National Republican., 1883-07-21
THE NEWSPAPER VIEW.
Comments Of Leading Journals on the TSleg-
raphers' Strike.
Views That Must Please Everybody, Sor
They Are On All Sides.
~ Y HeyniH

nave hlthert0 been undorpald ana over
worked, is question which it is not for us to
decide. That is an issue between employer
and employed, and one to bo settled by them.
But in resorting TO the step of yesterday the
telegraph operators simply exercised the
legal and moral right which belongs to all
dissatisfied workingmen in free country.
So far they have kept within the bounds of
law and proprlety and pursued course which
entities them to the popular sympathy which
they have evidently received.
Their complaint is that during period of
ten years they have been made the victims of
several unjust and unnecessary reductions Of
wages at the hands of q wealthy corporation
which has ourtailed the compensation of its
employees to keep up the dividends on its
watered stock. They courteously laid their
grievances before the company and meekly
petitionod for what they felt to be their Just
dues. They afforded the company every
opportunity for amutually satisfactory settle
ment of tho issue raised They did not strike
until they had exhausted the means of peace
full negotiation and given the company fair
notice of their intention to strike. So far
they have taken no unfair advantage of their
employers, have been guilty Of no disorder,
violated no law, committed no violence, pur-
sued no threatening or compulsory policy to-
ward non-striking operators. This is the
only proper and commendable course, and
the only one which can command popular
approval or sympathy for the strikers. If
they expect to retain such sympathy they
must continue the lawful peaceful orderly
policy which they have SO far followed.
Phliadeiphid Press.
Plainly, the strike is an effort of tho opera
ters to get better pay for their work. In the
long run pay is not regulated by strikes. 1t
is probable that the rapid increase in the
numbers of telegraphic operators has had
more to do with bringing about reduction
of their pay than the asserted desire of the
companies to cheaper the labor. At all
events the increase in number has given the
companies the opportunity to buy cheaply
the labor, OF which there was superabund-
ance. At the same time tho complaint that
the operators are underpaid may be just
one, and if so, the strike will call attention to
existing injustice, and possibly bring about u
remedy, though it will not consist in grant
ing the demand for a 10 per cent. increase mall
salaries. Beside supply and demand, there
are personal qualifications, skill and training,
sUbriety faithfulncss and industry, that must
be considered in fixing the compensation Of
labor. If the reduction of salaries COM
planned of by the operators gave to the inef-
fcent workman pay commensurate witty his
abilities, it would manifestly be unfair to
make general and arbitrary increase in sal
aries which would include the unskilled ope-
rator without regard to his lack of qualiiica-
tiOns. This demand for an increase is tho
main feature of the operators case, and, as the
demand has been formulated SO unwisely, the
company would, perhaps, be justified in re-
sisting to the extent of their power. But if
there is just cause for complaint it would be
better that The company should remove the
cause than that it should attempt to outdo
the operators in their own line of procedure
And both sides should remember the serious
incOnveniences that may be given the public
nI han nlxfn1 hxr nl.,, Hon nf t1,n
strike.
NetO York Tribune.
The telegraph companies could not afford,
in the public interest, to grant the demands
of the Brotherhood OF Telegraph Operators,
even if there were moro justice in them than
appears to be the case. No doubt some of the
concessions asked by the men, such as extra
pay for Sunday work, would have been
granted by the telegraph companies if prop
erly laid before them. But as n whole the de-
mand of the operators was unreasonable, and
was especially Objectionable in the way that
1t was presented. There is nothing in the
condition OF business to warrant such large
increase in wages, and the strikers will un-
doubtedly soon be convinced of the fact
In the meantime public business suffers
slight Inconvenience, but that will not long
continue. Strikes are a poor way of settling
labor disputes, and without public sympathy
rarely succeed. In the present case the tele-
graph operators have made foolish mistake
which they will no doubt long regret.
NtW York World
The telegraph operators strike yesterday
was an unfortunate affair. Unfortunate for
the employees, because at the moment the
strike occurred Western Union committee
was prepared to listen to their complaints
and to make concessions which would doubt
less have led to settlement Unfortunate
for the business interests of the country
terruption of telegraphic communication
Less unfortunate for the companies than for
any others in interest, because they were en-
abled TO continue business with less delay
than was thought possible considering the
extent of the strike.
Nsw York Times.
The prctense of the officers Of the compa-
mics that they We're ready to listen to the
complaint of any of their own opera tors, aud
to remedy their grievances if any were found
to exist, but that they could not recognize the
right Of committee of the brotherhood to
speak or act for them is not entitled to re-
spect. Assuming that policy of injustice
or unfair treatment has prevailed for years
IL would be utterly futile for individual en-
poyes of the company to make a remonstrancC
and demand tnaG the policy be changed. One
operator or several acting together could &C.
complish nothing. They would have the
privilege of leaving their employment if they
were not satisfied, but that would not accom-.
plish their purpose, They did not wish tc
- Ncaye the employment, but to be fairly treated
in it, Ibeir only means of securing re.
dress of their wrongs was to form powerful
organization and act together. This they had
a right to do and were justified IN doing, and
a refusal to recognize that organization and
its authorized agencies was a refusal to enter
tain the complaints and to redress the griev'
ances of the operators. The company put
itself in the wrong in taking this course.
Phil delphia Times
There is one phase of the question which
neither strikers nor employers appear to have
considered very much, and that is the interest
of the public in the matter The strikers de-
mand and the companies reject as though they
were the only parties to the contest and no.
body else had a particle of interest in the
dispute. But the telegraph has become such
public necessity that really the public in.
terest is the paramount interest, and il is an
open question whether either striker or en-
ployer has right to do that which shall
operate as II practical suspension of u large
amount of the business of the country just
because they cannot agree about u question OF
wages and hours of labor.
Ii is to be hoped that the public interests
will be given little consideration in the
matter, and that prompt measures will bC
taken to adjust the differences for that reason
The public can get along good humoredly one
day Without being allowed to send its or,
dinary business messages, but it won't do il
many days without very vigorous kick.
A..