The record-union., 1893-03-24
TROUBLE IMPENDING.
n STRIKE MAY OCCUR AMONG
TELEGRAPH OPERATORS.
Five Hundred People Thrown Out ol
Employment at North Adams,
Massachusetts.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oS

special 10 Jne tIECORD-ONION.
New YORK, March 23.-Western Union
Telegraph officials take very calmly the
report of All impending strike of en-
ployes, and do not appear the least dis
turbed by the presence in this city of
John Cuthbertson, Supreme Chancellor of
the operators organization. All the
officers declared the rumors of existing
trouble with the operators are untrue and
expressed ignorance of the fact that any
of the employees had been discharged.
THE CoMPANY's SIDE.
New YORK, March 23.-Concerning the
report that trouble between the Western
Union Telegraph Company and the en-
ployes is imminent, w. B. Somerville of
of the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, in an interview, to-day said: 81
understand some operators We're dis
missed at Philadelphia, and no doubt for
good cause. We reserve to ourselves the
right to manage the company's affairs in
our own way, and without either dicta-
| ton or intimidation from representatives
of any association. That such a course
was attempted these facts show: On
March 1th a circular was delivered at the
Office of the Western Union Company in
Chicago, with threat that it would be
issued at o'clock that day if certain op-
orators, members of the order, were dis
charged from the Western Union service
at Pittsburg. The circular was signed by
John Cuthbertson, Supreme Chan
cellor, and Oscar NJ. Gibbs, Su-
preTue Secretary and Treasurer, and
ordered that members of each local lodge
should upon its receipt appoint COM
mittee to thoroughly canvass its terri
| tory, visiting all the leading firms doing
business with the Western Union Com
pany, show them copy of the declara-
! ton of principles, advise them of the
action of the Western Union Company in
the discharge of members, and request
| them TO give their business to the Postal
Telegraph Company, on a claim that that
company was not antagonistic to the or
| DER to call upon other labor organiza-
tions to assist them in their efforts, and
appeal to the public generally through
the daily papers to withhold patronage
from the Western Union Company for
all competitive points. Inquiry was
made and reported that no dismissals
from our service were thought of. as
charged in the circular.
| "On March 4th the following letter was
received, to which, of course, no reply
was made:
CHICAGO, March 4th.
! "T'homds T.. Eckhert, President and
| Manager Of the Western Union Te{eqJ'dph
! Company, NeD York: notwithstanding
| your assurance that six men were dis
| charged on account of our order, we have
no desire to retaliate. But if these men
| injustice remedied. all points shall give
orders to carry ont my instructions in
the circular presented TO you, and will
expect reply by o'clock.
| JOHN CUTHBERTsoN,
| Supreme Chancellor, Order of CONNER
cial Telegraphers.
"Any employe of the Western Union
Telegraph Company has right to ap-
peal to the officers of the company for
any individual grievance, and will al
ways receive courteous attention. No
representative of any association will.
| however, be recognized or his views dis
cussed as to the way in which the COM
pany's business is TO be managed"
THE CLOTHING CUTTERS.
NEW YORK, March 2S.-There is little
or no change in the situation among the
| striking clothing cutters. Both sides are
quietly preparing for an anticipated
crisis Saturday, when the threatened
! lockout by the manufacturers goes into
effect, unless some concessions are made
by the cutters.