Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-18
GOULD NOT TO GIVE IN.
HIS REPLY EXPECTED TO-DAY
AND THE STRIKE TO FOLLOW.

The Directors as Dumb as Ever-No
Action Taken by Amy of the Compa-
nies Yet-EditOrs Write Opinions
Which VIII Please GOuId-Telegrams
of Compromise Declared FOrgeries.
NEW YORK, July 1.-THE Executive
Committee of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company will meet tomorrow.
The petition of the operators will then
be brought to their consideration. One
of the officers of the company said to-day
that it was impossible to say what action
would be taken. The general opinion
was that the demand was excessive and
unreasonable. No action has vet been
taken by the Mutual Union, the Ameri-
lean Rapid or the Baltimore and Ohio
companies.
The HerdId's editorial says of the
threatened strike of the Brotherhood of
Telegraphers that, ''although their petition
is cOuched in respectful terms, it leaves
the impression of asking too much. II
requests that a days work be made eight
instead of nine hours, and nights work
seven instead of eight hours-a reduction
OF One-nlnth in one case and One-eighth i'm
the other. At the same time it wants all
wages increased 10 per cent. irrespective
OF the age, skill, or position of the opera
tor besides extra compensation for
Sunday work. The real effect of these
demands will be best illustrated bv An
example. A day operator receives, say
$40 per month, or, counting nine hours a
day and six days to the week, about
thlrty-tiYe cents per hour. Under the
present rate the monthly wages will be
$50 %. A days work will be eight hours
during six days in the week, or about
forty-tive cents per hour, an actual in
than In,
gard to the WheatstOne operators, an in
crease OF 30 per cent. is demanded. On
the whole, it may be doubted whether the
operators have presented a strong case.
That evils exist cannot be questioned.
but they will not be remedied by the
course TAKEN"
CHICAGO, July 1.-THE press comments
here regarding the threatened strike of the
telegraph operators while kindly in tone
to the operators are in opposition to the
proposed movement, which is regarded as
unWise and unwarranted. The Times
says; "All familiar with the history of
strikes know that success in striking
against an employer of abundant means
and determination has rarely, if ever
been achieved Such efforts commonly
lead to great loss and suffering among the
strikers and the ultimate resumption
OF work, when allowed to resume,
at rates affOrding no recOmpense
for the sao1ince. With none but the
kindeet feelings for the operators, and
without entering into the merits of their
controversy with the telegraph company.
the Times is constrained to believe that.
admitting the worst that can be reason
ably predicted in the way of incOnye-
nlence to the business community and of
loss TO the company, the only really ire
parable damage that can result from the |
coming suspension of work will be to the
operators themselves. They propose to
throw away earnings amounting to from
$4,000 to $4,000 per day, more or less.
and then, if their utmost demands !
should be conceded in the end.
the increase of pay they ask |
would hardly in one year make good the !
amount they will lose in month. The
situation deserves calm and judicious con-
sideratiOn, which there is some reason to
fear the mass of the operators have not |
given it,.
The Inter- ocean says: ''The telegraph
operators are as body very intelligent
young men. They should appreciate
the gravity of the responsibility |
they are assuming in refusing to |
work at the present rates. The |
general tendency of prices in the leading |
commodities of trade is downward. and |
they should weigh well the chances of
success or failure. They should scrupu-
lously avoid making any unreasonable |
demands, for the public will be |
mportunate in calling for telegraphic |
service. The pressure for wire working !
VIII be tremendous. 1t is estimated that !
sleet storm last winter, brief and partial
as was the interruption resulting from il.
cost the public $1,000,000. One week of |
suspended communication by telegraph |
would be crisis and render imminent |
danger OF panic. Business men. like |
children, are afraid of the dark. Those |
who propose to strike should consider the |
public interest as well as their own rela- |
tions to the company. AS public servants |
the operators are an absolute necessity. |
ana though they may lend sympathy in |
their grievances now a day or two of |
suspension of busines will change that
sentiment. They may not be paid as
mucn as they think their services are
Worth-very few salaried men are-but |
they nave had no reduction in cOmpensa-
ton, and 1t is as liberal as other men of |
equal abilities receive in other lines of |
occupation. The Western Union Com
pany is determined to resist their de-
mands to the end. This announcement |
is made authOritatiyely. The operators
grievances cannot justify these cOnse-
quences, and they should not enter upon |
movement which can bring them no |
possible good"
The Western Union officials state that |
certain kilograms published in certain |
morning papers purpOrting to come from |
two directors of the Western Union ad- |
Vlsing compromise, were fOrgeries. No |
such dispatches have been receiver.