The Labor enquirer., 1883-09-01
PLAYING THEN.
The Telegraph Companies Crow
ing Their Victory Over the
Operators in Their Gus
tomary Style.

In the early part of the telegraphers'
strike concession was made by the
American Rapid Telegraph company,
and the operators who had left the Of
fices of that company were instructed by
the executive committee of the Broth
erhood to return to work. The strikers
had demanded certain reductions in the
hours of work and a Is per cent advance
in wages. The American Rapid offered
to concede the point in the matter of
working hours and give 10 per cent ad-
vance in salaries, and upon this PROPOSE
ton compromise was effected and the
men returned to work.
! The operators resumed their places in
the offices of this company and worked
earnestly and hard to do the business,
which was greatly increased because of
the crippled condition of the Western
Union and Baltimore and Ohio, and the
chief officers of the Brotherhood shouted
aloud that great victory had been won
No precaution was taken against the
treachery of the company, which they
were known to possess to a magnificent
extent. Theleaders of the Brotherhood,
who have had to deal with deceb btion,
treachery and tyranny on more thah b one
occasion, blindly placed their trtst in
men whom all the world knew tere
only conceding to their demands bed iuse
they saw an opportunity to get the hlge
on formidable rivals.
The Brotherhood required no oHiga-
ton from the American Rapid, and Ehey
knew if their strike failed they wout IL be
required to sign an iron-clad before they
would again be given work. Whit is
sauce for the goose is said to be sau9 for
the gander. Then why did not the
Brotherhood require of the teleghph
company, when they had the advantage,
obligations similar to those forced fpm
the operators when the company is on
top?
The American Rapid has notified It's
operators that they will hereafter haze
to work for the same wages and upln
the same conditions as were in vogle
before the strike, and the men now haS
no alternative but to swallow the pill d
throw up their situations. The Wester
Union has done as every other stront
corporation is doing when they hayI
the advantage of their employees. Hites
are requiring them to. sign away tiefs
rights as men and citizens of ! free eo1r.
try to again be given emplos1ent by tht
company. The Infamous non clad con-
tract is presented 10 sYerf man and wo-
man who applies for work and those who
refuse to skn are serH1tt- away !na'
the reades of THE ENQUIRER may fully
undersand the nature of these deVflishs
slaYsh documents, the one used by the
Western Union company is here given :,
2 r. -of--in consideration OF
NV present re-employment by the West
ern Union Telegraph. Company, hereby
and agree to and with the sald
company that 1 will forthwith abandon
any and all membership connection, OF
affiliation with any organization or socl-
ety, whether secret or open, which IN
anywise attempts to regulate the condi-
tions of my service OF the payment there
for, while in the employment now un-
dertaken. :
And | do hereby further agree that l
will, while in the employ Of said COM
pany, render good and faithful service to
the best of my ability and will not IN
anywise renew or re-enter upon any re-
lations or membership whatsoever in or
with any such organization or society.
Dated. ................"...lSs3.
TSigned ......"..."..........." -
Address ....."......."....."
Accepted for the Western Union Iete-
graph Company.
In addition to being required to sign
away their manhood in the above agree
nent the operators will be worked