Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-08-27
THE MAN WITH THE WHISTLE.

thing is at once fareical. fantastic,
and Ia many instances pathetic. TIT
history not only OF the United States,
but Of the world. may be searched In
vain for anything 10 parallel II as TO
the lack Of intelligence in It's manage
ment. or the utter lack Of any plaus-
ible excuse for its being II was never
brought forth. but simply happened
II has not been conducted at all, but
has simply drifted. II viii wear itself
out In the course of time, leaving no
result except a very strong impression
upon the public mind that az q force
fui figure Of speech the expression
"a telegraph operator. liz fairly enti-
tied TO take the place so long monop-
ollzed by "Thompson's colt
In presenting q condensed but
carefully prepared history Of the fol-
w.. the New York Herald tells the
public that a few weeks ago n long
threatened strike was averted
through mediation and arbitration.
and most Of the telegraphers. as well
az the community. supposed that the
whole matter was settled
The dismissal Of one man In Los
| Angoies-for good cause, as his en-
ploycrs declare. unfairly, as his union
associates contend without warning
TO the public or the sanction Of the
f~elegraphers' own union officials. pre-
rlpltated the misfortune which 1t was
thought had been avertod at the cost
of much pains and effort
Union associates Of the man dis
missed at Los Angeles left the office
and were replaced with others. ltath-
or than work on the wires with these,
union operators in Chicago went on
strike-including those OF the Postal
company. which was not concerned in
the original disturbance. when non-
union men were substituted the union
operators In other places refused to
transcribe messages transmitted by
these 'scBbs" and left their keys. And
SO. like an e%rratic fire in the brush.
the mischief spread. The agreement
that had been so laboriously negoti-
ated with the officials of the teleg-
raphers' national organization went
for naught.
In many Of the cities the younger
aud hot headed contingent were in
foeted with the strike epidemic, but
at a mass meeting OF operators on the
following sunday It WIS formally
voted 10 axe no action before noon
Of tho next Friday, pending he re-
suits of a conference In Chicago-this
conference 10 be attended by their
own national president, the head of
the American Federation of Labor. a
federal commissioner and a represent
alive OF the National civic federation.
Thus the matter TODD on Monday
morning of last week. the operators
, and the public both clearly under
standing that nothing would be done
until after this mcdiatory conference.
nut nj midday something incredibly
fantastic h%apepned
4 man went To the main office Of
the Western Union In New York and
blew a whistle At the sound a ma
| jority of the operators rose from their
d fnAAifH- IltiNN VI NNfiA ifNNlAk IifnH
sdges cut or in the middle as II an
earthquake had broken the wires.
aud troopcd into the street. bringing
with them most OF the young women
] tclpgraphers. who went out chatteting
and laughing. A body of the strikers
Postal company and induced most of
the operators there 10 join them one
hundred strong, they proceeded 90 the
Stock Exchange and t%wo-thirds Of the
sixty operators there responded to
their cali Co come out The rrso-
nothing The strike was ON. The
business Of the nation, and In q Dc
gree the business Of the world. is see
]rlously impedcd, and yet no n knows
why or what for
who was the man who blow tho
WHISTLE Thc strikers don't know
The Officers az the local union declare
they had nothing to do with the mat
ter. when a body of the strikers ape
pcarcd az headquarters the president
Of the local union profcsscd surprise
and assured them that no '%walkout'
had been expected or desired Tho
mysterious man with a whistle and
the effect he produced might do very
well In a Rowery molodrama but is
scarcely In conformity with the dee
liberation that should attend an actipn
involving the Embarrassment az thc
community and serious results Ia the
operators who lose their places The
community and the men and their
fnmilcs-theso are the parties direct
D. affected by the strike. for the tcic.
graph companies viii not be hurt
They have to temporarily close SOME
smaller o!nces-inconveniencing oulS
the public but there Is an abuudan.
supply % operators In the country.
and they will speedily resume business
in the normal way.
Many n the operators who wen.
ont at the suggestion Of the unknown
man With "a whistle did 80 reluctant.
ly under pressure from their asso.
clatcs some - those seen leaving th'
Postal office. the Herald says. wer,
seen With tears in their eyes. Tor Dol
Thus di-mlssing themselves they for.
Oh. not on, their salaries but thei'
.GAHs D.. aawHFaWa nnnH ID