The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-14

leans. Memphis and Nashyiile, where the
scale 81 wages was about equal to that in this
city The lowest ates for eomaereiaIopera
tors were from s3s to $40 per month for
operators at small way stations Before the
reduction in wages rates were 95 to 40 per
cent. higher than at present. In 1870 first
class operator could make from 500 TO 1920 a
month. These rates extended back to the
time Of the beginning Of the war, when the
scale was about the same as at pres
emit for railroad operators, and for
commercial a little higher The West
sn Union company employs
quarter Of all the operators
in the country, and about
two-thirds are railroad operators The
American Rapid company only employ one
fifth as many operators as the Western
Union The protestof the brotherhood was
against all the companies and all employers
Of telegraph operators The rate OF wages
was not considered sufficient to live upon,
and was much below that of common day
lahoreIs in many instances. The companies
were able to pay higher wages to their men
without increasing their rates for
service to the public This was evident
from the large dividends paid 10y tue Western
Union. Besides, their farlities for transmit
ting messages had been increased Ivy the IN
vention of the duplex ami quadiuplex. There
had been no reduction i'll the tariff in cous,'
Iuence of these improvements, but on The
other hand the wages of the operators were
reduced The number of operators had dou
bled since 1874 while the facilities OF the
company had more than douhlnd The West
eln Union ia that year handled Z 1910 0,h
messages, and hast year the number WITS
Is, OGO, 900
Mr. Campbell then recitad the history of
the strike since it hegau. There was "A con
vention of the brotherhood held in Chi
ago last March, at which bin of griev ances
was drawn up. This was presented la the
different local assemblies Of the brotherhood
throughout the United States and
Canada. who unanimously ratified the
action of the convention tn"
returns to the executive board were made
about two months ago, aud the COMMITTEES
WAS instructed to present the demand Of the
operators to the different companies, and
they were also empowered To at4itrata npou
all propositions that might he made ny the
eompan IS
WIRE CUTTING.
NEw York, Aug 13--Fress Agent Somer
vile, of the Western Union company, said
in the past twelve hours l5n wires had been
cut in this vicinity Lmemeu were sent ont
repairing The Western Union has en-
ployed detectives To watch their wires
but SO far no reports nf arrests Of
wire cutters have been made Mr.
| Somervilie alsn said that the states in
which the wires were cut would have to pay
for the damage done, and expenes of repair
| ing them. The striking lnemeu perSistently
1eny that they have cut any of the wires
| The officers of the Western Union say they
are well NJ with business and nead hut few
more telegraphefs to place them in as good
| circumstances AS before the strike OF 49,
offices Of The company in this city seventy
one are now open II was said that one of
the striking operators in this city and an
other at Long Branch had returned to work.
At CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, Aug. 13,-Appaarauces are ap-
parently not such as to justify the hopes and
representations INDUCED in by the strikers
Of a hack-down by the Baltimore Il Ohio
company, which would lead, it was claimed,
to concessions Immediately afterwart by the
other companies The manager Of the Balti,
more & Ohio said, as he had said for weel,
past that there was not the slightest founda-
ton for the operators hopes of a compromise
as far as his company was concerned The
Baltimore & Ohio, the reporter was given to
understand, had not and would not entertain
any pacific position made 10y committee
representing the strikers Zach m'tu WdsC
act for himself or not at all
A similar policy win be carried out by the
| Western Union 1t was represented to the
general superintendent of that corporation
that in case the operators were to acknowl
edge themselves beaten and await PROPOSE
ton from the company the latter coulj
afford TO he magnanimous. The official he
piled somewhat steTnly and very emphat
ically that the company was acting very
magnanimously in taking back any Of tn
strikers at all It was customary, the Off
cial explained, to give at least week
notice before leaving the company's employ
and those who suddenly left their desks Will,
out previously manifeSting any such inten
ton renowned all claim, OF their own fire,
will upon the company.
THE BROTHERHOOD.
Uhli.h's hall was crowded with operator
and messenger boys awaiting IhelI pay. Ihel
received their money shortly after II O'Clock
and scoffed at the idea of the treasury run
ming low.
Reports continue to low In at the telegraph
ers' headquarters at Uhlichs hall from i'm
portant points, all indicating fir1nness and n
intention to surrender. A circular from th
secretary of the Chicago brotherhood say
that the men are as firm now as ever, tina
there are ITO assertions, and that constant al
ditions ar beng made to the ranks
The female operators are termed the mobiles
of their sex, none of them having gone bacl
to work The circular winds up by calm
the attention If the public to the fact tina
the Western Union say they have all til
operators they want, yet ask the strikers I
return to work as often as they can gain a
opportunity to speak to them individually
1--WE will 90 back winners or never" is tn
motto.
At Detroit there are now 4Sl members, an
all are determined to stand to the last
Washington. ID. c., sends word that the
have plenty of money, no OBJECTIONS, an
public sympathy.
John Campbell sends greeting from Ne'
York and says all are firm there He report
that the Western Union officials admitted I
disiuterested persons that they are in a wor;
condition than ever.