New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-28
TATTLING OPERATORS.

A man who had once been a telegraph opera
tor in Newport made a curious revelation the
other day while testifying at the trial of Mr.
HapgoOd. He admitted having used for pecun-
isry profit, in more ways than one, information
contained in personal messages which he had
been called upon in a business capacity to SEND
or receive. A more recent but isolated instance
of the same practice has come to light on the
Pacific Coast 1t is said that a prominent st.
Louis brewer disapproves Of the attachment
which a certain German army officer entertains
for his daughter. The two young people are re
ported TO be at Pasadena, CAL, and a dispatch
from Los Angeles to Eastern newspapers de-
clares that the 1rritated father has wired to the
young woman, do nothing rash"
The question arises, If such message was
really sent at ALL how did its contents become
known? The supposed recipient and the officer
referred TO are represented by the press dis
patch in question as declining to talk about their
plans. At the time when the story first ap-
peared in print the distressed father had not vet
reached the coast 1t is safe 10 conclude that not
one Of the three persons chiefly concerned has
confded what must be regarded a family secret
to the public. There is IN equally strong prob
ability that 1t was divulged by a domestic or q
telegraph operator, either in Pasadena or else
where in California If an operator is respon-
sible for the leak, he may have cherished no in
cash compensation for the service rendered to
local reporters, but he has been guilty Of a grave
offence, all the same.
1t is to be feared that a considerable number
Of employees Of telegraph companies fail to
realize that they occupy positions of trust. No
conscientious bank clerk would feel at liberty to
tell an outsider the size of a depositor's bal
ance. His employers would dismiss him in
stanty if they knew he had done So The in
formation belongs solely 20 the depositOr and TO
the bank. In like manner telegraph message
is the exclusive property Of the sender and re
cipient 1t is for one Of them to reveal its
nature If anybody does so, and an operator who
betrays either the text or purport of such a
communication initiates n person who uses an
others property without permission. There is
not the slightest reason to believe that the
author Of the telegram in question was willing
TO have it published. He would perform a valu-
able service 10 the public therefore if he wouId
investigate the affair thoroughly enough 10 dis
cover who the offender is. and take the proper
steps 10 infiict punishment. IL a telegram
operator shall be found to be responsible If
should be An easy matter 10 secure his discharge
1t may not be out of place TO recall another
recent occurrence which in one respect resembles
the apparent breach of trust just committed in
NaltornIa, because there are suggestive points
Of dissimilarity. few weeks ago the Arcti,
explorer Amundsen made sledge trim from tho
mouth OF the Mackenzie River 10 the nearest
telegraph station in Alaska. and sent from +ba+
point 10 hansen tidngs of his success in acbiev-
ing the Northwest Passage without harm, ana -
having obtained the magnetic data which he had
sought. At Seattle IL was necessary To reneat
his message. and either the operator who 20
celyed IL over the government cable there or tho
one who put 1t on the land wire for transmits
sion over the next section Of the route. seems to