The Portland daily press., 1883-07-25
The Strike

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The Strike.
The strike continues and neither side wins
anyi decisive advantages. The telegraph
companies make shift to transact part of
the business offered, in an imperfect fashion,
but there are no indications save in their
own bulletins that they are gaining any
ground. Indeed the indications are rather
to the contrary. The brotherhood of oper-
ators is increasing in membership and
those who join it now join the strike with
the intent to make 1t more effective. The
number of those who have joined the strikers
much exceeds the number of strikers who
have returned to their work. The number
of the last class is very few.
Officers of the telegraph companies make as
good representation as they can, and con-
fess to as little embarrassment as possible
How much dispatches have been delayed in
transmission, and how much they have been
mutilated in passing through the hands of
incompetent operators win never be very ac-
curatey known. One reason that the CON-
panies can say with regard to some offices that
they can transact all the business offering is
that the volume offered is so much less than
usual. So long however as they insist upon
STIMULATING that they shall not be responsible
for delays we may be sure that the system
Is not In good running order They promise
to do as well as they can but they have no
confidence in the situation which justifies
them in accepting business without an ex-
press understanding that its prompt trans
action is doubtful.
The patience of the business community
under the circumstances is remarkable, and
1t is very clear that the public sympathy is
strongly with the strikers, not because they
have struck, but because of conviction
that the companies have the advantage of
power, and little disposition to use their
power with generosity or eEen with reasona-
bic consideration for their employees. The
strike is looked upon as revolt against hard
conditions, which those suffering under
them have right to endeavor to overthrow.
Moreover, the strikers have conducted them
selves with moderation and propriety. There
has been no violence, no wanton injury to
property, no abuse of those willing to work.
They have contented themselves within their
right to cease working themselves, and it re-
mains to be seen whether the companies can
afford TO struggle on withou. their service.
They are doing it after fashion, but it is
patent that they are doing it at great pecu-
mary loss. With their present force of OPP
orators they cannot do profitable business.
1t is reported that in New York city alone
the loss Of business amounts to S25, 600
a day. How long the owners of the stock
will consent to such losses is vital point in
the controversy.
Losses will not end with the ending of the
strike whatever the result. People are
learning the economy of the mail service,
and for long time after the strike ends
they will use the wires more sparingly than
before. Much telegraphing that is done is
simple extravaganza. A letter or postal
card would serve quite as well, but the habit
of resorting to the telegraph grows by indul-
gence. There is kind of exiliaration about
correspondence by telegraph that has fas-
cinating influence. 1t has the appear
ance of being in hurry, of doing
rushing bdsiness that cannot wait
on commonplace methods of commu-
nication, which imposes on some minds.
It#is favored by that disposition,
not energetic but lazy, which wants
to put off doing a thing until the last
moment. Thousands of letters that would
otherwise be written are not written, SIM
ply because it will be possible to send the
message later, but yet in time, by telegraph.
The instruction in the usefulness of
the post Office service which the telegraph
companies have given the business world
will not be wholly lost and many dollar
will be saved hereafter which but for the
strike would have gone to the increase of
dividends on Western Union stock.
The time chosen for the strike is when its
Inconvenience can be borne best Business
is not SO exacting and SO urgent in July as
In November, and the operators can take a
vacation now as cheaply as at any time
in the year. In New York and in Boston
suits have been instituted against the COM
panies for refusing to take dispatches to be
Immediately forwarded. ALI such move
ments help the operators. Should the COM
panies find themselves engaged in law
suits that threaten to make great drafts
on them for expenses and for the damages
resulting from their inability to do the bust
ness for which they are chartered, the fact
will hasten conclusion of the crisis. If
the companies which are rivals of the West
ern Union and owe it no consideration
should yield what is demanded and so Sc
cure the best operators and offer the wait
ing public good service over their lines,
that would force an end of the trouble.