Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-08-15
THE TELEGRAPIERS STRIKE.

Fer the first time in almost exactly
a quarter Of century the country is
faced by the poss bility OF general in
terruption of tel graphic communica-
tion through the action of the tele-
graph operators in quitting their in
struments on account of troubles over
wages and Others questions. A com
paratively few operators precipi
tated trouble i'm their immediate com
munities by ocscrting their posts OF
duty without warming. Monday night
thus earning the condemnation of the
public. particularly as It was announc-
ed only a few weeks since an arrange
mcnt was made between the operators
and the c"mpanies for the amcable
settlement # all differences. The
union tcle raphers of the larger cities
gooned IL 10 Historically declaring for
an immediate strike, and the public
or less obvious effects of a scverins
of telo <raphic communications be-
tween he news gathering associations
and IL newspapers. Tuesday. how
over, nc trouble spread to practically
all OF the larger cities. and the mes
senRo. boys also went out very gen
crallv
W e every live and progressive
new PAPER has to be prepared in
advauce with knowledge of what IT
word do in every conceivable con-
tint"ncy, it is somewhat annoying TO
have the means Of securing regular
news reports covering the whole world
Cu' off 4without n moments warning
during the night. with readers expect
ing their paper in the morning hours.
hanks to the inventors of the mod
,ru telephone service, II is Impossible
10 shut out newspapers from the rest
Of the world by cutting off their telc-
graphic service, and papers will CON
tjnue to be printed no matter how
long the strike OF the telegraph opera.
tors continues. 1t costs more in way
and Is more troublesome to lake a news
report by telephone than by telegraph
but 1t can be done and in any event the
readers of the Free Press will con-
tinue to be served the same as before
| the trouble occurred
| It is a difficult matter 20 arrive a,
merits of the dispute in the present
instance owing to the variety Of phases
| in which the contention of the oper.
ators IS presented in different section.
of the country. The demand of the
telegraphers Is for higher pay, moro
definite hours of service, provision
of stenographers by the companies ant
no discrimination against the womer
members OF the craft, The demand.
presented in one part of the country
may be entirely different from TIA
put forth In another, and it is irnpos
sible to say whether the condition,
which would be acceptable in New
York, for example. would be salts
factory in Chicago.
Commissioner of Labor Neill sup
posed he had brought about a settle
somewhat prolonged, but the Washing
ton union claims the president of tn
the faith he pledged the commissions
that he would arbitrate the trouble. o.
the contrary it is asserted that tn
company has not only broken fait
with the operators but has also re
sorted to the adoption of arbitrar
methods in different parts of the coun
try and has also Disseminated agains
union operators.
At this writing a report is abroa
that telegraph operators on the rail
roads may join the ranks of the strik
ers IL the conference arrange
for yesterday does not resul
in settlement OF the troubl,
anil not only the carrying of tn
eminent service would thus be inter
ferej with. The telegraph companie
| hn IN I,,s
in spite of the strike, and whether tb
operators can enforce their dem" nd
| rcnnaina % he lamnnS trata<