Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-20
The nosr EcTABLE STRIKE Ka0wE
70 HISTORY - soMg sIGEIF1CAGr

FACTS.
At high noon yesterday between y. 900
and 1900 photographers in the United
States left sheir keys" and the great
current of newg ceased to flow along the
wires. The commercial communications,
which noted the pnlsstions Of She mar
kets Of the continent, were checked, ard
there came TO dead pause one Of the
migatiest forces IN the scheme Of modern
civilization
The people OF the nation were suddenly
confronted with the TACT that much of
their comfort, great share Of their basi-
nesg. and She chief means of informing
themselves Of ths worlds Transactions,
were dependent upon band Of over
worked, undergrad AID generally uacom-
planning men and women, who at last
had relussd longer TO have the manhood,
wom2nhoOd and life ground out Of them
by a business association which has sys5e-
InasicaiLy starved It's employees for decade
or more, set narrowest limits 70 their am
bition and practically stayed their progress
in the race of life in order 20 pile up ex-
brilliant dividends FOR rich stockholders.
What are ihe facts? The Western
Union Telegraph Company has, during
the past i've yeara, steadily reduced the
wages Of its employees and increased their
tasks. un5il The aggregate Of earnings it
has 7grung from them amounts 80 fully
% per cent. and they have few hours TO
call their own. Prior to 1878 the en-
ployes we're receiving such wages that
frst-clags operators could make from 500
to 1920 per month. in a calling demand.
ing = very high degree OF skin, most
labogiona and health. destroying habits,
and deprivation of most Of the privileges
enjoyed by wage winners. In that yeaf
the sliding scale" Of direct reductions was
pTornu gated, which cut down wages from
5 TO % per cent, and did not lessen
tasks Thereafter, whenever vacancy
occurred in . frst-class position. it was
filed By worker wf.a was compelled to
take it at a materially lower wage than his
predecessor, and Tins another "cut " was
gradually brought about.
Since chen the giIdle OF oppression has
been drawn tighter each year. Vacations
are utterly unknown 80 The policy Of this
company promotion haa become prac-
tically impossible increase of salary is
forbidden long hours of work are exacted,
and youths who have remained in Offices,
after learning the business, have found Il
impotsible to secure regular operators
wages. except by leaving. going to eome re.
rnote point, aud fnslly working back to
position originally their due. The one day
Of rest in seven ia unknown 20 night ope-
rators, sad day nen are required 90 con
tribute ons Sunday in five TO the
pzo(ts OF the company, With busi.
ness hundred fold greater ana more
profitable than il 1878. the company &C.
taaily pays its men less for more labor
in 1888 Men receive 81 telegraphy, fer
hrss.class skilled services. from SO TO $50
for night work, and from SIS to the
lowest figure possible below that for
day work. The operators have asked nov
for a rest day, for brierer hours OF confre.
ment, and for restoration of wages Tor
the future, still 10 per cent, below the
figure they once received; in other words,
a. per cent. present advance. The CON.
pany refuses, and the electric wires ale
stilled.
That the heart OF the people is with
these men there can be no doubt; on this
coast there is no question on that point.
There will be some Inconvenience TO the
public, but the company, not the operators,
IS responsible for it. Il is the basis for no
just argument against the equities of these
operatives. BY this system of low wages
long hours, no vacation and excessive tasks,
the telegraph company has been stesdily
importing She efficiency of the telegraphic
service. The public has bten served, but
far less satisfactorily than If the operators
had been treated 90 men and women hav.
ing human hopes. ambitions and desires.
Such few dispatches as may be received
and published for few days, it must be
remembered, come over wires and through
mediums controlled at this juncture by the
telegraph oompsny, and they should there
fore be read With discreet suspicion, since
the fermentation Of dispatches favorable 20
the operators can be easily delayed, OF re-
fascd, with sembiauce Of reason. The
few operators who remain in bonds are 81.
fenced. and are net Ekoly to disobey or
ders and transmit the whole truth to US
regarding public aentimens az the East.
In this connection, the pablo viii net
forget that the self-announced friend Of Is.
Dor. the meudacious San Francisco
Chronicle. an insidious foe to labor.
ing classes, has pronounced against
the telegraph workers, and ssigmasizsd
their manly, orderly and peaeeful ret;rscy
from species Of slavery. rs unwarranted
and vishou. sufficient cauae. This is the
Journal that was first TO reduce the wage
of printers en- the Pacific coast, and that
has once been driven from a second shame
ful reduction to somewhat higher rate.
Its sincerity on any subjsct is to be mesa.
ured by its greed, and its opportunities for
gain. regardless of methods, In this IN
stance it proves true to tue personality
behind it, and sneers contemptuously
at the demand fer fair wages, ssir hours, |
fair rest and decent treatment of skilled
workers by company it evidently fada it
70 its profit to serve, by deaouncing the
photographers who have chosen rather to |
Geek for other employment than slave their
lives out for company whose true interest
it IS to pay then well and roundlY for
faithful service.