Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-07
THE TELEGRAPHERs' STRIKE
The Western Union Considers the Bat
tie Won.


NEW YORK. August "A careful in
quiry at the Western Union building of
the chief officials goes to show that they
are determined to make the fight on the
present lines. if it takes all summer.
Unless all signs fail. the executive mana
gers are convinced that they have already
won the battle. The official kilograms re-
ceived at headquarters from all points in
dicate that they have held their own, and
i'm the larger cities are gaining a few from
the strikers and rapidly training in new
hands. An inspection of the New York
operating room shows that twenty strikers
have returned, and that a more or
less skilled force. equal 10 twO-thirds Of
the regular force, are at work, which is
quite sufficient now that the business
offered is not more than twO-thirds the
usual business. The WheatstOne rapid
instruments are now worked by four
English women and three Englishmen,
old operators in England, but now here,
who recently applied FOR work, and that
they are doing good work is evident from
the fact that they sent and received $4,000
messages in one day from Chicago to or
from New York. There is another rapid
system, the WhitehOuse, which six men
are working. which is doing heavy work
between the largest cities. The present
force is not exhausted, but is allowed to
work as little or as much as they care to,
and are paid days wages for each and
every seven hours they work.
The officers Ofthe company say that they
have been for a year employing a much
larQer force than they needed, and, there
fore had less work for each employe, and,
i'm this way. the salaries were not as large
as might be, but hG general reduction has
been made for five years. that they have
been carrying on their rolls many super
ANIMATED and unskilled employees, whom
they have kept out Of pity and respect for
past services. but now these have left, the
company viii never reinstate them, and
the new forces, when fully trained, will
prove a great economy. Ia fact. it is statep
that the service has been demOraliZed for
MANY months past by the willtul neglect
Of operators, and that the new
forces now being organized
will have more esprit and loyalty than
auv force the company has ever had in
the past. The claim Is made that the
cOmpany will give a better service az less
cost to themselves than ever before. The
claim IS also made that the Baltimore and
Ohio yiII never dare surrender to the
strikers. because the railroad of the same
name would suffer from GOulds railroad
combinations if they should do so, In con-
cIusion. the Western Union officials are,
rightfully or wrOngfully, Of opinion that
they are and Will be more and more each
dav masters Of the situation, and that
the strikers must make up their minds
to 20 into other business, unless
they can live on their oiG wages, as there
are plenty OF men and womeH who can
and will be glad to take their places. The
comoapv hires labor, the officers contend,
as any other corporation or person, at the
market price, and, while they will be glad
To confer with their own employees, they
sIilI protest that they will never allow
outsiders TO run their affairs or those Of
their employees so long as the market will
provide the skill they need as It will cyl
IDENTIFY do at the present time.