Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-13

at II O'clock To-Day, thursday, April
II. Perform no service OF any kind
Stand firm and victory is ours
tSigned) w. V. POWELL,
President Order of Railroad Teiegra-
IpherS.
THE PRESIDENTS STATEMENT.
Responses to this order began coming
into the headquarters of the telegra-
piers at gu Nimbaii House rapidly
stating what action had been taken by
the operators on the different divisions
y force of clerks at the same time was
busily engaged mailing u circular state
ment, officially signed by President
Powell. calling upon the tclegra piers to
quit their work and unite in deter
mined effort 10 bring about IL success
full conclusion of the strike
Tie statement contains the griev-
anceS OF the photographers. II says:
In accordance With the constitution
of the Order of Railway Photographers.
hereby approve q strike on the lines
Of the Southern ana Alabama Great
Southern railways, effective II L. M,
April u, 1900. all efforts to effect an
amicablc settlement of the difficulties
having failed.
The strike is on.
"SiN hundred and eightyfive tele-
graphers and other station employees
voted in favor and 13l against.
Many non-un!on members will stand
by .he order
station employees of the Southern and
Alabama Great Southern railways are
determined to make II united stand
against Industrial oppression.
WHY STRIKE WAS CALLED.
''The strike was called for the follow
iHg purposes:
TO secure reinstatement Of its men,
hers who were discharged by the
Southern railway.
For the right to be heard through
committees in the adjustment OF ind-
vidual grievances.
For set of rules and rates Of pay
to govern train dlspatchers, telegraph
ers. agents and other station employees
III their employment discipline etc
Twelve consecutive hours work per
day where one or two telegraphcrs are
employed. including one consecutive
hour dinner; ten consecutive hours, in
Guiding meal hour. in all relay, dis
patchrrS offices and Offices where more
than two telegraphers are employed.
except that this rule will not make
working hours more than those that
may now be effective
Eight consecutive hours for train
dispa tchers.
Pay for overtime for telegraphers.
N."PotStieiS anu OllcTS IN excess or the
above hours. but nothing less than %
cents per hour.
10 abolish the practice of compell-
ing agents to load cotton and the per-
iormance OF other mental labor.
"A minimum wage scale of $i5 and
700 per month. according To territory or
location.
one hundred and twenty dollars per
month for trick dispatchcrs
The SeCureulpnt a IN nud ao,,ito hi 4,
rules regarding promotion"
Regarding the causes leading up to
me present strike. President Powell
said today:
ThiS action was made necessary by
the refusal of the company to treat
with It's employees in the telegraph de-
partment. instead of treating with the
men the company waged an outrage
Gus secret warfare on the telegraphers
dlscharging the men who dared TO re-
present their brother operators by
serving on committees. More than
twenty committeeman have been dis
charged. Dozens of members of the
otaer or Railroad photographers en-
pioycd on the Southern have been dis
charsed because OF thir membership.
railing in their effort to secure
hearings from the local sunerintendents
anu then from the general officers of
the company at Washington, the men
had no other alternative than to ap-
peal to the organization TO which they
belonged for protection.
Il proposed in this message to Mr..
Cannon that If the company and its
telegraph employees were unable to
agree as to the matters In dispute they
desired TO present that the telegraphers
would agree to submit the matter to
arbitration, three arbiters TO be APP
pointed. one each by the company and
telegraphers. and the third by the two
arbiters so selected. This proposition
was made for the sole purpose of sug-
costing a means by which the differ
encs might be adjusted without resort
ing to strike with It's consequent re-
suit. | also agreed to submit the mat
ter to Mr.. w. II. Baldwin. Jr., presl-
dent of the Long Island Railroad Com
pany, of New York.
All of these overtures on behalf of
the telegraphers We're rejected by the
company. and the officers refused alb
so!utely to treat with their men.
In the effort to secure q peaceablc
adjustment of the troubles the matter
was appealed to Mr.. Samuel Spencer
president of the Southern Railway, at
New York, who was asked TO inter
vene with the view of aveyting
strike. Mr.. Spencer's secretary wired
me Yesterday that the PRESIDENT of the
Southern had been very i'll several
weeks. and was not able to consider
such an important matter. This closed
the door to the telegraphers they hav-
Ing exhausted every means in their
power TO secure hearing by the off,
Gals. There was nothing LETT to do ex-
cept to strike, and this morning 1 call
ed out oil the members OF my organiza-
ton employed on the Southern Railway
and the non-members who are in SYM
pathy with us"
EFFECT or THE ORDER.
as follC,vs:
At numerous points on the Southern
and it's branches only Il few operators
Went out. while at others the order OF