The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-07-20
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
THE GREAT STRIKE.
An Army of Western Union Oper-
ators Withdraw from Work.

atOrs Withdraw from Work.
Cbicsgo, 10 AT II O'Clock, Wash
inston time, the main body Of the army
OF opers tors in the Western Union office
N this city went out on theif strike. Inc
scene in the operating room Was mem
orable one. There has been feeling OF
nervous excitement for twenty-iUIr
hou g, and ii had been Wrough. 10 to s.
high pitch by the almost absolute GER
tAinty that work would cease st IL
O'Clock to-day. Promptly to the stroke
OF the clock the Keys were closed, and
hal sent messages we're left ueeompleted.
| 1t is estimated to exceed 100 operators
who went ont, among the number fifteen
or twenty female operators. There was
nothing bJisterous, and there va; a Rsmil-
lar shaking Of bands with the chief oper-
ators, Who remained loyal to the COM
pany. Outside the building and in front
, Of the Chamber of Commerce, which
stands opposite the Wes!ern Union
building, a great crowd had "a hered to
witness the departure Of the operators
from the bull ling. and there WAS some
cheering as the hesd of the column Uf
sttikers made its appearance, bit it coon
melted sway, as the operators at once
marched from the scene 10
the headquarters of the Union to
deliberate. When the operating room
had been cleared, it was found hat forty
oDerstoIs we're still at their desks exelu-
sive of twenty-one chief operators and
officials. The full effect of the strike
cannot be stated at this wiring. ne there
is natural confusion anticipated by the
officials growing nut of the large exodus,
but it is expected the flee will be in fair
working condition by nightfall. The
WheststoDe system OF the company is in
full operation, by which all New York
business can be taken care of.
Colonel Clsmry has received sdvices
to the effect that the Omaha, ST. Louis
and Cincinnati offices are in fair shape
and will be able to work along with their
reduced force. Shortly after the strikers
had left the building, operators from the
outside began to make their appearance
10 the operating room and were given
places.
Officials now confdentially assert that
with the force now at their com mand
and with the certain prospects Of rev
men, public business cAn be handled
without serious friction.
Boston, l9 All the operators here but
two have struck. The women ops a.
tors have also gone out.
Atlantic City, 10 -RobarJ Garrett, Of
the Baltimore & Ohio, left by special at
7 O'Clock this morning de had no con-
ference with the CON rlittee Of tele-
graph operators, who were to have ar
rived here last night having missed
connection Of trains. Gar cit then tele.
graphed that he would meet them at
New York.
New York, 19.-The executive com
~ ,ttee oftheBrotherbood OF felegrapherF,
in their paper issued to-day, publish the
official statement which justified their
petition for increased pay, aud asssils
the telegraph companies for reducing
their salaries and refusing to raise them
again.
Washington, 10 AT pm. ten men
OF the Western Union Telegraph Com
pony day force, in tae Washington
office, had stopped work and nine were
YET in the office; but the manage-.was not
sure all would remain. Nearly sll the
members Of the night force are congrs-
gated on the sidewalk at or near the office.
The members Of the brotherhood are all
out. Ii is rumored here that the report
that General Grant had dropped
dead on the street in New
York was the signal agreed UPON
to communicate to the operators to strike,
it bang we'll understood that the oper-
alorS might be relied on to spread that
story rapidly. An active officer Of the
brotherhood is authority for the state
ment that no strike is to be sppreheL ded
from operators working wires leased by
brokers, newspapers or private indiVid-
usls, where such operators are employed
al paid By the lessoes, unless an st
tempt is made by the IWestern Unian
Company to utiliZs these operators in
banding matter connected with the Dusl-
ness of such private frms.