New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-22
PROGRESS OF THE STRIKE.
NO CHANGES IN THE WESTERN UNION.
A FALLING OFF IN BUSINESS OF BETWEEN ONE
HALE AND oNE-THIRD.


There were NO indications of a change in tn
situation at the Western Union Tele
graph Company's main Office, at Broad
way and Dey-st., yesterday. The inter
ruption to the general course of business was M
greater so far rs could be ascertained than on Fri
day; but it was no less Judging by the appear
ance of the public Office at frequent intervals OF tho
day, there was a great falling off in the mum
| Der of dispatches left for transmission
| There were times when patrons were waiting
| at all the receiving windows but, as n rule, the
| room had the appearance which ordinarily it has
only on a semi-hoday. A few of the striking
| operators fingered about the place, and Traffic
Manager Dealy, who was resting from work In the
operatinc-room spent most of the afternoon
IN good-humOred conversation with them.
There was basis apparent for calculating the
extent of the loss of business. but an opinion
based on the appearance of the room, In COM
parison with its usual busting business
air, and the estimates made by subordinate
officers of the company was that there had been
falling-of of between one-third and one-haf in the
amount of business transacted. Among persons with
tendency to moralize this aspect of the strike oc
casoned considerable comment. for, it was argued.
since the smaller the amount of business offered the
greater the dispatch with which it can be handled,
the public by Withholding business from purely
selfish motives is actually siding against the teleg
raphers. Sympathizers with the strikers saw this
turn of affairs with concern.
BOTH SIDES FIRM.
There was no exchange of communications be-
tween the strikers and the companys officers looking
TO either a compromise capItulation, and moth
ing was said on either side except words of conf
dence and determined resistance. The strikers
made preparation, by extending the details
of their organization for the phase of the struggle
which a stubborn refusal the part OF the COM
pany will force upon the men who are ont.
The company. too, took up the question Of the in
1uence and efficacy of money in the contest.
and discouraged secession among the operators and
encouraged secession from the Brotherhood of Te-
legrsphers by Announcing its loyal employees that
all operators whose the pay roll of the
company Mt the end of the present
month will receive extra pay for all work done
since noon of July TO- and their regular salary as
bOnus. notice 10 this effect was posted in the
operatrng-roo yesterday morning. The efica cy
Of this movement could not DO foretold
by any Occurrences of yesterday. There were no
secessOns from the ranks Of the operators loyal to
the company and only one from the ranks of the
Brotherhood. This one was woman,
who is said to be frs-cass teeg-
rapher and she put to work at once.
The officers of the company denied the statements,
made at the meeting of the strikers IN Caledonlan
Hall on Friday, that number OF the women
operators who had been sent home by the
company in carriages on Thursday night
had joined the strikers, and the presence OF the
operators at their desks yesterday confirmed the
denials of the officers. The number of opera
tors who were at work was the same
as on Friday; the whole force
200 and the number employed during the day
varied from $50 TO 100
TROUBLE WITH THE WIRES.
Trouble with the wires at various points was re-
ported, but the most of it was charged by Mr.. SOM
eryIe TO the storms which ragged in the West. An
exception was made IN the case of dozen wires on
the roof Of the companyis branch Office in Fulton
ST., Brooklyn. which. it was said had been cut.
The cutting was not attributed TO the striking line
men, however. to the striking
operators In fact. complaints
have yet been made against the manner in which
the members of the brotherhood are conducting
themselves though the correctness Of many OF their
statements mas been questioned and some have been
Nh Somervllc protested that it would
be folly on the part OF tho company
to give out false statements concerning the strength
Of the operating force. since such course could only
lead to embarrassment by encouraging the public to
pany could handle. Matters were 60
ing. he added. about the same as on
Friday. except that there were signs that the work
I'm the operating room which was dis0rganized by
the strike. being systematIzed. and the capacity
by the growth Of the new operators in
familiarity with the ways OF the Office.
TALKS WITH THE OFFICERS.
Traffic Manager w. J. Dcay. who was off duty at
tho Western Union building during the day. went
or in the evening. Assistant General Supcrin-
tendent j. Merrhew took Mr. Deay's place
during the day. Mr.. Dealy said In the afternoon
" have not been much Ill the operating room to-
day. 80 | cannot give any details of the situation
But in general way the situation is better than
yesterday The number OF operators at work Is
about the Same and the company Is doing pretty
well. matters are improved because the organiza-
ton of the force has been completed. The
operators are all enrolled on the books
of the company they have been properly
distributed according 20 their ability, aud they |
and the managers have become better acquAin ed.
The result IS to increase gradually tho efficiency of
the force and so the tendency OF matters is TO
prove with time Tomorrow little business will he |
done and employees Will have chance to |
rest"
BETTEE oRGANIzATIoN OF TIKI FORCE.
District superintendent w. c. Humstone |
also spoke of the better organization |
Of the force in tho main Office. 1.-The |
situation at other places Is also |
growing BETTER hc SAID. 81 have just |
got word that five out of eeven |
operators at Saratoga have returned to work, |
and all tho men in the Harrisburg Assembly are |
back Notice has been given that the operators
who working for us will be paid extra at tho
rate of hours for a days labor for every hour
they work and will receive their regular salary as
bonus. This is only Just. as our force are doing
double duty and arc worked much harder than
usual. This extra pay dates from last
Monday and will be continued during the
strike. Old and new operators alike receive it If
heir names are on the payroll at the end Of the
month. The business between here and Boston is
being done to-day without delay. IL is not true
Llat al the men in Providence arc ont. Only four