Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-21
THE TROUBLED WIRES.
ToIERABIY GOOD WORKING ORDER.
A Statement That May be Entirely News to
Persons Transacting Business by
the Aid of the Electric
Current.

morning Lnelo WcIo ol6uia4AJ 40" S'-~~S
of a strike about the Western Union build
ing. There was the usual activity about
the receiving windows, but nothing more.
None of the strikers appeared either in the
basement or operating rooms. The e1ecu'
tive department was early on the ground,
and full of business. Not small part Oh
their occupation was the reading OF con-
sratulstory and encouraging kilograms
from the various officers and surerinten-
dents Of the company.
The striking telegraph linemen held a
meeting this morning. 1t was stated there
were about 400 linemen in this city and
vicinity, all Of whom are on strike.
rhe Telegraph Companies,
il was said, are badly crippled, and last
night the Western Union brought into the
CITY 22 linemen from country districts.
These men were met on their arrival by the
strikers and persuaded to attend the strik-
ers' meeting this morning, when they were
initiated into the organization.
IL is stated that word has been received
from Chicago that 275 linemen OF that city
had gone on a strike. The inemen at
tended the telegraphers meeting latel on.
At the latter gathering it was stated that
reports had been received from scouts who
had been watching the effects of the strike
on the companies. The Western Union
office, it was claimed, had but
Six Good Operators,
and these were being worked day and
night. All of the city offices were re-
ported to be closed, and the reports from
other cities showed that the situation was
everywhere the same. 1t was the general
KhaS Skr riL hot q hi "a
would only last few days, and that COM
panies would be obliged 10 concede every
thing.
The te,egraphers' meeting was largely in
creased BY operators who had come here to
confer with the strikers. A committee
was appointed to devise a system for the
disbursement of the Brotherhoods funds
to the needy. The disposition seemed be
that nothing short OF complete conces-
sion by the company OF their demands
would be accepted.
At the western Union Ofiee
a force of about 80 operators vas at work,
apparently about half the desks being oc-
Cupied.
Superintendent Dealy said the outlook
was very encouraging, desks being gradu-
ally filled by new hands. They had full
force. though not the regular number OF
operators. OF the ladies, seventy.tiye out
OF the regular force Of one hundred and
thirty had remained faithful, and they
had succeeded in obtaining about thirty
recruits. About one quarter OF the men
were with them, and their wires were all
working clear, with the exception OF Bos-
ton and some OF the Southern points, where
there was still some delay.
Communication With Brooklyn was
found TO be cut off this morning the tr oub-
lie being with cables running over the
bridge. They expect TO be able to do all
the business brought them to-day without
any difficulty.
some Of the New operators
were first class men, and many of them
were old operators who had not been in
the business for several years. The ca hief
of the cable service reports that there is
no delay whatever there, and that every
thing is working satisfactorily.
W. L. Somervllle said it was not true
that any of the chief operators had gone
out. but every one of the twenty-five re-
mained at his psst.
Erastus Wymau, one of the Western
Union directors and President of the Great
Northwestern Company. which controls
nearly all the Canadian lines, said So far
as the Canadian lines were concerned any
COMPROMISE or concession to the strikers IS
simply an impOssibility. To increase com
pensation would destroy all the profits.
Chicago.
CHICAGO, July 20 Superintendent Glow
ry reports that the business Of the Chicago
oiliCe of the Western Union Company is
moving along without any perceptiole fric.
ton, and that while there IS not the usual
rapid service, nevertheless all vital com
mercial and personal messages and press
dispatches are being sent over the wires
without marked delay. None OF the old
operators have as vet reported back for
duty. but recruits have cOpe IN from coun-
try towns TO take their places. Old opera.
tors who have gone into other lines OF ouSl.
ness have also applied anu have been given
situations. Advices from other cities aud
towns in his district report similar con
dition OF affairs, and in smaller places the
strikers had asked
Permission TO Return
and in some instances have been allowed to
do so. Col. Clowry asserted that the stu.
alton was so encouraging for the company
that his only thought now was in bringing
the service up TO its old high standard as
rapidly as possible. On Change this morn
ing there was disincliuatiOn 10 engage in
trading, and bat little business transacted
during the early hours owing to the messre
nature Of adyices. The Western Union put
on trained force early in the day, and
there was 8 perceptible improvement I'M.
nlsdiatsly thereafter. The strikers here
thus far display tirmness in their deterrnl-
nation to stand out for considerable
period, and express the belief that the
company will have to accede to their terms.
Meeting Last Night.
The striking operators held meeting to-
night at which seventy.eight members OF
the Brotherhood answered the roll call.
Four additions we're made to the list 10,
day. Encouraging reports were received
from prominent cities. Resolutions were
adopted to stand rirm TO the last and pledg-
ing themselves 10 total abstinence from in
toxicating LIQUORS, and to use the same
carefuluess and moderation while on
strike that marked their conduct while in
the operating room.
80. Louis
ST. LoUIs, July 20.-The telegrsphic situ.
alton here this morning Is better than II
was yesterday and constantly improving.
IN addition to the sixty operators at work
in the main office, Manager Brown has re-
opeued q dozen branch offices in this city,
and has as large a force on Change IS can
be nsed to advantage.
Superinterdent Raker is eiying favor
able advices from all parts Of his district,
and business al all repeating and impor-
tant points Is being more than fairly well
done.
Applications for positions from old oper.
ators now engaged in other kinds OF busi-
ness, are flowing in by the dozen. These are
generally received with favor, aud there
seems to be no doubt but that within two
or three days the company will have opera
tors enough to fully man all sections OF the
country.
The Cincinnati strikers-
CINCINNATI, July 0.-The Western Union
office has received q number more operators
to-day, and business is being forwarded as
fast as received to all points not crippled
Two of yesterdays strikers have made ap-
plicstion for reinstatement No action hss
vet been taken in their case. The strikers
maintain excellent department. They con
tinue active in trying to persuade the WORK
ing operators to join them.
Worcester.
WORCESTER, Mass. July 2o-Ths tele-
grsph operators are still absent and hrm.
The Western Union Manager Is alone IN
the office, save the reinforcement OF one
lady who spilled this morning and WAS set
to work.
Rrevtdenee.