Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-02
WHY WASHE PUT OFF
THE WESTERN UNION AND THE CON-
MERcIkL TElEGHAPHERs.
Mr.. Koonts Thinks lie Was Discharged
on Account of HIS Nembsrshfp-
Colonel Trees Statement

Friday afternoon Mr.. Goody Koontz,
telegraph operator of this city, who Das
been employed in the Western Union OIL
fec for some fifteen months. received
note from the chief operator stating that
IN consequence OF the usual reduction OK
force IN the dull season his services YOU'D
be dispensed with from date. The note
concluded With O testimonial as to Ar.
Koontz's good record az an operator.
MIR. Koontz il a member of the Order OF
Commercial Telegraphers and YESTERDAY
he and his fellow-members OF the oruef
here did not hesitate TO express tDe pc
lief that the real reason for his discharge
was his connection with the ORGANIZATION
WHY HE THoUoHT SO.
In speaking % tho matter last night MI.
Koontz said that during the whole time
he had been IN the Western Union once
he was never late at his work and had ohly
lost one day. His reasonsfor thinking thst
his membership in the order was the CAUSE
for his being put of were these III haa
always been customary in reducing force
40 commence with those who had come
into the office last. At least ten
men were in the Richmond office now
who bad been given employment tnero
since he entered the service OF the COM
pany. II was also customary when men
had been faithful and their services WeIe
dispensed with to give them chance az
extra work and help them to get another
situation. In view OF this. alter MS aus
charge. he wrote TO Colonel Tree ASKING
him to give him extra work, but Colonel
Tree replied by the messenger-ooy, tnat ne
was not then ready to answer the letter.
CAUGHT OFF HIS GUARD.
% ,hora not other
members of the Order OF Commercial leie-
graphers in the Western Union ONCE mere
MIR. Koontz replied that there were, but
they we're not known to the officials. Con-
timing. Mr.. Koontz said that he had been
caught of his guard. A few days ago the
chief operator approached HIM ana salu ne
did not like the way that the Order OF Con-
mercial Telegraphers was sollcitlne onsl-
ness. remarking that he had seen q certain
circnlar of the order. He (KoontZ) thought
lessly replied that no such circular had been
issued and asked the chief operator TO get
him copy of 1t. thus giving himself away.
He could. under all the circumstances,
see no reason for his discharge except thst
he was member of the order he tnought
that he could prove good record as an
operator. and was willing 10 leaVe IL 10
any ono who knew him 10 say whether MS
babjts were good. In the whoIe aHalr 10
NOT STRIKING oEDER.
Another member Of the Order OF Com
merclal Telegraphers said to O DISPATCH
re,.orter that il was not g striking order
and there was nothing in 1t that could
nroye objectionable to the Western Union
or any other telegraph company. Ihere
we're members Of The organization IN all
tbe principal telegraph-offces IN the coun,
try. He thought MIR. hoontz's dismissal
was due to his connection with the oruer
for the reason that within the last ten dsYs
the Western Union had discharged some
of its oldest employees in Phlladelphlaand
other northern cities and all OF them we're
in the Order of Commercial Telegraphers.
TuE coMPASY's SIDE.
Colonel Tree, southern superintendent
OF the Western Union, was seen at his resi-
dence. on west Grace street. last night,
and when told of the view of Mr. koontZ's
discharge taken by the members OF the
order. he expressed great surprise, aud
asked what tine Order of Commercial
Telecraphers was He denied that Mr..
Koontz's membership IN the order had any
thing TO do with his beng put on. IL
was customary, he said, to increase
the force in the fall, when the
cotton movement began, and reduce
If in the spring, when business be-
gan TO get slack. He had put
of two men at Raleigh and one at
Roanoke, and expected TO put of others
i'm his territory. 1t was mere matter OF
conducting The business OF the company
az economically as the demands upon 1t
for service would permit. As far as he
knew Mr.. Koontz had good record and
there was no fault to find with his work.
He was astonlshed that n newspaper-man
had thought enough OF the matter to come
10 him about It. Cases like Mr.. koontz' 8
were occurring all the time, Superintend-
emit Tree concluded.