Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-06-08
TELEGRAPH TROUBLES.
The Managers Confident That There
Will Be No Strike.
How the Proposed Action Of the Telegraph
ers' Brotherhood Would Al.
feet the Companies.

New NoRk, June The telegraph oper'
ators throughout the country, especially
those employed by the Western Union
Telegraph Company, have been dissatis'
lied for some time past over their condi'
ton. and have determined to demand high.
er wages and less hours. To enforce this
they have formed secret association
called the Telegrspher's Brotherhood,
which controls minor branches all over
the United States.
pay, as they grow older becomes less; that
one man has TO do an extraordinary
amount Of work, and in consequence be.
comes an early victim to
TeIegraphers' Paralysis,
and that the business OF itself is one that
causes men to die young. The Tele.
grsphers' Brotherhood has not yet decided
when the strike will take place, bat IL will,
unless the demands OF the operators are &C.
C, ded TO, he in the near future.
General Thomas T. Ecker,, the general
manager Of the Western Union Company,
said when asked about the threatened
strike: II have heard nothing that leads
me TO suppose tha, there is any compiler
tions existing or likely TO exist between
the operators and the company So far as
know they appear TO be perfectly content
with their lot. ! have neither had COM
plain,s from individuals or from any mum
Der Of men as body in regard TO either
their pay or the hours they are required TO
work. do not anticipate there will be any
difficulty at all, and | am surprised that
any such rumOr has got ai'oat.
80 far as known our people are working
along quite karmoniously, and ] see no
reason why they should even
Mediate n Strike.
think they are too well advised for that,
but IL they have any reasonable grievances
TO present the directors, ] am sure. would
readily listen 10 them, and give them every
consideration. The experience OF the last
strike in 1863, ! should think, would be
sufficient for the opera tors, when II was
found then that We got along Just as well
without the strikers as with them, being
able to secure others 10 Immediately I'LL
their places.
I'VE then took back all those who cared
to return 10 US ] do not think that the
men now could or will strike, for they have
not sufficient combination among them to
allow Of such a thing being successful.
For. although many might turn out there
Would be reds who would Net.
and besides do not think we should hsve
much difficulty in conducting our business
in any case.
Mr. w. B. Sommerville, Secretary OF the
Mutual Union Telegraph Company, said ::
Il have heard not a single rumor even in
reOs:31 20 a probable STRIFE, anc dohot he.
lieve there will be one. Although We are
partially amalgamated with the Wettern
Union our men get from So 10 f3j per
month, as against so TO SO on the part Of
the Western Union men proper. This
seasori Of The cssr, 100, 80! be a very
bad time for the strike, for It is the dullest
season There are no legislatures in session,
no Congress. no meetings, and business Is
quiet generally. As TO the effect OF a
strike prefer not ~ speak about II ct
present, for do not believe IN one
II Our OpeTatsss
were 10 present any grievances 10 us ] All
sure they would meet with every consider.
alton possible, and IL they were considered
reasonable would be remedied."
One OF the chiefs Of the operators room
was also seen and said that he had heard Of
nothing that led him TO believe that O
strike was imminen. among his men. He
lad, he said, heard rumors OF some c0ntem.
plated aCtIon en- the part OF the Brother
hood but did not attach any importance 20
II. He could give no information as 20 who
the officials Of this Brotherhood are or In
fact any details in regard 10 them what
ever.