The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-26
A POINT GAINED.
The American Rapid Company
Yields to the Strikers.
Baltimore and Ohio Likely TO Follow
Suit.
Western Union Still Resisting q
Compromise.

DuS route expected TO be o. *. soon. Other
routes o. X. Through wires are interrupted
and Chattanooga. Chicago reports wires west
0. X, business all clear this morning and now
moving in good time to all points except south .
expect the New Orleans route to be o, X. in
an hour
In addition the officials say that business il
all clear in the New York office and that tho
force is about as usual. There is some Secrease
IN the number OF operators In the main office.
This, 1t is explained, is due TO the fact that the
exchanges are better manned than before, and
that The company has now opened 3S of its city
offices which were closed when the strike was
inaugurated.
A week of the strike has passed and the
peaceable disposition and orderly conduct of
the strikers have called out universal COM
mendation. They have made many friends
among the general public and in business Cir
cles. Their determination is the subject OF
comment, and even at the executive office the
greatest surprise Is expressed that they should,
In view of the situation, be determined to hold
ont. 1t cannot be said that to outward appear
ance an understanding between the company
and its operators or the brotherhood commit
tee is any better than it was week ago. II is
generally conceded that telegraphic business is
being done with fair promptness and correct
ness
Several wires running TO the northwest we're
cut last night about six miles from Chicago but
were repaired this morning.
Ii is said that an unsuccessful attempt has
been made to induce the automatic operators of
the Rapid Company in New York to strike
An interview had to-day with the sub-com-
mittee appointed by the Western Union 10 hear
the grievances OF the employees, revealed the
fact that only three persons have communicat-
ed with them. One of those had been dis
missed for cause. Anothers name was alreadv
ON the list for promotion. The committee had
ascertained that during the past twelve months
ouVO employees had had their salaries advanced
on merit.
The Western Union executive committee
MessIs. Field, Sage sFerry, Eckert Van Horne
and Gould-remained in session only fifteen
minutes. During the session the subject of
the strike was only incidentally referred TO and
10 official action was taken thereon. At the
conclusion OF the meeting Field aud Sage stat
ed that while no action had been taken on the
strike the general opinion expressed by all the
gentlemen present was one of determination TO
make no Concessions.
At meeting OF the board of aldermen to-
day resolutions were adopted setting forth that
the business interests of the country were
jsopardlzed by the telegraph strike brought
about by the companies cutting down wages of
employees TO starvation rates and refusing the
just demand for increased wages; that the
companies enjoyed franchises from the public
ia return for which they were legally bound 10
supply all demands for Ieiegraphic communi-
cation, and to that END to gram the present de-
mandS OF the employees, and calling on the
State authorities TO take necessary legal action
10 compel the companies to restore aud main.
tain the prompt and correct transmission OF
telegraphic messages.
Gen. EekerL, being shown the Chicago des-
patch stating that DIR. Green was reported TO
have cablsd him to cencede the demands OF
The strikers said at once that not only had no
such despatch been received but that DIR.
Green had, in his last eablegram, expressed
Numerically opposite sentiment.
Il is now asserted by prominent members of
the Telegraphic Brotherhood that their exeeu-
tive officers do not intend 10 order strike on
any leased wires, either of the press or private
parties.
ST. LOUIS, July 25.-The board of directors
OF the Merchants Exchange this afternoon
adopted resolutions stating la effect that whilst
TefralniDg from expressing any opinion regard-
ing the position taken BY he telegraph calDpa-
MES or their employees, we protest against i'm
perfect and unsatisfactory service Rendered 10
this Exchange aLd Its members aud respect
fully request the telegraph companies TO i'm
mediately provide better facilities for the tran
saction of business. Tbs resolutions will be
telegraphed to Gen. Eckert and apply to the
Baltimore and Ohio Company as well as the
Western Union.
