The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-12-29
AS TO TELEoRAPHERs.
There Are Two Organizations Entirely
Distinct From Each Other.

bsunrt FROM Lath other.
To The Editor Of the Standard;
An article appearing in your press dis
patches of the 27th, headed Railway
Companies Taking Steps to Break up the
Telegraphers' Union,n was apparently
gotten up in Chicago by some Of our enc
mics and intended no doubt to do US
harm. We, as representatives of Mon
tana district, wish 10 state a few facts in
self defence, as the article is misleading
and we know il 10 be preposterous in the
statement 10 the effect "that the opposi-
ton Of the railroads 10 the order has de-
veloped since il has shown a tendency to
affiliate with the Brotherhood of Tele-
graphers commercial operators) and has
refused to teach students sent 10 different
Offices by the companies TO learn the bus
iness.n
In the first place the gulf between the
Order Of Railway Telegraphers, and the
Brotherhood Of Telegraphers Is far too
wide 10 ever be crossed without disaster
10 both. The latter organization was
formed little over year ago by a dissat-
isfied and unprincipled element who
work in 10 all beneficial organizations at
the start for no other purpose than per-
sonal gain. This element, which was
composed OF a very small minority Of the
q. r. T., endeavored 20 get control of the
order and run IL IN a high-handed man.
ner by making IL a striking labor or
ganikation. As the q. X. i. was not
founded on such principles, this element
was sat down on so hard by the more in
telligent and conservative members that
they Immediately withdrew, forming an
organization with a foundation that the o.
X. T. would not affiliate with under any
consideration.
Our organization is not classed as a labor
organization, we did not organize for the
purpose OF striking and compelling our
| employers 10 agree to any demands we
may see iit To advocate. Our whole pur-
pose is To make the organization bene-
| hciary one-one that will elevate the pro-
| fession 10 a higher standard OF morality
| and thereby give better service to our EN-
ployers, by wedding out the bum, the un-
| principled and the incompetent. and put
| ting in their places men OF education,
principle and business qualities. We do
| not object TO learning the profession To
persons who have the latter qualitica-
lions. but we do object TO learning every
"jim crow kid who sees fit to apply, re-
| gar,llcss OF their fitness and ability to
make a success Of the profession.
| The mention of the course now being
pursued by the Lake Shore 4 Michigan
| Southern railway is an old matter, they
having raised objections 10 the order as
| far back as two years ago. Instructions
were at that time issued by Superintend-
ent of Telegraph Kline, instructing all
/ operators To withdraw from the order or
sever their connection with the company,
giving no cause for such action. This
arbitrary action on the part of the Lake
Shore caused much comment in the press
| az the time, and as a result OF the
adverse criticisms made upon the man
agement of the road, in an interview with
President Newell and General Manager
Wright, published in the Cleveland
Lecder, they both denied having any
knowledge of the circular being sent 20
telegraphers on the line asking II they
were members of the order, and the fol-
lowing official utterances were given TO
the public: I'VE recognize the right of
! our employees 10 become members OF any
| organization for their mutual benefit, aud
when they become our employees no ques-
tons are asked respecting the association
| which they may be connected with. We
know nothing about circular issued by
| Sups rintendent OF Telegraph Kline, ask
ing the operators II they were members OF
thus order
But subsequent developments proved
that they were as insincere in this state
ment as they were deceptive in the state
ment of facts given TO the Cleveland
Leader. We are aware aud have positive
proof that in making the statement the
management of the Lake Shore, in order
10 secure popular eudorsement.m made false
assertions. We shall leave the reader
to Judge as to who should receive popu-
lar endorsement.
j. L. CODE, JR..
Chief Of District.
+. G.. SMITH,