The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-23
PRESS COMMENT.
Further Expressions of Opinion by the
Newspapers of the Country.
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pi'NAFA-'N CN n NCOA uEANO'
New York Zines.
The Western Union Telegraph Company is
trying to bluff on very poor hand. The
strike has crippled it. OF tie 900 OF more
operatives lately in its service in this city,
seven-eighths have left their desks. Some of
the vacant places have been filed by sum-
moning to the main offices operators from
the small offices outside the city, which Mr..
Gould has discovered do not pay" A con-
considerable number OF recruits have been
obtained from the schools of telegraphy,
from among the officers of the company,
and from various outside sources. But
those persons are bunglers. OF really skill
full and experienced operators the Western
Union company has not two-score in all its
New York offices. It has broken down. 1t
cannot do the business intruSted to it. Mes
sages are sent from this city after a fashion,
but there are few points from which replies
can be obtained within any reasonable time.
The mails are surer and speedier than the
wires. The business of the country has
been thrown into confusion by the failure of
the telegraph Press dispatches are meager,
and those received are manned and distorted
by the unskillful hands through which they
pass.
THE CoMPANY's LACK OF SENSE
New York Times.
As the struggle now stands the operators
plainly have justice on their side. and they
have shown themselves possessed of strength
enough TO TEN porarily cripple the company.
The public would be very glad to see them
win the light. 1t would be sufficient victory
for them if they should succeed in bringing
the company to accept modification of their
demands. But the company has more pride
than prudence, more strength than sense. 1t
may refuse all compromises and hold out
against the strikers until its boys and dunn
mics have learned to send and receive mes
sages. A victory thus gained would be
costly one, however. The Western Union
company will not always enjoy a monopoly
OF tile telegraph business in this country, and
the day OF its troubles will come upon it all
the sooner for its arrogance and unwisdom
in the present crisis.
MUsT MAKE A COMPROMISE.
Boston Journal.
The companies must make some attempt
to arrange these differences. The public in
terests and the interests OF the companies no
less, call for fair and conciiatory spirit.
We have no doubt that the operators would
consent to any fair scheme OF arbitration,
and that they would resume work until
settlement was reached. An obstinate trial
of strength between the two parties, to see
which can break the other down, is not 10 be
thought Of The public necessities forbid it.
The duty of compromise and arrangement is
imperative.
THE COMPANY SHOULD NOT HAVE WAITED.
The Western Union has taken advantage
of this monopoly of the field and of this
natural repugnauce of men to change to deal
very much less literally with its employees
than with its stockholders. 1t should not
have waited till this time before appointing
a committee OF directors to consider the
state of the service and it might well have
afforded to referred the matter to arbitration
LEGALLY LIABLE FOR DAMAGES.
New York Evening Post.
1t may be incom prehensible to Mr.. Gould
if other people take different view of the
case, And yet his own iocund opinion OF
the benefit conferred upon the company may
be disturbed if its customers hold it legally
liable for damages on account of delays and
mistakes occurring IN consequence of its fail
ure to settle the difficulty promptly.
HOW IT MAY BE OF BENEFIT.
Philadelphia Press.
If they shall continue in their present
course and demonstrate the possibility of
conducting q great strike, mum bering thou
sands of men, without resorting to lawless
means or infringing upon the rights OF indi-
viduals and corporations their movement
will have accomplished lasting good, no
matter what its result so far as it concerns
the question of wages.
DESERVES NO SYMPATHY.
Boston Advertiser.
The strikers are entitled to sympathy in
their assertion of grievances, and the West
ern Union deserves and gets very little sym
patty.
let THE COMPANY SETTLE IT.
New York World.
The return Of the old operators to their
instruments would mean an immediate re-