Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-09
A STRIKE FOR PRINCIPLE.
That's What the Head of the 7elegraphers
Call Their New Fight.

CHICAGO. December S.-Speaking OF the
result of the telegraphers' conference on
the Rock Island, Grand Chief Telegrapner
Ramsay said: "This strike Is more Ior
principle than anything else. The ROCK
Island road is the only prominent roao III
the country that has refused to recognize
US. More than thirty Of the Leading rail-
roads have signed our agreement ana
recognize the o. r. T., and willingly con.
ceded its right to draw up schedule OF
wages, to submit rules and agreements, Tue
same as has been accorded to the train men
and engineers. The operators on the rail-
way wish to be placed in the same posltlon
as those on the other lines. AS 10 now
long the strike will last, it may be weeks
or months, but the order is in good condl-
ton, and can stand long siege"
At IL o'clock this morning General Man
ager St. John said to reporter OF the AS
sOciated Press that as far as he had oeen
advised there was no strike in progress.
The telegraph business of the road, ne
said. was moving as usual. 1t was possible,
he added. that some Of the men had gone
out, but he had not received any advices OF
such action. On the other hand, according
to Chief Ramsey, the strike Is on. he oe-
clares that every man on the road went OUT
at 10 O'Clock.
General Superintendent Royce TINS al
ternOou saio :, eve are having no trouble
over the strike at al trains are running on
time. OF the 600 met employed by Us L
doubt If even 100 went out"
OMAHA, NEB., December S.-With lAe
exception Of four operators every telegraph
operator went out on theRock Island IN Ne
braska this morning at lO:3O IN response 10
the order Of Chief Ramsey. A large num-
. hoy hpnD
take the places of strikers, but the new
men are not yet at work.
DEs MONIES. IA, December S.-The op-
orators on the Rock Island went out thls
morning at 10 o'clock. New operators have
been obtained for important points but at
all smaller stations the service is cut OH.
The officials of the road are hunting for
operators here to send to various stations
but they are hard to get as most operators
svmpathize with the striking men. The
strikers are as confident as the officials.
There are no first class operators who will
take the vacant places whatever they may
think of the strike.
DENVER, Col, December S.-The order
issued by the 0. r. T., ordering all opera
tors on the line of the Rock Island TO go
out at 10 O'Clock this morning, was not
obeyed to any extent in Colorado. All the
men in Denver Offices remained at their
KEYS and will not go out At all other
offices, as far east as Limon, no men nave
quit work except at Colorado Springs.
KANSAS CITY, Mo, December S.-The
strike of the telegraphers on the ROCK
Island road has not yet materiaized IN TINS
CITY. At l o'clock all operators were at
work and there seemed to be no present IN
dication that they would desert their keys.
KANSAS CITY, Mo, December S.-The
special TO the Star from Ell Reno. Okla,
saws: The members OF the o. X. L. en-
ploved upon this end Of the Il. l. railroad
left their keys promptly at 10 a. m. to-day.
They feel very indignant at the actlon OF
the company in not treating with their COM
mittee regarding the scale OF wages adopt
ed by the order The railroad company
has induced the 0ispatchers to remain at
their posts. From Harrington, Kansas, to
Red River, Oklahoma, the present termi-
nus of the road, outside Of train dispatchers
only two operators remain at work and
both are said to be incompetent. Theop-
orators are q determined set OF men on this
end of the line and sympathy has already
begun to assert itself among the citizens
and frontlersmen. 1t is likely that scabs
will have hard time of it If they attempt
to scab in.
KANSAS CRY, Mo, December S.-A
snecial to the Star from Wichita Kansas,
saws the operators on the division, with the
exception of the train dispatchers and
three operators, left their offices at 10
O'Clock in accordance with instructions
from Chief Ramsey, of the o. Il. I. The
operators who have not complied with the
orders are those stationed at Antelope and
Haysville and one at the depot here.