The Hawaiian gazette., 1883-08-08
Our New York Letter
NEw York, July 19tI

THE TELEGRAPHERs' STRIKE.
While write, that hive of human industry, the
great Western Union Telegraph edifice on Broad
way is buzzing with an unusual excitement. The
question as to whether there is to be a strike or
not is being discussed by an executive committee
These representatives of 10000 telegraph operators
in the employ of the Western Telegraph Go. are
empowered absolutely to decide upon the question
at issue The operators demand an increase of 10
per cent. per month on wages; that eight hours be
called full days work, and seven hours tul
nights work. and that no work be required OF them
on Sunday, except it be considered extra service
and paid for at double rates. that women employed
by the company shall be paid like wages Tor ike
services as men; and lastly, that the linemen have
certain specified advances in wages. The operators
have thus far acted fooishly, where, by wise con-
duct they might have carried the sympathy oil the
public with them. In the first place, their demands
are absurd. They lump half dozen requests
which they formally presented TO General Eckert,
acting president of the company, and expects, ap-
parently, an unequivocal yes or no" IN reply TO
Them all The ability of the operators II they VIII
stick together to obtain concessions from the
coupapy is admitted. But SO intimately dependent
upon the of the telegraph IS the entire busl-
ness of the country that there is hardly any oc-
cure ncepossible which would so quickly make
panic and ruin in the commercial and financial
world here as the abandoning Of the wires by the
operators and the inability of the Western Union
to find substitutes.
decided to refuse the consolidated requests made
They DENY the right of the Executive Committee
of the telegraph operators brotherhood TO treat
for their employees but express desire TO hear
any employees grievance (if he has any personally
when he the employe) will be fairly treated and
such concessions made as may be made to appear
lust and proper The Western Union people also
further blocked the path of the expectant strikers
to the sympathies of the public by naming com
mittee to consider the complaints and requests of
the employees of the company. 1t Is difficult to
perceive, in view of the fair attribute OF western
Union directors as explained, how the operators
can decide to strike. unless it be from the fact
that they are well equipped financially, have full
treasury and with promised aid from the labor
organizations claim 10 be able to hold out for SIX
months. Yet they have declared they Will strike
if the corporation do not agree seriafim to their
demands and the corporation has virtually de
clared TO do so. IL would not be surprising there
for if strike occurs before this letter gets 10
the Mississippi river ON It's way to you. You VIII
of course know the result from your San Francisco
advices which will leave the United States seven
days later than this letter leaves New York.
THE EFFECT ON THE MARKETS.
The effect of the threatened teiegraphio strike
on the grain and provisions speculative markets
here, at Chicago and elsewhere has been quite de,
pressing to-day. On Saturday last, wheat and
corn took a decided upward turn and pork and
lard followed suit They had (wheat and corn
been gradually stiffening up during the latter part
of last week and by Saturday had succeeded IN
obtaining a little life and advancing in price.
Previously for a month, values of wheat and corn,
particularly of wheat had been almost uninter-
ruptedy downward Monday and Tuesday of
this week saw Saturdays gain repeated III each
case SO that wheat at New York for the six days
ending Tuesday evening had advanced six cents
per bushel However, as | said, the prospect of
mo wires" induced holders to turn what they had
into the market and figures grew smaller. Ihis
is but an indication of what is likely to occur if
a very general break takes place in the sending of
messages Provisions have been gathering con
siderable strength during the past few days, owing
to a general revival in what is termed the legih-
mate demand, and the growth of the belief that
the furious depression in prices which that mar
ket has undergone during the past month has
brought quotations down TO a level sufficiently
low to make it safe to buy.
TuF NrgFOCU FAIIURF.