The daily gazette., 1883-07-18
WILL THEY STOP WORK.
THREATENED STRIKE OF THE
TELEG RAPHERS.
LATE VIEW OF THE SITUATION.
The Company Evidently Prepared TO Sup
ply the Places Of the Strikers -Philadel.
phia Operators Weakening.


to the demands made upon 1t by the execu-
tive committee OF the Telegrapher's Brother
hood. The Baltimore and Ohio and the
American Rapid Telegraph Companies re-
ported that they had the demands under
consideration aud were awaiting the action
of the Western Union Company. Vice
President May, of the Rapid Company, said
that the Western Union had such prepon-
derance OF telegraphic business that all the
other companies were obliged to follow its
lead. If 1t granted the demands of the
brotherhood the other companies would be
compelled to do likewise. Superintendent
Phillips, of the United Press Association,
said his operators would not strike, because
he had promised them the advance If the
Western Union Company conceded it. The
operators of Associated Press already re-
ceive higher pay than the other men are
striking for, so that no trouble is anticipa-
ted there.
General Eckert, president of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, was at his office
TO-DAY, but had nothing to say Cyrus W.
Field, a director, said that the company de-
sired to pay its employees proper wages. He
Thought the demand Tor increased pay
should come from the employees themselves
and not from an association of which the
company had no knowledge. The demands
would be considered tomorrow, at the
meeting of the Executive Committee of the
company. w. G. Humstone, Superintend-
ent of the company, said that everything
was in allegiance, pending the meeting of
the Executive Committee. This meeting
takes place at noon tomorrow, In the
Western Union building.
There seems to be little reason to believe
that the demands of the operators will be
granted. Mr.. Humstone said to-day that
"a I'D
from 26 to 76 per cent. increase on the pres
cnt pay, for regular operators asked for Is
per cent, more salary and IL per cent.
shorter time, thus making 26 per cent. ad-
vance. For the WheatstOne operators they
asked that their present salaries be raised to
SIS per month. This would be an increase
of so per cent.-would make 76 per cent.
altogether. The Wheatstone system was
merely an experiment and in case of a strike
1t would be discarded and the operators
would be discharged.
w. B. Somerville, superintendent of the
press service, said that the pay roll of the
company was now $4,000 day, and that II
the demands were granted it would be iii
creased to some $25,O00 day. He had
been assured by many members of the
Brotherhood that they disapprove of the
strike and would not 20 into it on any cir
| cumstances. In case OF q strike the COM
pany would call In all the operators from
| the small summer resorts and other places
where they could be spared and put them al
work in the cities. Besides, there were q
great mum Der of men who had been oper-
ators and who were now out of the business,
but who would be glad to return for time.
Many of them had already made applica-
tion. In the telegraphers' strike OF 1870
this reserve force of men had proved of the
greatest use, and it was much smaller then
| than 1t is now.
The members OF the executive committee
/ of the Brotherhood had no formal meeting
| to-day. One of them said that they would
not furnish a list of the Western Uni on
| operators whom they represented, because
the company might use it as black list
| The beginning of the strike had not been
tixeO and would not be- fixed until the answer
of the Western Union Company was re
| ceiyed. If some concessions were offered II
rested with the committee to decide whether
| to accept them or not. Two of the directors
of the Western Union Company expressed
their belief to. day that certain Wall stree
brokers were aiding and abetGing the STRIKE
and offering TO subscribe money to help i
on in order to break down Western Unior
stock. The appropriation committee of tn,
Western Union Company met to-day ant
passed upon about twenty appli ations fo
increased pay. Officers of the company sait
the report was false that telegram hat
been received from Lieutenant Governor
Ames of Massachusetts, advising that con
cessons be made to the operators.
Members of the Brotherhood said tina
railroad station operators belonged to tn
BroUherhoCd and would strike with them
When told that the Western Union Com
pany would probably refuse their demand
they said that the operating room of tn
company would be deserted after noon to
| morrow and that telegraphing would b
stopped all over the country. This appeare,
| to be the general belief of the Brotherhood
| in spite of the statement that the hour c
strike had not been fixed. In case of a strik
less than 10 per cent. of the operators,
was asserted would remain on duty. Tn
, brotherhood had a large sum OF money i
its treasury could rely for sustenanc
ON the knights OF Labor. The operator
seemed very determined in their position
They gathered in groups on the corner {
! Broadway and Dey streets and energeticall
discussed the situation.
: THE NEW ENGLAND OPERATORS READY t
, JOIN IN STRIKE.
BosToN, July 17.-There are about 200
) | telegraph operators in New England, and
with a few unimportant exceptions, all wi
90 out tomorrow If a strike is ordered. !
this city, where 25 brokers have privat
, | wires, several firms have told their operator
to strike and they would stand by them.
I | ia estimated that In case of strike tt
Westeln Union Company will have the a
q sistance of more than 10 men and womel
: and they're of the third class as regart
a skill. The men are very cool tonight an
d public opinion seems to be entirely wit
d them.
it CHICAGO TELEPHONE REPAIRERs AND LIN
e MEN TO STRIKE TO-DAY.
!. CHICAGO, July 17.-The officials of Il
u telephone companies to-day sent for ii
A foremen of their gangs of repairers and lin
:. | men and asked what the men wanted. L
foremen, in reply, referred them to the e
ecutive committee OF the Telegraphel
y Brotherhood. The officials refused to reco
= nize that committee, and 1t is stated that
=, a subsequent meeting of the men 1t was
cided to strike at O'Clock tomorrow NOR
A. ing.
REPAIRING TO RESIST.
" tPh adelphia Tlmes.l
It superintendent j. e. ZeuLlin, of t
I'd | Western Union Telegraph Company, ,broug
to this city last Hight SO operators frt
,st country stations in the vicinity of Philad
at phia and as far north as Williamsport. tt
are designed to take the places of the 10
operators If the threatened strike is I'M
purated this evening. This action indica
to that the company will not aecede to the
,th mands.og the men as presented to the dir
I'd. tors in New York on Monday. The me
law bers of the Telegraphers' Brotherhood W
ne very much subdu Yesterday The ent