Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-22
TELECRAPHERS HAVE UNION
Fsrty Delegates Start One on New Lines
in 6hiOagS
GlLlllAND OF OMAHA ON THE BOARD
l. D. Mcdonald. Formerly Of the gate
city, H. Elected President-NeNt
Convention TO BE In
Minneapolis.

CHICAGO, Sept. 21.-The I~nternational
union OF Commercial Telegraphers was
formed here today at a convention Of forty
delegates representing as many cities
throughout the United States. A constitu-
ton patterned after that of the Interna-
tional Typographical union was adopted,
providing for the issue Of a working card to
each member every three months.
This is the first time that an organiza-
tion Of telegraph operators has been formed
on these lines. In the past all efforts at or
ganization were along secret lines. Resolu-
lions were adopted instructing the officers
OF the new organization to communicate
with the various existing organizations OF
telegraphers with a view Of working on a
harmonious basis; instructing the various
local unions throughout the country to raise
a fund to be forwarded to the United Mine
Workers, and for the international officers
to apply to the American Federation OF La
Dor for a national charter.
The convention adjourned after the cleo
tion OF the following officers: President, l.
]. Mcdonald, Chicago; first vice president,
NJ. j. Reidy, Boston; second vice president,
J. NJ. Perkins, San Francisco; secretary
treasurer, A. ]. Douglass, Milwaukee. Mem
bers of the executive board: c. r. Hubbard
st. Paul; Daniel M%lnnehan, Chicago; w. p
Walsh, Milwaukee; James O'Brien, Milwau-
kee; J. R. Maynard, Cleveland; F. E. Gil
Hand, Omaha; James II. Dunn, Indianap-
oils; c. H. Vanderbilt, Minneapolis: w. H
Weber, Washington, and w A. Hewlett
Detroit.
The next convention will be in Mime
apolis on the third Saturday in September
1903.
I. J. Mcdonald, president OF the new or.
ganization. was formerly employed II
Omaha, where he worked one of the LEASED
wires OF the Associated Press. He is one o
the most expert operators in the bushes.
and a pleasant gentleman. He was trans
ferred to the Chicago office in 1897. and hai
remained there ever since.
r. E. Gilliland Of Omaha, a member o
the executive board, is one Of the bes
known members of the telegraphic fra
ternity in the west. He was formerly agen
of the Union Pacific at Papillion and frs
came into public notice by being selected a
the telegraphers' member OF the grievanc,
board Of the Union Pacific system, whicl
board is charged with representing the EN-
ployes in any differences between them an
the company. He was acting in that ca
pacity when the famous controversy unde
the receivership came up before Judg
Caldwell In the federal court. He was par
ticularly active in that controversy and In
telegraphers were the first, and in fact tn
only ones to reach a complete agreemen
with the company in private conferenc
with the receivers and without a ruin
from the court.
Not long after this Mr.. Gilliland was lie
out and has since been connected wit
brokers' ofices using leased wires. II ha
always been maintained that his discharg
was due to his activity in the celebrate
controversy and that the trouble, which wa
over a message was only a pretext. Thi
was strenuously denied by the company anC
as 1t was a matter not susceptible Of proc
nothing was ever done by the telegrapher
OF the system except to protest agains
the company's action.