Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-27
| STRIKERS SCORE A POINT,
THE AMERICAN RAPID COM
PANY SURRENDERS.

Six Operators Quit at Washington-The
Press Service Unhurt-Threats of
Telephone Men-Business Men Moving
The Baltimore and Ohio Expected
to Yield-Latest Phases of the Situ
alton.
NEW YORK, July 26.-By the majority
of persons the surrender of the American
Rapid Telegraph Company to the demands
of the strikers was regarded as certain.
The indications were that the strike was
near its end, and that the other compa-
nies would soon follow suit and Weld to
the combination of operators. 1t was ru-
mOred that the Baltimore and Ohio Com
pany would be the next to give in, and
that negotiations were pending looking
toward consolidation with the
American Rapid Company, and thus
forming a combination against the
Western Union, and securing a large
portion of its business. If the two COM
panies were united, it is claimed that all
important points in the West and South
could be reached without difficulty. and
that the delays which have thus far i'm
peded business at the exchanges could
thus be overcome. 1t was stated this
morning at the offices Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Company that it was the intention of
the company to remain firm. At the office
of the American Rapid Company 1866 Ope-
rators were ON duty to-day, including 116
men that went out on the day of the
strike. Ninety-fiYe out-Of-tOWn offices
were opened, and 400 operators in all had
returned to the employ of the company.
The thIrty-eight branch offices in this city
were also reopened, and a large
amount of business is reported
to have been handled. The West
ern Union Company still remains
firm, however, in the position it has as
sumed since the beginning of the strike,
and shows no indication of weakening
The large force Of operators on duty YES
terday returned to-day, and the reports of
the managers of the. operating room
showed that business was being handled
promptly. Encouraging reports were re-
ceived from the General superintendent
at Chicago and Nashville, Tenn. Press
Agent Someryille said that the action of the
American Rapid Company would have no
effect upon the policy of the Western
Union. There seems to have been little
Improvement at the exchanges this MORN
ing, and no complaints were made any,
where except at the Cotton and Produce
Exchanges. At the latter place nine
operators were at work, and it is expect
ed that there will be less delay and greater
accuracy in the reports and QUOTA
tions to-day. The Postal TelegraphsCOm
pany has put on two Chicago wires,
which have been quadrupleXed,
and this will be equivalent to 8 wires.
No operators of the Western Union Com
pany are at the Cotton Exchange, and
messages have TO be sent to the main Of
flee for transmission. At the Stock EX-
change there were Western Union opera
tors, and 1t was reported that the direct
wires to Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia
and Baltimore were entirely clear, and
that no delay would occur to-day in the
transmission of messages to these points.
Mutual Union and Baltimore and Ohio
offices were closed, but merchants and
bankers were doing a large business APP
parently.
The Western Union bulletin at nine
O'Clock reported the wires for business
clear for all points, and to-day business
is moving in good time.
The usual routine was carried out this
afternoon at the meeting of the striking
telegraphers in Clarendon Hall. Chair
man Mitchell announced that he would
be absent for the remainder of the day on
business connected with the Brotherhood,
and that he would probably have some
important intelligence to communicate
when he came bace. 1t was understood
that he referred to the pending negotia-
tiOn with the Baltimore and Ohio Tele-
graph Company looking toward a cOmprO-
mise with the Brotherhood. Dispatches
were read from Boston, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, OF City,
Pittsburg, st. Louis and other points,
giving encouraging reports and urging
the strikers to remain firm. Numerous
offers of Decuniary assistance were re-
ported to have been made by labor organ
iZatiOns and by business men who were
in sympathy with the operators. Many
accessiOns to the ranks of the strikers
were also reported by various assemblies
in different parts of the country.
WASHINGTON, July 26.-Seven Western
Union operators, not members of the Tel
egraphers' Brotherhood, who last week
signed an agreement to strike by GER
tain date, if no action should be taken by
the Western Union Executive Committee
looking to compromise of the questions
at issue between the company and the
strikers, were discharged by Superinten-
dent Zeublin at II O'Clock to-day. Super
intendent Zeublin arrived here last night
with four men, one printing and three
worse operators to take the places of the
seven above named. All of those who
were discharged to-day were first-class
men, and they constitute the majority
OfthOse who remained at their desks when
the strike began.
The discharged operators say that Su-
perintendent Zeubln this morning APP
pealed to each Of the seven men individ-
ually, and endeaVored to induce them to
withdraw their names from the agree
ment above referred to. He informed
them that he was instructed to discharge
them unless they consented to withdraw.
Each man replied that he would keep his
pledge to his fellows. The hour at which
the agreement was to be carried into
effect was II O'Clock. A few minutes be-
fore noon the seven men cOngregated in
an ante-rOOm of the operating room, where
after few words more from the Superin-
tendent they were informed that they
We're discharged. They all went to the head
| quarters of the Brotherhood, where they
met with an enthusiastic reception, and
meeting was held, it is supposed, for the
purpose of initiating the new men.
In response to an inquiry from the AS
sociated Press office as to the condition in
which the exodus has left the Washington
office superintendent Zeublin made the
following reply in writing:
''With exactly the same number Ofmen
who arrived from Philadelphia, Harris
| burg and Chester, Pa, last night, and
with four more en- route, we now have the
office fully equipped with 'gilt-edged,'
| first-class loyal and enthusiastic
operators. The business will no
! longer DC Intentionally man gleQ ana
errors willfully caused by traitOrous en-
| plOyes. j. T.. ZEUBLIN,
july 26. Superintendent.
1t now appears that only six men We're
! discharged from the Western Union main
| office to-day. The seventh signer of the
agreement to the strike has not been sat.
isfactOrily accounted for by either the
| strikers or Western Union officials, 1t
was given out to-day, however, that the
/ entire seven had gone. One member
| of the night force is absent
tonight, but he Is reported to be tired out
and resting. Including this tired man
! there remain in the Western Union main
office only five men, exclusive of the chiefs,
of the entire day and night force employed
when the strike began. One of the five is
printing operator, Among the strikers
are two brothers of Manager Marean and
son of each of the chiefs, Young and
Bender. Tonight Chief Young announces
that press reports are going off in good
style and.the wires are working well.
The men discharged to-day Indignantly
deny the assertion of Superintendent
Zeublin that they had Intentionally man.
gled and willfully caused errors in the
/ business passing through their hands