The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-10-06
ALL is QUIET ALONG THE
SWITCHBOARD.
In Fact many Subscribers Declare they
Found it Impossible to Arouse Central
At All Today.


raging. Their forces have been divid-
ed and there have been desertions to the
camp of the enemy but the majority
OF the girls are now said to be still de-
fiant and likewise jobless Along with
| Othello they can regret, for their occu-
patton is gone but with a fortitude sell
dom conceded to their sex, the leaders
of the strike and their staffs were still
| holding aloof at noon today. The man
ayers have very large force at work
however and every switchboard is in
custody of bright and willing but
frequently incompetent young woman.
The service this morning was very poor
but the managers explained this with
the statement that many of the girls
were comparative novices at the work
and allowance must be made for short
comings. 1t was certainly apparent
that they were novices. In one in
stance an attempt was made to reach
Central by four different phones but
there was no response in any case. Like
the, God Baal she seemed to be
sleeping or taking a journey.
Three of the male members of the
night force went out on a strike last
night but as these helpers were not of
material value to the company their de-
sertion did not prove of such an en-
barrassing character as did the defec-
tion of the girls during the day, the
busiest time in the telephone office. In
crease in wages does not appear to be
the cause for the trouble. In fact so
innocent do the strikers appear as to
any tangible cause for their stopping
work that a well grounded suspicion
is felt that professional walking dele
gate must have been at work with the
susceptible emotions of the Helloists.
Today there were twelve girls at work
on the switchboards under the direc-
ton of one chief. Yesterday Mr.. Cor
coran stated positively that all but
three or four of the girls who struck
had returned to work. From an equally
reliable source it was ascertained this
morning that practically all of the girls
now working had not been concerned
with the strikers. In answer to this Mr..
Corcoran, with all the finesse learned
in saying Zine is busy, call again."
deftly stated that he had meant all that
he wanted to come back had done So
Inasmuch as only two had returned at
the time that the newly elected super
intendent announced the return of
vaster majority, the preponderence of
evidence is to the effect that Mr.. Cor
corap switched himself onto a yellow"
number
The strike has developed one fact
however and this is that there has been
a change in the head of the telephone
ed by j. H. Corcoran the new expert
who came from the coast. This change
was authorized by the board of direc-
tors at a meeting held yesterday after
nOOn The change was not unexpected
by Mr.. Cassidy and in an interview this
morning he expressed himself very po-
sitively upon what he considers the
source of the opposition to him.
THE whole cause of this trouble" he
said, Originates in board of directors
trouble. For the last five years Godfrey
Brown has opposed my holding this po-
sition and has sought by every means
possible to secure my dismissal and
now, after hard fight he has succeed
ed. He was able to have me removed
when Mr.. Irwin was president of the
company but Mr.. Campbell who died
recently in San Jose, saw how things
were and he reinstated me and stood
by me during his life time. With his
death the opposition was renewed more
vigorously.
II have known for three months that
they were trying to get rid of me but
l was just so situated that it was out
of my power to resign. I was busy in
stalling a certain system here and not
until they had succeeded in securing a
man who was competent to take charge
of the work did l consider it would be
right for me to leave. / understand
that Mr.. Corcoran the new man has had
much experience with the present kind
of board being put into operation and
L am satisfied that he is thoroughly
| competent to finish the work and take
charge of 1t.
Godfrey Brown has sought, as said
| before, to injure me and get me remov-
ed and it was through his agency and
| influence that this Miss Louisa Bal as
she is called now was appointed chief
| in the place of Miss Maria Brede. Miss
| Bal signed her name in my book when
she worked before as Miss Louisa Nc
Artle. She was discharged for a breach
of discipline but Mr.. Brown caused her
reinstatement and promotion with the
hope, I believe, of forcing me to resign
on account of this fresh indignity which
was put upon me. / considered the girl
utterly incompetent to have charge of
| the work here. After she was made
! foreman the other operators became
angry and refused to work under her
and demanded the reinstatement of the
other chief. When this was not COM
piled with they went on a strike. / do
not think that there was any/other rea-
son for their going on the strike and /
am satisfied that the scale of wages had
nothing to do with 1t for the company
has, ! think been quite liberal in its
payment of these employees. Girls are
! Dblu oGU Il IlOuNH Mllllt lHSy are iSHi ~
| ing the work.
"The board of directors did not serve
me with any official notice of dismissal
but at their meeting yesterday they de-
cided that Mr.. Corcoran should be ap-
pointed superintendent in the place
then held by me. They do not want two
! superintendents so there is nothing
more for me to do but TO get out. l
am now Strengthening out some ac-
counts so that I can turn over the busi-
| ness to my successor"
! j. 3. AthertOn the president of the
Mutual Telephone Company said that
the strike had been practically settled.
Two of the girls had returned yesterday
and four today which, together with
| the force now under instruction, would
enable the company to be able soon to
give its subscribers the desired service.
"We have made this change i'm sup
erlntendents, said Mr.. Atherton, be
cause we considered that justice to our
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