The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-15

Up to noon there had been no appre-
ciabie change in the. teiegraphers' strike
In this section. though both sides profess
ed TO believe that there would be develop
ments soon.
Managers OF the two telegraph offices
| In this city declared that everything was
proceeding In satisfactory manner while
| officials OF the union TO which the strik-
! ers belong, were confident that develop
| ments To come would favor them.
| There is a strong impression that the
| telegraph companies are striving 10 brine
about federal interference. IL Is pased
largely upon the fact that except those
| along the Pennsylvania railroad, the
telegraph wires used by almost every rail-
| road In the United States belong to the
Western Union Telegraph company. and
outside of the cities and large towns
which have regular Western Union offices,
all messages OF every name and nature
must be sent and received by railroad
operators In the railroad stations.
TOWNS SHUT OFF.
In present circumstances all or these
thousands of small towns are shut on
from telegraphic communication with the
world unless the railroad operators con-
sent to receive messages from Western
Union offices, and that they say they wilf
not do Yet. under the terms OF the West
ern Unions contract with the railroads
the former may compel the railroads TO
receive and deliver them.
Belvidere Brooks took up that end
of the controversy yesterday and stated
clearly what the Western Union pur-
poses to do. He said he did not appre
bend any strike on the part OF the
railroad operators because he thought
they had too good sense to go out
but In any event the company would
insist that the railroads take care
of their messages when asked TO do
go. Moreover. he added, the railroad
companies would insist that their
operators perform their duty.
II have today" said Mr.. Brooks, re
ceived from Mr. Smith. vice president
and general manager OF the New York
Central Railroad company. assurance
that he has sent TO all telegraph super
intendents OF the company letter In
forming them that contract exists
with the Western Union Telegraph
company requiring their employees TO
handle commercial kilograms in specific
conditions.
THE INSTRUCTIONS
These instructions ask all employ
es of the railroad to remain neutral In
the present trouble and to handle such
telegraphic business has hitherto
been handled and which Is under con-
tract a New York Central matter.
Our fight. OF course, Is not with the
Order of Railway Telegraphers, but we
have contracts with the railroads con-
cerning the transmission of our. .nees-
sages. and we shall insist that the rail-
roads live up to these contracts. We
have carried out our contracts with
the railroads. and now we have per-
feet right to demand that the railroads
fulfil their obligations TO u.s."
Mr.. Brooks then produced one OF the
contracts in question. IL contained
this clause with reference to the
handling of commercial messages:
AT all offices of the railroad COM
pany at places where the telegraph
company may have no separate office,
the railroad company's employees. act
ing as agents OF the telegraph COM
pany, shall receive. transmit and de-
liver such commercial or public mes
sages as may be offered"
PRESIDENT MURPHY SAYS.
The situation is promising" said Presi-
dent Harold j Murphy. II was Informed
last night that Is big brokerage houses in
New York had granted tht demands and
that the same action had been taken by
Barrel Finley & Co, one OF the largest
brokerage firms OF the West The crisis
will come today. following today's meet
ing in New York. when IL was decided 10
submit the demands Thursday TO tho
brokers throughout the country. If they