The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-03-10
\ covERNMENT TELEoRAPH.
the United States and Canada Alone
Submit to Robbery.

Submit to Robbery.
When speak of the Western Union
Telegraph monopoly some one will ur
doubtedly wish to correct me. They
would call my attention to the fact that
there exists the postal telegraph CON-
pany in the field, and consequently
there is no monopoly. claim that
company which agrees to have its 1ates
fixed by the Western Union cannot be
its competitor, said George L. Walker
before the Nationalist club, Boston.
In order to get the work the Balti-
more and Ohio found it necessary to
cut rates. 1t cid so, and for a time
thereafter did fourishing business.
Finding there was a real competitor
in the field, the Western Union de-
cided to destroy it. One of the tele-
graph companies which had most re-
Gently been absorbed by the Western
Union was the Mutual Union. This was
resurrected and used for a weapon with
which to kill the Baltimore and Ohio
Between all con- peting points, the
Western Union established what were
known as Mutual Union rates.
These rates were so. low that the
Baltimore and Oh found it impossi-
BILE to live as a competitor. The
Western Union, with it's almost limit
less connections, hardly missed the
money that it was losing in this
comparatively small section of the
country. The battle of rates was
short, sharp and decisive. Mutual
Union Offices were closed and rates
went back to their former standard
The price paid for the Baltimore and
Ohio was $15, 10000 Less than 500
changed hands. it is said. A lawyers
fee and the cost of new stationery for
new stock certificates we're said to
have been the only items of expense
When the management of the Bal
timore and Ohio sold out at such a
decided bargain. we'll known broker
was moved to remark that as long as
there was money enough in Wall
street to build a telegraph line with,
the Western Union would have
competitor. The Western Union
knows of the existence of this senti-
ment, and therefore holds all opposi-
ton lines at arms length, ready to
crush them if necessary. Can a COM
pany which stands in such a position
as does the postal telegraph company
be truthfully said to be independent?
The complaint continually brought
against the Western Union is it's bad
service. A very large portion of it's
Offices are in railroad stations. The
operator in one Of these Offices is en-
ployed by the railroad company. and
is expected to give railroad work pref
erence. In order to do so he is often
obliged to neglect the Western Union
for hours in succession. This, in many
cases. makes the telegraphic service
even slower than the mails. A pro-
test is always met with the stereo-.
typed statement: 1--WE make no
agreement to get your message
through in a specified time
Careful investigation shows that
the Western Union favors one class
of business and willfully neglects to
do justice to another. Certain bust
ness, most notably brokers messages,
has special rights over everything
else. The operator who is sending
death messages, messages that sum-
mon children to the bedside Of dying
parents Or transact the legitimate
business Of merchants and manufac-
turers, is often compelled to lay them
aside, in order that the wires may be
used for the business of trust,
monopoly or a ring of spectators.
Many broker companies have wires
for use during few hours in the
middle of the day. The leasing prac-
tice has grown to such proportions
with the Western Union as to make
it impossible for the regular volume
Of legitimate business to be handled
readily. with the few wires retained
for that purpose. What is the conse-
quence? From 9 a. m. till 8 p. m.
there is g large accumulation of bust
ness in repeating Offices. The brok-
ers' wires are then free, and they are
manned to handle the business which
has been obliged to wait.
Telegraphy is a profession. Ask
any telegrapher in the union if he be-
]ieves the Western Union company
has the power to secure his discharge
and prevent his being employed by
broker. railroad or other telegraph
company, and he will tell you he sup
posed everybody knew it had! Think
of the thousands Of teleeraphers who
must work there as many hours and for
| as low salaries as may suit the conven-
fence and pleasure of this great mon
opoly, or suffer the loss of an opportu-
| nifty to practice their profession at all
l shall consider but one objection
to the governmental operation of this
service. A moments unprejudiced
thought will settle all others. 1t is
said that the PARTY in power could
keep itself informed as to what was
going over the wires, and thus exer-
else an undue influence over political
and business affairs. This objection
was put to me by telegraph man,
one who ought to know better. /
asked him if he had any reason for
believing that telegrapher in the
employ of the government could be
more easily induced to divulge the
secrets with which his work could
acquaint him than could telegrapher
in the employ of a monopoly. Iasked
him if he would explain the reason
why government employee would be
more likely to understand the signif