Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-27
Ih1 Sire nress.
THE STRIKE BEGUN.
The Brotherhood of Telegraphers
Leave their Saunders.
A Simultaneous Movement Through
out the Whole Country.
The Eastern Onlces Greatly Crippled,
but the Great West Rapidly supplied
with some sort Of Opcrators-The
Officers Profess Checrfulncss.
lBy Telegraph TO the Free Press and Tmes.l

tclcbrupn OpcrulOTs, ueltyc Gu loI ScNci"i uoD
by the strategy of Gen. Eckert, was finally
ordered and took pace this noon, when il
nearlys all the important offices of TIT
country large proportion of the operat Or
stopped work. In some large cities only the
managers are left. Boston is seriously Grip
Piled. New York managed TO get of mos
of the days business. In the West the
strike is so far pretty nearly countcrbaanced d.
The striking operators were in session this
afternoon. The meeting was secret. There
were about TO operatives employed in the
Western Union building this afternoon. 1t
was learned that only two-thrds the regular
force Joined the strikers. AS fast as opera
tors applied for positions they were put to
work.
All members of the executive committee
of the brotherhood, with the exception of
John Campbell, have left for their homes.
lie remains to answer communications
sent to the brotherhood. Campbell
said this afternoon that instructions
were sent out by the executive
committee to operators all over the country
and Canada that unless countcrmanding
order was given meanwhile there should be II
general suspension of business at noon to-
day. At $3.50 the last appeal was sent to
Gen. Eckert in the hope that al the Inst mo-
ment he might accede TO the demands OF tic
employees. AS no reply was received it was
decided to let matters take their course.
The instructions were not counlermanded
and at noon the operators of 200 cities OF the
United States and Canada struck Operatives
belonging to the Western Union, Mutual
Union, American Rapid, Baltimore and ONO,
Great Northwestern, Canada and Mutual
Union of Cauada joined in the strike, also
the linempn of the telegraph, telephone and
electric light companies. The brotherhood
numbers 1000 men anu 1000 women. Camp
bell stated that the strikers were plentifully
supplied with funds, as the brother
hood possessed large striking fund,
and it was also an assembly OF the
Knights OF Labor and an application
was made several days ago to the central
committee of that organization for aid,
which was promised them. Communica-
tions have also been received from several of
the largest labor unious in the country, in
Guiding the analgamated order of iron and
steel workers of Pennsylvania Offering sub
stantal assistance in case 1t is needed.
Campbell thought that many OF the opera
tors iuld succeed in getting situations. Ia
regard to the prospect of the different
companies securing new hands he stated
that their only resource would be
IN employing few thlrd-rate
operators IRON the country. No good
men were left who were out of employ
mcnt 1t would be impossible to employ stu
dents aud those who were not thoroughly ac-
quaintud with the work to do it satisfactorily,
especially in the matter Of press dispatches
where great care and accuracy are required.
English operators were III sympathy with the
movement aud had informed the brotherhood
that none of them were about to come to this
country as reported.
The report of the death of Gen. Grant to-
day was occasi1ned by the fact that it was
the signal ag,eed upon by The strikers 10
communicate the order to strike. The oper-
ators held meeting and sent Il statement to
the press setting forth their grievances.
Labor Organizations Promise Sup.
port.
NEW York, July 19.-John Campbell of
the Photographers executive committee receiv-
cd letter this evening from John Garret,
president of the Amalgamatcd Iron AMI Steel
workers OF Pittsburgh, wishing the telegraph
ers' movement every success, believing their
demands are reasonable and Just. Campbell
sent reply expressing gra,ctulness for the
sympathy extended and saying the telegraph
crs would do nothing to disgrace the cause OF
labor, but at the same time were determined
that their rights should be respected and
grievances rcdressed.
Mrs. Lille Devereux Blake also sent let
ter expressing sympathy with the movement.
A despatch las been received from district
assembly No. 3, knights of Labor, of Pitts
burg sending a fraternal greeting aud pledg-
ing undivided support in the tclegraphers'
F..
attempt to secure more just remuneration Tor
their toll.
AT the meeting of the operators this after
noon addresses were made by Joseph Camp
bell of Pittsburg, A. Price OF Mary land, G.
Z. Bats of Elizabeth, n. j., Chas. Matthias
of Pittsburg and others, approving the course
of the operators and linemen, Resolutions
were passed to abstain from the use of in
toxicants during the strike. John McClcl
Ian, secretary of the executive board of thu
Knights of Labor said at is the desire OF
the press of this city TO know whether oul
order ndorses the strike of the telegraph
operators. Let Inc make the proclamation
that the knights Of Labor IN New Yorl
State and Canada will stand by the operators
who have struck in demand for Justice"
''Running smoothly"
New YORK, July 19.-Late, tonight, ii i
reported that everything is running smooth
ly at the Western Union office, and the usua
number of operators are at work. In every cas-
except in regard to communication with Bos
ton the wires were clear. The female oper
ators were all sent home in hacks. One hun
drcd and fifty-three branch offices in The city
all except few of the more imp )riant wer
closed, and the managers of each, very fey
of whom struck, were summoned to til
central office; later, they were sent back t
their offices.
Cots are now provided for those that rt
manned during the night and supper wa
provided at the expense OF the company
many being day men who consented to rt
main. Reports from different points at /
p. m, showed that every office was mannet
Boston is badly crippled.
Vice President May of the American Raj
id telegraph company said that all the Mors
operators left the Office when the signal WI
gwen for the strike. There had been yer
little delay in business as the office had cal
ed into active service the automatic instr
ments They anticipated no further troubl
OswEGo, n. V, July l9.-The operate
went out at noon.
BUFFALO, n. V, July 19.-Ncarly all Il
operatives Of the Western Union, Mutual al
American Rapid companies struck to-da
Later, % men were secured, There are nj
merous applications from non-union men.
BUFFALO, N. Y, July 19.-Thirty- a,
men are now employed. New ones are co
stantly applying.
NEW ENGLAND.
A General Strllte-Lonely Managers