Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-19
TELEGRAPHERs ORGANIZED
Western Union Company Said to Be Pre-
pairing for Trouble.
Men In This City Engaged to Go to
New YOrk-W0rk of Debs
and the A. II. u.

Recent statements that President Debs of
the A. R. U. was organizing telegraph op-
orators have given rise to much gossip and
reports OF trouble to occur between the tele-
graph con- panies and their employees.
1t Is understood that the Western Union
Telegraph Company is quietly engaging a
large force Of operators throughout the
country in anticipation of possible trouble
with their present force. Within the past
few days overtures have been received by
many operators in this city who have been
on the extra list for a long WHILE during
which they have made but little time. They
have been, as Star reporter was informed,
rendered positions on the regular force at
$50 per month for six days work per week.
SO far all the men secured have been en-
gagged with the understanding that they
Will be sent, If needed, to New York, but the
proviso is made. it il said, that they may
be assigned to duty in other cities, if their
employers so decree.
1t is understood that the reason for this
sudden n eve on the part of the Western
Union authorities was the discovery that
the force of operators in the Pittsburg Pa.
offices have become identified with the
American Railway Union through the eff
forts of the organizers sent there by Presi-
dent Debs of that organization. 1t is al
legged that one of the members of the Pitts
burg branch of the A. r. U. became fright
cred at the magnitude of the movemen.
which, 1t is said. President Debs and his
assistants are preparing to inaugurate, and
informed the superintendent of the Pitts
burg division of the Western Union Com
pany of what he had learr ed
The superintendent was also furnished
by the men with Il list of the members of
the Pittsburg branch of the A. r. L., and
the official called some of the men before
him. Seeing that the steps thus far taken
by them were known to the telegraph Off
cial, the men admitted that they had be-
come identified with the A. II. L..
Vice President and General Manager c.
A. Tinker, whose headquarters are in New
York, was informed by the Pittsburs otli-
clal OF mis- discovery, and Mr.. Tinker sum-
moned General Western Manager r. G.
Clowery OF Chicago to meet him at Pitts
burg for consultation in reference to the
situation. The conference took place early
this week in the latter city, the superin-
tendent of the Pittsburg district also being
present
Previous to going to Pittsburg both Vice
President Tinker and General Western
Manager Clowery made an investigation OF
the extent which the movement among the
teieSraphers had assumed in the cities OF
New York and Chicago, and it is said they
were amazed to learn that not only were
most of the Western Union telegraphers
in the cities named in active sympathy
with the Debs organization, but that the
organizers of the A. r. l.. had been able to
get in their work with astonishing success;
in many parts of the east and south, where
it was not suspected that the A. r. u. was
making any progress.
Orders have, it is said. been issued by
Vice President Tinker that all telegraph
ers in the employ of the Western Union
Company who have become members of
the American Railway Union must at once
leave the latter or forfeit their positions
with the Western Union. The telesrapherS
are awaiting further developments and viii
make no new movement in the matter eX-
cept as orders may be received from the
headquarters of the order in Chicago. 1t
is said that the operators of the Postal
Telegraph Company have not been ap-
preached by the Debs' organizers. bu. it is
known that some of the operators in
Washington have been Informed by West
ern Union agents that hey can secure po-
sitions with the latter company if they so
desire.