The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-09
Girl Strikers Receive Overtures
From the Company.
MAY RETURN TO THEIR WORK.
and Passable Service IL Rendered
Patrons-Mr. Willard Refuses to
Allow Return of Three Alleged
statement From Mr.. Middleton.

| The telephone girls strike still contin-
ues. and promises to develop additional
| features OF interest before IL has been
finally adjusted The big white brick
| building OF the Sunset Telephone & Tele-
| graph Company, on Third avenue. seemed
comparatively deserted yesterday. SUI
| perintendent Bush and Manager Willard
| were the only occupants of the ground
| floor. All the company's clerks and Of
| fee assistants spent the day getting ac-
| quainted with the switchboards and lis
| tening to complaints of tardy service,
that came in from patrons.
Several OF the striking operators re-
| mained in front of the building greater
| portion of the day, and when any OF the
| operators at work came out they were
| urged to Join the strikers
In all. ffty-two girls walked out Satur-
| day, leaving twenty-five at work. Yester-
| day the strikers claim two OF these left the
building and Joined the ranks outside. In
| the morning Superintendent Bush and
| Manager Willard gathered force of mes
| sengers with the view of notifying all the
girls who had walked out that they might
reclaim their old positions providing they
| would report TO the office by 3 p. m.
| At that hour fourteen. II is said. had been
| heard from, signifying willingness to re-
| turn. and as II was impossible to see all
| of the fifty-two within the allotted time
| the hour OF reporting was extended until
| this morning when Mr.. Millard says he
IL positive he will get affirmative ans
wers from many more
Strikers May Return.
Thirty new girls were employed yes
| terday twelve of whom went to work
| in the afternoon. The others will report
| this morning, making forty-four to add
| to the Twenty-Five that continued at work.
| with the prospect of additional ones from
| the ranks of the strikers.
I'VE viii take back all OF the old
| girls who report for work tomorrow MORN
| ing, with the exception of the three
| whom we discharged" said Superinten-
| dent Bush yesterday. I'm justice to our
| selves We cannot and will not take back
| the three, rs they are disorganizers and
| would only continue to cause trouble.
| The three girls discharged were the old
| est, in point OF service, In the office. and
| were receiving $3.50 per month.
I'VE have succeeded in getting thirty
| new girls for work tomorrow morning.
and will also have some of the strikers
| back by that time. In fact, we have heard
| from fourteen already who will come
back. We will hire other girls just as
| fast as we can get them. as soon as the
| option of the strikers has expired. I'M
| I'll we have secured new force.
I'VE hope to be in good running shape
| by Tuesday or Wednesday, Our force
| In the past has consisted OF seventy-six
girls. At all times there were some of
| this number on the sick list. which has,
| TO a certain extent. been responsible for
the service not being what 1t should have
| been.
Force WIN He Increased.
| when we get the force reorganized It
| will be materially increased. Our men
| are now at work putting in additional
| switchboards, so az to lessen the num-
| Ter OF subscribers each girl will have TO
look after. And in this way we will
stop at no expense to give a good service
| in Seattle
"A portion OF our trouble In the past
has been with the girls themselves. Some
| of them have been dilatory about answer
/ ing calls and these we know and Will
| not take back again.
During the Nome rush we were over
taxed and could not give good service,
but as / said. these evils viii now all be
| removed
| THE cause OF the present trouble is
| not a matter OF wages We were simply
| forced to discharge three girls who were
| disorganlzers. When / was up here last
| month / gave instructions for an In
| crease in salaries. on the list OF the
month Mr. Willard raised eleven Of the
| girls, and others were to follow. on
| that score there had never been any COM
| plant For the next few days our service
will be bad. but as soon as We get in
| working order hope to make 81 en-
| tirely satisfactory to the public"
The girls look at the matter IN a an
| ferent light. One OF those who was
about in front OF the building yesterday
said she did not believe fourteen Of the
girls had signihed a willingness to re-
| turn.
The Social Democratic party devoted a
| portion OF its time at its meeting last
| night 10 a discussion OF the telephone OPP
| orators strike committee from the
| operators union was present and through
q spokesman explained their position ana
| refused financial assistance. A set OF
| resolutions % sympathy was adopted
W. ". Middleton, secretary OF the West
ern Central Labor Union. made the FOL.
lowing statement yesterday IN behalf Of
the striking telephone operators, and IN
explanation OF the aims and objects Of
their Organization:
| The telephone operators Of the city
have orEanigcd an association under the
namc ~ the Seattle Telephone Opera tors
| Union. and have affiliated with the Annevi-
| can Federation 81 Labor ana the Nest
| ern Central Labor Union, ~ Seattle The
| new organization Will receive the fun
| support OF the unions IN the rify ans
| has been formed by the operators fpr
| thFir mutual hsneft ana protection rs
| chief oAi~ct viii be TIE regulation ~
wages and the hours ~ work Its 4e-
/ mauds VII be such as can De lndorseI
| ny the general public
| The formation of a union has been
|
| IN rigaa Tue enYglSc