National Republican., 1883-07-30
The Strike OF the Telegraph Operators.

Vhe strilSo OF the Telcgrnph operators
This strike has gone on long enough. The
question is not so much between the great,
wealthy and oxacting corporation and Its
hardworking, poorly paid operatives as is
the question Of the duty and liability under
the law of this corporation to the people Of
the country. True, it is private corpora
tion, but it obtained its rights and priv
ileges from the representatives of tho
people. Its existence is due to
the laws of the country. 1t has
not only exercised the rights and
privileges given to it by law, but it has in
many instances, in violation of law, invaded
private rights by setting up its poles and
placing its wires on private property. 1t has
invaded public rights not given to it by put
ting its wires across navigable streams, and
has built up its operations by violating the
municipal regulations Of towns and cities.
The people of the country, ever patient
where the greatest good can be accomplished
TO the greatest number" have submitted to
these attractions of law and of private rights
without murmur. The company was char
tered to serve the people and TO do public
business. As the supreme court of the United
States said in recent cases.
The telegraph has changed the habits Of bust.
ness and become one Of the necessities Of COM
merce. 1t is indispensable as means of inter-
communication. Goods are sold and money paid
upon telegraphic orders. Contracts are made by
| telegraphic correspondence; cargoes secured and
the movements Of ships directed. The telegraphic
announcement of the markets abroad regulates
prices at home, and Il prudent merchant rarely
enters upon an important transaction without
using the telegraph freely to secure information.
Railroad travel is governed by telegraph
and hence tho very lives of the people arc
dependent upon its operation. In short, tel
egraphic communication is interviewer with
the entire industrial commercial, and social
fabric of the country. 1t is necessity to the
people.
The Western Union Telegraph company
cannot disregard these facts. If its employees
choose to strike, this is no excuse for its fail
ure to do the business for the country which
it has promised, and which it was chartered
to do. The supreme court of tho United
States, in the case of the railroad strike o.
last summer, says:
| We cannot bring our minds to entertain a doub
| that railway corporation is compellable by man
damus to exercise its duties as carrier of freigh
and passengers, and that the power so to compel
| tha at tha
duty is public trust, which, having been con-
ferred by the state and accepted by the corpora
| tion, may be enforced for the public benefit AS
to the strike, the court held that, so long as the
workmen committed no unlawful act no violence
| no riot, and no unlawful Interference with other
employees, they had a right to strike. Can railway
corporations, 1t then asked, refuse or neglect 10
perform their public duties upon controversy
with their employees over the cost or expense o
doing them? We think this question admits o
but one answer. The excuse has in law no va
ldity. The duties imposed must be discharged
| at whatever cost, They cannot be laid down o
abandoned or suspended without the legally ex
pressed consent of the state. The trusts are &C
tive, potential and imperative and must be exc
cuted until lawfully surrendered, otherwise pub
lie highway of great utility is closed or obstrnctec
without any process recognized by law. This Il
something no public officer charged with the sam'
ways can do without subecting himself to man
damus or indictment.
That the Western Union Telegraph com
pany has utterly failed since tho strike o
its operatives to perform the duties imposed
upon it by law does not admit of doubt
That public and private business has bee
injured to an extent scarcely capable of com
putation the numerous suits brought agains
the company for failure to deliver message
will testify The Dragging dispatches sen
out by the company that it is "all right anc
able to do its business deceive no one. w,
know here in Washington that this is absc
lutely false The public interests deman
that this matter be settled and the sooner
is done the better for the telegraph company