Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-25
The Western Union telegraph company is a

The Western Union telegraph company Is
giant monopoly AMI Is as selfish as 1t soullpsA I;
mas been u grasping, cruel grinding deSpotism,
remorseiessly exacting excessive tolls from the
people and cutting down the pay OF its employees
Nobody would be foolish enough to expect liberal
ity or generosity from IL. The entire history OF
the corporation Is marked by greedy SelhshneSS
= II has filed its Golfers at the expense OF the pub
lie and OF its overwOrked and underpald employees.
Its stock has been watered time and again. until
1t really represents a fictitious value OF tens OF
millions OF dollars But the management de-
termined IN II the watered stock must continue to
pay dviiends, and TO n Ike IL Go repeated reduc-
tons OF Salaries have been imposed The rule has
been that tile more the stock watered the less
the employees were paid Faithful service won
no gratitude or consideration from this N )aopoy
The man who had given the best years OF his LIE
TO the Western Union was cut down Without
thought or care as to the hardship thus imposed
upon HIM Finally when wages had reached a
minimum that strained every resource or the
operator To keep body and soul together, the en-.
ployeS protested, and appealcd-not for generoS-
lily, not for iiberality-but justice. They were
treated with sort OF contem ptuous Indifference
Their appeal was scorned They literally asked
LOT Dread and were given something as cold, hard
and unfeeling as stone, The employees struck
and the company supplema nted its grasping SELF
hn conduct by systematic deception. 1t has de-
iuded the public by false statements and con-
unuAd Misrepresentation For week the tele-
graphic facilities have been partially suspended
and business OF all classes and grades has
suffered serious loss. 1t Is evident that the tele-
graph company is as inconslderate of the public
interests as OF those OF Its employees 1t will Yield
nothing, not even out OF consideration for its
patrons, who are suffering Inconvenience and loss
And now the public is beginning to assert ITSELF
The power OF the law TO remedy the existing
trouble and compel corporations to respect their
pubic obligations Is to be set IN motion. The
supreme court OF New York, In precisely parallel
case, has laid down the law so plainly that there
can be no doubt as to its force. When, not many
months ago. the railroad companies refused to
accede 10 certain demands OF freight-handlers and
blockade OF freight occurred. the question was
Carried TO the courts The supreme court held
that the corporations had lawful right to refuse
10 pay the wages OF It's employees "but IL the con-
sequence or their doing SO were an inability to
exercise their corporate franchises, to the great
Injury OF the public, they uhe corporatons cannot
De held TO assert that such consequences must be
shouldered and borne by an innocent public who
neither directly nor indirectly participated in
their causes" 1t was decided, substantially that
corporations. deriving their privileges from the
puolc, owe that public duty, the responsibility
or which cannot be escaped By reason OF any dis
agreement between the companies and their
employees The Western Union and the Baltimore
and Ohio telegraph company which has followed
the course OF the former, stands this position to
The public, and the decision OF the New York case
shows that they are legally responsible for undue
delay in the transmission of messages
In formally accepting the chairmanship OF the
Virginia republican state committee ex. Congress
man Dezend0rf takes occasion to vigorously ex-
press his opinion OF Malone. He appeals to the
10000 republicans of Virginia. by the memory OF
the grand record OF their party and Its glorious
ooh 5arD an1r-
them not To amalgamate with party having no
national existence. he charges that Malone has
sacnnced republicans In order TO persecute re-
adJuSter democrats He arraigns Malone as a
eoSs or the most deSpotic type; one who makes
public ofnce the subject OF barter and sale and
VINO has introduced bribery and corruption into
the legislative halls Mr. Dezendorf I'm short.
paints Malone about black as language can
describe him, and he begs republicans to throw
on the yoke and array themselves once more be-
side the proud old banner under which freedom
was first delivered to the nation" The appeal
may be very touching, but Malone controls the
offices, and they more potent than Dezendorfs
Eorid appeals
capt webb, 'the intrepid swimmer" as he was
called, eSSayed the dangerous and altogether USE
less task OF daring the dangers OF the whirlpool at
Niagara Falls yesterday. His life paid the pen
atty o. the foolhardy attempt. The feat he pro-
Poocu was ouch u palpdOfe venture IN the very
laws OF death" that but few people We're willing
TO witness IL. The maa sacrificed his life in q
cause that could not possibly even If he had been
successful. benefit anybody. II he was IL search
q notoriety he has even failed In that
The New Hampshire senatorial struggle has
reached that stage where the necessity of a COM
promise manifests itself to those engaged In it.
Various propositions looking TO settlement OF the
exciting factional differences and union upon
some republican whom al support are being
suggested This talk viii probably result In some
Bort o. compromise, now that the most active
Candidates realize that they must give Way
The signal service bureau has made another
y ten-strike" In its weather predictions 1t fore
fold the storm OF yesterday and cooler tempera-
ture following IL, with accuracy