The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1907-08-13
THE TEIECRApHERS STRIKE

The great strike Of the Commercial photographers Of the
United States be the result of practically spontaneous
upon the part Of the No general strike order
by the officers OF the union The employees apparently
determined strike for wha, they consider just causes
When all-sweeping action is by thousands
of intelligent workers, there be underlying provoking
No one can say that this strike mob affair, tina,
uprising Of ignorant preiudeed persons led by
the inilammatory appeals Of leaders.
On the contrary everybody will admit that the telegaphers
whole, OF superior intelligence and ability
all Of them educated and thoroughly vesed in the affairs OF
the world
They intimately understand business conditions Their
hands have been upon the commercial pulse OF the world
These declare that they have been grossly imposed
upot by their employers They that they have worked
lon hours and arduous hours for insufficient pay that their
grievances have been repeatedly presented and ignored
They demand pay and a eghhour day claiming
that they should the order OF things this
country.
Further they demand the telegraph companies shall
henceorh supply that costly part OF the mechanism used
conducting their busncsthe ypewrttng machines Up TO
this time the operators had supply typerers their
expense thus expanding hundreds OF thousands OF dol
lars out Of their pockets supply machinery which is
for the rapid conduct Of the business Of the telegraph
companies the duplex wires themselves Without the
fastworkng typewcrs the could be used carry
such large volumes OF business
No apparently exists why the operators Of the West
Union should supply ypewers any than they should
furnish other office fixtures aud poles
wires.
The fact is that the Western Union has followed saving
policy somewhat similar that Of another large corporation
the Pullman Car company which for years has compelled the
people Of the United States pay the wages o. s army Of por
sleeping and paor cars while earning div
idends for It's stockholders.
There be question but what the striking ceg
aphers have the best OF the argument the subject Of who
should supply the typewters II impossible
Of two sides TO this question.
As to the broader questions Of hours and involved
this much be said without dispute The OF living an
the country has been steadily advancing and natural
quenee IS general demand for pay upon the part Of
workers They willing live poorly than they
have been accustomed to live while doing the work
before
As for hours the growing Of opinion ali
the country that r. 10 hours per day long
man to work under the strenuous conditions Of
modern workaday life and that eight hours enough
Slowly but surely the world drifting towards broader
and more humane views upon such questions and beginning
to consider the and recreation ocr
Of almost equal importance 70 his working hours.
Just what results may follow the present strike OF the
mercial telegraphers 1t is impossible 10 foresec.
Their action may produce widespread and unfor
tuuae results 70 business interests the world Trade
commerce nowadays largely dependent upon OF
telegraph for their importau, movements
The crisis is already sufficiently grave speedy
relief The National government certainly step in and
see what be done in the way of settlement Of the
trouble There is question will have to
be quickly arbtrated ended in other
both sides
Here the greatest opportunity yet presented
itself to President Roosevelt