Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-12
TELE:GRAPHERS'
Strike OF '83
Salt Lake Operator Recalls the
Strenuous Times of "a
Years Ago.
BRASS PUNCHERS" WENT.
IL Involved All Hands, Including Men
Employed by the Western Associ-
ated Press Here and Elsewhere.

The epoch-making period In the an
nails of telegraphers' strikes was in 1888,
and a familiar method of giving COM
parative dates among manipulators
of the key is to say, AT the time of
the strike of 49," or Just before or
just after the strike of So
And people not of the fraternity
whose recollection goes back "a years
ago, remember distinctly that it was a
strenuous time. An old time telegraph
er, who took part in the walkout, told
the News" today many incidents OF
the notable event The strike COM
menced in July and lasted 80 days. 1t
was general throughout the United
States. Ogden was then the repeating
point for Utah. just as Salt Lake Is
now, and in the former city at the
time were at least 100 operators. All
went out. although every one of them
was entirely satisfied with the condi-
tons surrounding him. Each man was
receiving 500 month and 90 cents
an hour for overtime. n wage that was
considered n prlncely one at that time.
Dissatisfaction existed elsewhere, how
ever, in New York principally, ana the
boys went out In sympathy.
Not only did the operators OF the
Western Union and other concerns JOIN
in the strike. but also the men employ
ed by the Western Associated Press,
an orgaization similar TO the present
Associated Press. But the wallSout was
failure for the strikers, and at the
end of a month the men went back to
work, Internationally.
"SCABS" PLENTIFUL.
What are known in strike parlance
as "scabs'' were plentiful in those days,
and operators who were willing TO take
the chairs vacated by the strikers end
ed the struggle within 30 days. Ac-
cording to the News" informant. men
who defeated the aims and purposes OF
the walkout are first and foremost IN
the present tie-up. The reward Tor
standing by the companies in 1883 mas
not been forthcoming argues this vet
eran telegrapher, and they are now
head and front OF n movement TO bet
ter their own condition, as did their fell
low operators of "a years age.
BELIEVED THEY WILL WIN.
The men who went to work and thus
| broke the strike above mentioned were
principally railroad telegraphers. That
class OF operators was not unionized
then. but at the present time they arc
united in this regard far more strictly
than are commercial photographers.
Therefore II Is believed by the man in
terviewed by the News" that the strik-
ers will this time win all or most or
their demands.
1t is true, he stated, that In 1883 tel
egraphy knew nothing of what is called
the ''Wheatstone" system. That Is, N
plain terms, the tape method, and by
it the telegraph companies may get
along with less experienced operators.
The results are not nearly so perfect
or satisfactory, but the place of strik-
ers could for til be very well tax
en- by girls who have some little train
ing along the lines indicated At the
time of the former big strike, the du-
pick. quadraplex and Morse wires on
iy were known to the profession.
AGITAToRS MARKED.
AS stated. the strikers of 1883 went
| back to work Internationally. There
were a few stubborn men among those
who resumed their places at the keys.
The influence OF these, however, was
broken by shrewd methods on the part
of the various arrangements. the agi-
tators being separated and sent TO re-
mote stations, where opportunity for
continuing the strike was a minmsm.
Soon conditions became normal. and ere
long the great struggle was but a mem
DRY.