Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-22
TELEPHONE GIRLS STRIKE
Demand More Pay and a Recognition of
Their Newly-Formed UniSn.
COMPANIES ARE AFTER NEW OPERATORS
Game Warden Has an Exciting Time
Trying to Destroy Some Fish
Nets in the Vicinity Of
BOnaparte,
(From a STAFF Correspondent

From a Staff Correspondent
DIES MONIES, June 21.-(Special.)-The
telephone girls operating the two COM
panies in Des Moines went on strike this
morning at 8 o'clock. There are about sixty
of the girls. Some days ago they organized
a union and affiliated with the Trades and
Labor assembly and made a demand upon
the managers OF the telephone companies
that their pay be raised so as to make them
81 a day and also that the union be given
recognition, and that none but union tele-
phone operators would be employed.
The companies offered to make the raise
in wages, but refused to recognize the
union. At o o'clock this morning, by pre-
concerted agreement, the girls then at work
all quit. There are two comprehensive
Iowa and the Mutual. Managers OF both
companies had knowledge that the strike
was coming and had done what they could
to prepare for it by securing operators not
in the union. Several operators who for
merly worked for the companies were in
duced to come back and work temporarily
and a number of others we're taken in.
The managers Immediately sent to other
parts OF the state to have operators sent
here for work and a number were secured
1. this manner, but during the entire day
the service was so crippled as to be al
iOSN NAN II lnnAihbNh vi Nv NAuAhdl
company resisted the proposed increase in
wages and declared it would mean a cost
of 81 900 to the company annually. The
chairman Of a committee of the operators
made this statement to the public:
We sent the schedule or scale of wages to
both arrangements two weeks ago. 1t calls
for slight Increase in wages, but not for
shorter hours. We work nine hours per
day. Sunday the Iowa telephone operators
work eleven hours for Is cents, which is 5
cents under the week DAVIS nav, Thew also
work steady, having no time on for din,
ner The Mutual operators are treated
minutes for dinner.
regular operators get from SIS to $23 per
month. Beginners get $l2 per month. We
nerve-killing, continuous work. We want
the night board operators advanced from
$3.50 to $50 per month. There are other
but would be good for us and not injure
the company. We hated to &C. out, as we
management of these two companies had
done the square thing there would have
that they can't AFFORD to grant us the
raise. Take, for instance, the tolls, which
run from $1,000 to $500 a month, We don't
expect to dictate terms. We told them
what we needed to live respectfully, and
they practically ignored u.s., especially the
Iowa. We made no demand; 1t was a re-
quest.
The Trades and Labor assembly will be
asked to take action tomorrow to support
the strike and the union OF electrical
workers have ~signihed their intention to
help II 1t is necessary. 1t is believed that
eventually the girls will win.
The Last of Inspections.
Adjutant General Byers announces that
the Algona company in the national guard
will be inspected next Monday and this
will complete the company inspections.
The band will also be inspected at that
time. An effort is being made to organize
q big drum corps to go to Washington with
the Iowa delegation to the national en-
campment in the fall and to lead the Iowa
contingent with fife and drum. 1t is also
contemplated that a band will be employed
to accompany the Iowa crowd.
Cut Up Fish Nets.
Trouble is reported to the fish and game
warden from the vicinity Of the Bonaparte
dam, where a deputy warden, Stillwell of
Pennington, seized several fish nets and
proceeded to cut them up. An angry crowd
gathered and threatened the deputy war
den and he became frightened and beat a
hasty retreat. He was pelted with stones
as he crossed a bridge and in retaliation he
shot several times at the disturbers. Some
one returned the Are and Stillwell was
wounded in the arm. The mayor OF
Keosauqua caused a warrant to be served
on Stillwell for disturbance Of the peace,
but after he was arrested he was unable
to go to Keosauqua and is guarded. The
incident caused a great deal Of i'll feeling.
Deadlock On Water Loan.
The waterworks company have not yet
secured the loan OF $50. 700 from the city
and the indemnifying bond OF SIS, 900 asked
by the city auditor and city treasurer 10
insure them against any loss on account
of the loan has been refused by the com-
pany. Secretary Denman Of the water
works company has said that the only Sc
curity which the city will receive from
the company on the loan is the lien upon
the hydrant rentals. He said he had been
unable to get from Auditor Lucas and
Treasurer Gross any statement of condi-
tons upon which they would make the
loan. However, these gentlemen have
repeatedly stated to representatives OF the
press and others that they wanted an in
Identifying bond from the company II the
loan OF $50. 900 was to be made. Mr.. Den
man further stated that the city was now
secured by the lien upon hydrant rentals
representing about $50 900 per annum and
his company would be unwilling to fur
nish a guaranty bond for 5 1000 add
tional. II the auditor and treasurer per-
sist in their demands for the guarantee he
said the company would refuse to accept the
loan.
Estimate of Crop Acreage.
Director Sage OF the Iowa weather and
crop bureau estimates the acreage OF the
corn crop the first Of this month at 52i, 900
acres more than a year ago and with an
average yield this would Indicate o ,O0o,-