The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-07

time employing five new men to take
the places of the discharged operators.
1t is asserted by the union teIegraphers
that Immediately after the discharge of
the seven union operators yesterday
i've new men, not members of the
union, were ordered to report for duty
this morning.
Claim Fight Against Union
The discharged men say they were
let out solely because of their connec-
ton with the union. The men let out
by the Western Union yesterday are
T. a. Miller, P. r. Knaak, G. G. HoIIer-
Deck, Harry Williams, J. Burr, G. w.
Speth and j. w. Strachan.
Immediately after their dismissal
the operators went to Minneapolis.
where they called upon Supt. r. Swan
and demanded to know why they had
been discharged. This meeting is said
to have been productive of some sharp
retorts on both sides, but the men were
given no satisfactory reason for their
dismissal, and the only reason assign
ed by the local official of the company.
the men say, was because of the loss of
the pool room business by the Western
Union, which compelled the company
to retrench in every direction possible.
This explanation is said to have been
made by the superintendent
Last, night the telegraphers held a
meeting. attended by the local officers
OF the union, and while it could not be
learned just what-was decidea upon at
this meeting, it is known that a teIe-
gram was sent to President Long. ask
ing him to come to St. Paul at once.
1t was also decided that the question
Of strike order should be submitted
to a referendum vote of all the local
lodges.
1t was impossible to communicates
with Supt. Swan last night. At his
nome in Minneapolis it was stated that
he had gone to st. Paul, but the local
officers of the Western Union denied
having been in communication with the
superintendent The St. Paul manager
L. s. Humes, said the matter of en-
ploying and discharging men was ii
the hands of c.. A. Patterson, chief
operator, but admitted that the orders
for the discharge of these men had
come from New York. Mr. Humes said
1t was merely a policy of the company
for reducing expenses, and denied that
the company was making any fight
against the union. he declared that
Chief Operator Patterson had not en-
ployed five men to take the places of
the men discharged.
Company After Agitators
This view, however is not shared
by the operators, who contend that
the Western Union has always been
antagonistic to the organization Of its
employees, and that the men who are
known to be taking an active interest
in the union are being discharged at
points all over the country, regardless
of their long service with the company
The trouble of the operators is said to
be confined to the Western Union.
In speaking of the trouble a promi-
nent member of the union said last
night:
The trouble with the Western Union
company, dates from the inception of our
organization in Chicago two years ago
Since then that company has discharged
men known to be members of the union
in different cities in this country and
Canada in an attempt to break the union
Notwithstanding this the work of organ
iZlng has proceeded steadily until now we
feel strong enough to make a winning
fight 1t has ever been the policy of the
Western Union to oppose any attempt on
the part of their employees to organize
The result has been steadily decreasing
rate Of wages, until at this time I am
ashamed to tell you what salaries the