New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-31
THE TELEGRAPH STRIKE.
SMALL OBJECTIONS FROM THE STRIKERS.
THE COMPANY CLAIMS SEVERAL ACcEssIoNs AND
THE OPERATORS ADMIT THREE.

The striking telegraph operators yesterday began
10 concede little victories to the Western Union
Telegraph Company. They acknowledged loss OF
three members of the Brotherhood and admitted
that the company was doing better in the way OF
handling business But no Encouragement was
drawn from these facts and the position OF the men
was maintained az firmly as ever. Neither OF the
two facts mentioned was regarded as any indication
of what the FINAL result of the strike would be. Ii
was said that the detection Of venal members must
be expected but that the losses in revenue suffered
by the company would eventually bring It's officers
TO terms The Brotherhood also looks to the refusal
of railroad telegraph operators to receive CONNER
cial business as likely to inHict further serious
injury upon the Western Union.
TIE WESTERN UNION SATISFIED.
The attitude Of that company, however is as con-
fdent az ever. Press-Agent Someryile announced
the return OF eight of the strikers Since the strike
began. the company claims twenty deserters from
the ranks of the strikers in New-York City, and
siXty-thres at all points in the country. Business
YVES said to have been about up to the average in
ordinary times and to have been handled satisfac-
torily. OF the slxty-three strikers who have como
back the company that only one woman has
returned. About fifty out of 1873 branch offices in
New-York are now said to be open. No English
operators are reported to have arrived since the SIX
from Nova Scotia reached the city last week.
Regarding the effect on the Western Union OF
the order concerning the railroad telegraph
operators, Mr.. Somerylle said: The company
to-day has experienced little Inconvenience at rail-
road stations No more than II has since the begin
ming of the strike A general observance of the or
ders of the Brotherhood would cause some incon-
yenence. but all responsibility for resulting dam
ages would fall upon the railroad companies, who
are under contract with the Western Union to do
,ts business at their stations At the most would
be aft cted only to the business in small villages
and railroad stations as We have our owunen in
every important town."
Mr.. Somerville added that while the Brotherhood
claimed 10 have 10000 members among the
railroad telcra piers he had been informed that at
the end Of May last only 3, $40 were on the rolls OF
the organization. lie called attention TO the fact
that tho refusal of the operators Of the American
Rapid Telegraph Company TO take messages from the
Baltimore and Ohio was a violation of the law that
requires an interchange OF business between all
telegraph companies. Mr.. Somervllle denied that
Western Unions operators were being work d,
especIaIly the womcD and his words were appar-
entity confirmed by the roses IN the checks OF a bevy
of the dav girls who were leaving the Western
Union building ne IHE TRIBUNE reporter WAS talk
ing about the subject.
ADMITTING LOSS or THREE MEN.
Tho strikers held secret meeting in Clarendon |
Hail IN the afternoon. II largely attended and
the applause was frcouent and continued. Tho |
officers would give no idea as to the business trans
acted other than that it of routine character.
II wa, reported that the Postal Telegraph Company
had signed the bill OF grievances and that its line.
men were at work. number OF kilograms |
and letters of an encouraging tone were read.
Mr.. Mitchell said to a reporter: THE report
that eighteen Of our men have gone back is not
ne. Three men have gone back on US. One of
1 a rfaaIa o. 1toI
detection; the Others not much good. We are
as solid as aud our position is even
strong or than II has been These defoctIons do not
shake our confidence IN the least AS offset to
he OBJECTIONS the strikers say that four men from
he country on Sunday were induced To join their
ranks Yesterday before they went 10 work.
Secretary simpson. of the Intelligence Commit
tee, says that the Western Union Company has
had emissaries working among The girls telling them
hat the strike was ovrr that the Brotherhood was
about to disband and that they would better come
pack to work soon IT they wished 10
REGAIN thotr positions." Several cases where
This has been done have been brought to
In, attention. but they have had effect. not
single giri 50 far having returned In talking with
the strikers the girls generally speak more deter
ininedy than tho men IN regard 10 lighting the
thing out the bItterend. ami several say that thu
wIl seek other means Of earning livelihood rather
than 60 back defeated. An operator no had been
IN the Western Union operating room IN the AFTER
noon said that there had been large increase in
I he business offered, and that business was far
behind that toe notice that messages would have to
be takcn subject to delay would soon have to be-
mr. no araii,: Mr. Dealy and other officials were
working the keys Boston business was particularly
behind and not more than twO-thirds OF the tables
were occupied. at the most.
John Campbell considered the situation particu
arly stroug. He SAID that It was hardly probable
that any immediate action would be taken III re-
gard TO the railroad men unless the companies
would insist on their handling Western Union bust
ness There appeared to be no intention of inter
ferIng with the Associated Press men at present.
number of the members OF the Finance Committee
llaaft. In ...tfa
were made OF the amounts collected II was under
stood that the result OF the days work was salts
factory.
RAILROADS NOT AFFECTED BY THE NEW ORDER.
AT the offices OF railroads centrng In New-7ork
1t could not be learned that tho latest order issued
by the Executive Committee Of the Brotherhood
had produced any effect. At the offices of he
New.York, Lake Erie and Western 1t stated
The company had received notification from
the Brotherhood anG there had been
no interruption to business. A gentleman
who lives Oh the line of tho road and travels over
part OF IL daily said that at Passac and some other
stations all commercial dispatches were refused
yesterday Tor the first Time. |
Dir. Frost, train dispatcher of the New-York,
New Haven and Hartford road, SAID there had been
no trouble that road and he did not expect any.
In tho daytime the telegraph business
is done by men hired from the Western Union, and
from p. M. TO a. III. by operators
employed directly by the company. I'VE have
been treated we'll by our operators, said Mr. Frost
- aud nave Dad no complaints. 90 not OolieFo
that any order has been issued forblddng railroad
operators from sending commercial dispatch
90. In most small places the telegraph Of
fec closes at O'clock. and that tho
time our own men begin work. In of
sickness or death. or anything OF extreme mpor-
lance. / have doubt they would send mes
sage"
At the 40 stations on the Hudson River Railroad
a majority OF the operators are women, aud less
9han a quarter of these offices are IN charge of
men who do duty as operators and agents There
are 105 stations on the New York Central. At The
Depot it was stated that the latest
order OF the Brotherhood had produced
no effect and npeasant results looked for.
At the Office of the Pennsylvania Railroad at No.
go RrnadMaY the reporLed order telegranh oner-