increase of pay for services rendered,
which every fair-minded man or woman must
agree is right and just
Hon. Grove L. johnson was next intro
duced. He was suffering from very severe
cold, and it wss with difficulty that he Yves
able to speak at al. His argument was able
and copplete, fully showing that he had
given the matter considerable thought. He
believed that il the people stood by the
Brotherhood the company must succumh-
must scceGe to the demands Of their poorly
paid and ovcrworked employees. If necessary
he thought it would be well for every person
who had received bulled dispatch dur
ing this strickland there are millions Of
them-should commence a suit against the
company to recover damages. II this
was done in q concerted manner throughout
the Union the company would be compelled
20 come down from their dictstorial throne,
aud skilled labor would be placed upon q
pedestal so firm that it would not soon be
shaken. He referred to the law of Congress,
and that Of California also, which made
eight hours legal days work, and stated
that the grinding monopoly, the Western
Union, compelled thsir employees TO work
auywhsre from twelve to sixteen hours. He
applauded IN eloquent terms the action Of
the Brotherhood, 10 that thsy asked for female
operators the same salaries as those paid TO
male operators for the same work.
Hon. Frank D. Ryan, the next speaker,
addressed the meeting for few momente,
fully indorsing the action OF the strikers.
Colonel J. J. Ayers was next called upon
so report for the Committee on Resolutions.
The Colonel stepped forward on the platform,
and 10 a loud, clear tone OF voice read the fol-
lowing:
WHEREAS, the refussl of the Weston Union Tele-
graph Company to consider and remedy the just
grievances Of its employees has resulted in serious
damage aud disturbance 10 BUSINESS, by compelling
the operators to suspend work, and leaving the pub
lie without the benefit Of swift and accurate tee-
graphic inter communication and, whereas, the
action OF the company is based on sordd and
graspipg policy having but ore object in view-the
enormous enrichment of the few men who own It's
stock and control its affairs. at the expense Of its
employees, whose wages have been cut and scaled
down 70 rates not only dispToportoned TO the labor
| and skin eXacted, but insufficient to support the
men and their dependent families decsntly and,
whereas, these are now protesting against the
gross injustice OF the company, which, instead OF
being satisfied with fair returns on is invested cap
Itll, and making the public aud its employees inst
participants in its pro peritythe former by modi-
fed Of toll and the latter by fair remuneration
for their ser1ceshas altered its capitalktoek with
in the past two years by swelling it from forty TO
eighty millions Of dollars increasing by double the
volume OF dividends tots stockholders, and decreas-
ing at the time below living rate the wages
Of its employees; therefore,
ResolUcd, That the people OF Sacramento are in
fun sympathy with the telegraph operators in
their righteous contest with monopoly which is at
war with every principle of justice and fair play
Res0lred That the demands Of the operators for
an increase of wages. for extra pay for Sunday
work, for reduction Of the hours to constitute a
DAYS work, and for equzl pay TO both sexes for
equal work. appeal TO the sense OF justice Of the
pubic and evoke the Endorsement and sympathy Of
all fair-minded people.
Resolved, That the people viii not stand listlessly
by and see the threats OF this rich and powerful
monopoly 20 starve its employees into submission
succeed, but viii come 20 their aid with suhsian-
tai assistance that they viii not only cheer them
Al. hrrrf