CHICAGO, July 25.-All the wires OF the Wes-
tern Union Company on the Wisconsin and
Milwaukee divisions, RChicago aid Nurthwes-
tern roads were cut last night abont six miles
from this city but we're repaired this morning.
1H6 6A6CuLFe committee OF tHb Gnfc3gO
branch OF the Brotherhood OF TelegrapheFs
met in secret session last uight. II is inpored
that the committee sent telegram to the exc
cative committee at New York asking that
these who struck from the B. and o. Office be
given permission To treat With the company as
individuals, leaving the question of reeogniz-
ing the brotherhood out of the negotiation.
PHILADELPHIA, July 25.-C. E. Fuller this
afternoon began five civil suits against the
Western Union Telegraph Company, returns-
be Monday next, for refusing to transmit meg
sagea for him under their printed conditions.
Process was served on Superintendent Zsublin
this afternoon
the Western Union Office announces that he
has increased his force 70 tSenty-four, which
he says Is sufficient To handle all business Of
fered during the continuance OF the strike.
The brotherhood says it has increased its rneIn-
hefship from thirty to fifty. The chief SAWS
that nearly every railroad operator on the lines
leading to this city has assured the brotherhood
OF their readiness TO strike whenever ordered.
BUTTE, Mont, July 25.-Two striking opera
@ors were ARE ted yesterday for malicious in
terierence with the wires OF the Western Uuion
Telegraph Company. The strike causes 10 in
convenience or delay in this section.
DETROIT, July 25.-The teeeraphic situation
appears somewhat improved. Eighteen opera
tors are at work. Some aecessions have been
gained from outside points. The strikers re-
man FIRM and entirely yosderiy.
BOSTON, July 25.-There IL no change in the
relative positions Of the telegraph Companies
and the striking operators to-day, unless 1t be
a firmer determination on the part OF tho men
to hold out. Nearly week has gone by since
they left their keys, aud So fac from being
beaten they claim that they are stronger to-day
than they we're when they struck. Their num-
befs have increased largely. These accessions
to their ranks have Dsen drawn from the
al n the sofn I'M fb+4 MI bay
the company seens TO DO just as firm IN its de-
termination not 10 yield. 1t continues to sSnd
messages, although there is Of course much de-
lay. Their answer Is always the same. IL
claims to have enough help to despatch all the
business presented and can held out an iudeh-
mite length of time
Nearly 200 members Of the Brotherhood
were at the meeting at Goldman Hall to-day.
Five new members we're initiated this morning
one of them being oue OF the best operators in
the city. Reports from Oswego, Buffalo, Bal
timore Albany and other places showed en-
couraging gains.
A Communication was received from the
South THE morning, giving great encourage
ment TO the brethren in the North Said
Chairman Chute: "We have now solid
south and solid north, solid east and solid
west. All these rumors about weakening in
this place or in that place don't move us IN the
least. We know they are false. The company
greatly rfnderestmated our strength at the
seeking TO scare US into submission
They sent word to us in the East that the
" est is going back on us. They tell our
Western brethren that We are weakening
They probably reason that there may possibly
be some weak-kneed members who think the
strike Is to be failure and who will seek to
get into the good graces of the company by
returning to work. But they miss their
reckoning in that direction. The movement
is too deep seated To be swayed by any ripple
like that. Since the strike commenced we
have added over fifty new members to our
order, taking many OF them right out OF the
office OF the company. To-day we had three
new comers from 109 State street. They had
been summoned from The Cape by the COM
pany. We are much stronger to-day than we
were last Thursday"
The striking operators at a meeting this af-
terDoon resolved unanimously to telegraph
chairman O'ConDor Of the executive board
requesting him to Immediately order ont the
operators employed by the Associated Press.
reporter went to the Duxbury cable Office
yesterday. He found that Frank q. Alden,
one of the best operators, employed by the
Western Union at that station, had quit work
to join issues with the striking brotherhood.
The remaining operators, two 10 number, al
though members OF the brotherhood are q
IL -.