The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-16
THE TELECRAPHERS.
Probability of a general Strike with
All that 1t Implies in the Tele-
graph Offices
Unless the Demands of the Opera
tfves Are Complied with The EES
Present Situation.


likely to be called upon within fortnight to
settle some questions of extraordinary impor-
tance to the company as well as to the great
army OF the company's operators. A care
fully prepared statement of the grievances
of the telegraph operators, it is authorita-
lively stated, is TO be formally presented TO |
the company by committee representing |
the extensive organization known as ''The |
Brotherhood of Telegraphers OF the United
States and Canada, and accompanying this |
statement will be a demand for certain con
ceSsions
The brotherhood have been in session all |
night At this hour-3;30 p m.-they have
not adjourned All the plans have been ar
ranged for a strike in the event of a refusal |
of the demand, of the operators but the de |
tails are not obtainable The cypheT tele- |
grams have been coming in to the officers of !
the brotherhood all night, of which the fol |
lowing Is sample
CHICAGO July 13-To New York: Rain
ing III the west. Good day for fishing
HERCULES.
Translated this reads
Great excitement here Anxiously wait
ing result of the demands. Boys are conf
dent and all is ready.
One member said to a reporter: I'VE have
not used the word strike at any of our meet
ings, but we all know what is to follow a re
fusal by the company to accede to our re-
quests. The ladies are among our most earn
est members, but they do not like the word
strike They think it sounds more dignifed
to say resign Do we think the ladies can
be depended onl Yes, sir. They evince a
determination that is not surpassed by any of
the men"
Have you any expectation that the broth
erhoOd will proceed to extreme measures"
asked the reporter.
No think the company will accede to all
Of our requests l believe that the officers
have already made up their minds to give us
what we want, because they know that we
ask nothing but what is right"
A Appointment officer of the brotherhood said:
I'VE are strong all over the country, as the
following statement of our members July
will show: Pittsburg, 4S0; Philadelphia, $50;
Chicago, $50; St Louis, 200; Cincinnati, 175;
Baltimore, 220; Richmond, IS; Brooklyn,
2l0; Oil City, US; Buffalo, 200; Boston, $50;
Cleveland, 265; Toledo, 70 Washington, IS;
Omaha, 40; New Orleans 80; Atlanta 100;
New Haven, So; Hartford, 80; Toronto, 2l9;
Montreal, 100; Chattanooga, 100; Rochester,
50; Milwaukee, CO. and Halifax, 45
All the other cities are strong in pro-
portion, and include hundreds of railroad
operators at small towns and stations We
have plenty of money of our own and what
is more we will have the financial support of
the Knights of Labor, which number
500, 900 members. l do not believe the tele-
graph company will permit US to resign. Our
~. E
flying our demands to a slight extent, so that
if the Western Union and other companies
show any spirit of fairness a settlement will
be made
AT CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, July 14-"Every member Of our
body is ready and willing to obey the law" :"
said A J. Morris, the chief officer of the Chi
cago branch of the Brotherhood of Tele-
graphers, but a strike will only be ordered
when all efforts at arbitration or compromise
with the company have failed We don't
propose to strike first and then ask for some
thing afterward Our idea is to prevent a
strike if possible
The telegraph officials and the public
generally don't seem to understand what a
disastrous effect a strike of the operators
would have, but we fully realize it, knowing
our strength and influence, and don't want
such state of things to occur if it can be
prevented A bill of grievances has been
prepared by the brotherhood to be presented
to the officers of the various companies for
| them to decide on. In my official capacity l
! am not at liberty to say when the bill Of
! grievances will be presented, or what it con
tains. Roughly, however, the demands are
that eight hours shall constitute a days
work and seven hours a nights work, ne Sun
| day work without compensation, and that
extra work shall be calculated at the rate Of
twenty-six days in a month, and not thirty
one as the Western Union company intoads
| doing A slight increase in salary viii also
! be demanded
''Ifit becomes necessary for the Brotherhood
| Of Telegraphers to make an effort to obtain
recognition and redress from the companies,
1t will be matter that concerns materially
every telegraph and telephone employe Of
| North America whether they are members
of the brotherhood or not. Success on our
part will be largely conducive to the benefit
| of all as regards salaries, hours of labor, and
the just appreciation of merit. A few Of us
have no individual grievances to complain
| of, but as a class we have many and great
| ones and we believe and maintain that a
| wrong to one of our brotherhood is the concern
of all We know that we have the sympathy
of every one employed by telegraph and tele-
phone companies in any legitimate effort, but
we want their assistance as well as their SYM
pathy2 Some of the outsiders have never
been given a chance to join our ranks, and
some have not availed themselves of the OPP
portunities offered, but they all acknowledge
our objects to be legitimate"
| "How can outsiders assist youm
by upholding the principles of our order
and disseminating the knowledge of our
existence and aims to others They can
assist us by not interfering with our efforts
and refusing to take our places if it should
become necessary for us to leave Our employ
nent