Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-07-20
Pennsylvania, and tho East Tennesee
telephone company.

telephone company.
ran sITuATIoA IN PHILADELPHIA.
superintendent Zeoblan 1opssul OF Esray
In Philadelphia Supsrintsndent Zeublin
had closed all the Western Union branch
Offices except the one al Third and Chest
nut streets, and called in all the operators
who stood by the company. By this means
he had gathered at the main Offices during
the day, including men from the business
department who could work . wire. Thirty
three operators, including himself, Mr..
Jones, his manager, and the chiefs. He
also telegraphed to the country Offices near
by to send up assistance, and received from
these sources few more operators. He
said that he had at work In tho afternoon
thirty one operators, as against seventy,
the usual complement, and last night five
As against the usual complement Of thir-
teen. Mr.. Laverty, however, says that
this is to say the least, disingenuous
statement. He says that the usual day
force at the main Office is eighty five, and
that including the extras" tho usual
night force twenty. ono. Mr.. Laverty also
says that the thirty one operators on day
service and the five at matchmaking
thirty-six in all-is the entire force in
Philadelphia at Mr.. Zeublin's disposal, in
comparison with 145, the usual number he
could command.
Mr.. Zueblin says thas he will be able to
handle the business of the Office effectively
and satisfactorily. He said that all tho
business received yesterday had been
gotten of in good time and all important
messages to the Office we'll handled. The
men who have gone out" said he, 81 am
bound to say, have acted like gentlemen.
They left no unfinished work behind
except that which would at any time at
the noon hour accumulate. They stopped
in the midst of what they had in hand, but
We have no complaints to make on that
score.:'
Mr.. Zueblin stated that in his opinion
there are IA, coo commercial operators in
this country and Canada, and that GO per
cant, or S,40O, have gone out on the
strike. He expects that many of the men
who are now out will come back again to
day, and Others later.
Tho Strikers will DO Taken Back.
When asked whether the strikers would
bs taken back by the company when tired
of staying out. Mr.. Zeublin said: "Oh
yes we will be glad to welcome them
that is, most of them. Some few may find
their places filled but the bulk of them
will be put back ON the keys when tho
strike is over. Weexpect them to come
back. We do not blame the men so much
as We do those who have led them into the
trouble. have no doubt of the success
of the company in the end but the
operators who are out are essential to US,
and we are essential to them. We cannot
use the local operators who remain, because
if We gave them commercial business they
would GET out also, for they arc all
brotherhood men,
Have any Of the strikers come back ?"
the reporter asked.
"Only one, and he came back upon the
advice of his uncle but the game is too
young yet. You will see in q few days.
In order to put ourselves in good shape
we have closed q number of small offices,
and no messages are sent to or received
from the places where tho railroad opera.
tor is our only agent. Thus such places
as Elkton, Nd, cannot be reached by our
Office at present. We have concentrated
our business as much as possible, and iQ .
few days, when we get fairly on our fest,
will be in position to give the boys who
are out as much rope as possible"