The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-13
S0UTHERN's OPERATORS OUT.
STRIKE WAS ORDERED OVER THE
ENTIRE SYSTEM.

Says DO Per Cent. of Them Are Out.
Railroad officials Deny They Are
Badly Hampered.
Atlanta, April 12-The telegraphers on
the Southern Railway System, who are
members of the Order of Railroad Teleg-
raphers, were ordered on strike by Pres
ident Powell at Il o'clock this morning.
The Southern Railway officials claim to-
night that but 10 per cent. of the men
have quit. while President Powell says 90
per cent. of them are out.
There has been considerable delay 10
both passenger and freight traffic. but
the effect of the walk-out is not yet
known 10 the extent which would war
rant an accurate assertion as to the ex-
act situation.
II was given out tonight at the office
of Assistant General Superintendent
Thompson of the Southern that the places
or the seven men who had struck in At
lanta had been filed and that the dis
patchers on all divisions centerng here
are at work. No serious delay, the Off
cials say, has been caused, excepting in
the case Of the Washington Limited, due
here at p. m, and a local passenger,
which left this morning for Richmond
The Washington Limited arrived four
hours and a half late, and the Richmond
local was taken up near Cornelia, Ga,
by the vestibule, which left here for
Washington at noon.
Says 90 Per Cent Are ont.
Mr. w. v Powell, president of the Or
der OF Railroad Telegraphers, gave out
the following statement tonight:
Reports from every division of the
Southern Railway show that the entire sys-
TEN, with the exception of the Louisville
branch. is tied up completely, so far as
freight trains are concerned, ana that pas
senger trains are being run only under
great difficulty. All passenger trains are
from three to seven hours late and are
making very slow time.
Our members on the Birmingham,
Knoxville, Charlotte, Danvile, Chatta-
nooga, Asheville, Washington. Columbia,
Raleigh and Lynchburg divisions wire
that the condition of affairs is very en-
couraging to the men, and that fully 80
per cent. of the telegraphers and Dispatch
ers are on a strike. On the Alabama
Great Southern every man struck except
one north of Birmingham. l am in a po-
stion to state positively that more than
80 per cent. of the telegrapheTs quit work.
the claims of the company TO the contrary
Notwithstanding.
1t was ascertained at midnight that the
officials of the Southern, anticipating the
strike of the telcgraphers, gave orders
several days ago that in case Of a walk
out, that all freight trains be held up and
that the passenger engineers run their
trains by the card schedule. This bears
out Mr.. Powells assertion that freight
traffic is completely tied up and explains
the delay to the passenger trains.
Order for the Strike.
After a strike had been determined upon
and the preliminaries had been arranged
a few minutes before II o'clock, Presi-
dent Powell sent the following wire mes
sage 10 all the telegraphers on the South
ern Railway System, extending from AL
exandria Va, to Meridian, Miss:
atlanta Ga. April 12.-To All Teleg-
raphers Employed on the Southern Rail-
way: Turn your board red and quit work
al II O'Clock to-day, Thursday. April r.
Perform no service of any kind. Stand
firm and victory is ours.
"W. V. Powell,
President Order of Railroad Telegraph
ers."
Responses 90 this order began coming
into the headquarters Of the telegraphers
at GA Kimball House rapidly, stating
what action had been taken by the opera
tors on the different divisions. A force
of clerks at the same time was busily
engaged mailing a circular statement, Of
ficially signed by President Powell, call
ing upon the telegraphers to quit their
work and unite in a determined effort to
bring about a successful conclusion Of
the strike.
what Their Grievances Are.
The statement contains the grievances
of the telegraphers. 1t says:
In accordance with. the constitution of
the Order Of Railway Photographers
hereby approve a strike on the lines of
the Southern and Alabama Great South
ern Railways. effective II o'clock a. m,
April u, 1900. all efforts TO effect an ami
cable settlement of the difficulties having
failed.
THE strike is on. Six hundred and
eighty-five telegraphegs and other station
employees voted in favor and l3l against.
MANY non-union members win stand
by the order.
THE telegraphers, dispatchers and sta
tion employees Of the Southern and Ala
bama Great Southern Railways are de-
termined to make a united stand against
industrial oppression.
The strike was called for the follow
ing purposes:
ITO secure reinstatement of it's men,
hers who were discharged by the Southern
hallway.
For the right to be heard through
committees in the adjustment of indi-
vidual grievances.
For set Of rules and rates OF pay
to govern train dispatchers. telegraphers.
agents and other station employees, IN
their employment. d scipline, etc
Days work.
Twelve consecutive hours work per day.
where one or two telegraphers are en-
ployed, including one consecutive hour
for dinner; ten consecutive hours, includ-
ing meal hour in all relay dispatchers'
Offices and offices where more than two
teegraphers are employed. except that this
rule viii not make working hours more
than those that now may be effective
Eight consecutive hours for train dis
patchers.
PAY for overtime for telegra piers. dis
patcheTs and others In excess of the above
hours, but nothing less than . cents per
hour.
ITO abolish the practice OF compelling
agents 70 load cotton and the performance
OF other menial labor.
"a minimum wage scale Of si5 and $50
per month. according to territory or loca-
tion.