The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-17
SOUTHERN BELL
L|N..E {: vi N strike 5. I |:|
Contest Will Be Fought Out in
Several States, Including
Virginia.
CLAIMS OF d The il TWO '' SIDES
Superintendent Montague Says
Company Cannot zl,'7 Recognize
Union.
CLAIMS OF The TWO SIDES i.
~ 7I-HI7T- \ ~ ~ y
iRv Associatcd Press, J

BY "A SSoClatco IEess)
ATI4ANTA.3 CA.,a April 16.-Thc strike
OF the Southern Bell Telephone and
Telegraph Company linenlen. which has
been runlored for some time. was inau-
Fgurated to-day. It Is understood that
only the linemen are involved IN the
strike. The tate,nents &as to the num-
Der Of men who actually quit work to-
day vary, h Colonel wv. 7. Gentry, vice
president OF the company, declaring that
only about 400 of j 900 men employed in
the territory affected are out, while Dale
Smith. Of Washington, president OF the
District Councils, Nos. J. and .. 1nterna-
tional Brotherhood OF Electrical Workers,
asserts that eighty per cent Of the 1900
TO l 400 men In the territory re out.
Mr.. Smith based his assertion OH incoln-i
plete Geographic reports. and SAYS the
exact number out will be known to-
morrow morning,
The contest. which will be fought out
In Atlanta covers the States Of West
Virginia, Virginia. North Ca rolna, South
Carolina, Georgia.; Florida and Alabama
The linene,i state their claims TO be q
nine hour day. time and a'2falf for over.
time double time for Sundays and sholl-
days, and increase in wages for line
men, apprentices and instrument men.
AIR. Smith said to-day that negotiations
for adjusting these matters have been
under way for more than year.
What Strikers Say.
The position OF the striking lnemcn
was outlined to-day by Mr. Smith and
James n. Noonan, vce-presidcnt OF the
southeastern division, rs follows:
"The matter OF Increased wages AMI
other grievances was taken up at a, meet
ing in Atlanta one yealSago this month.
and committee was named TO confer
with the Bell officials.
Negotiations were opened INN ately
with Colonel Gentry. but lie refused to
treat or make any concessions. \ rcfcren-
dun vote was then ordered for strike,
or no strike which resulted In prac-
Etically unanimous vote for strike. We
earnestly desired to avoid a strike. ana
another committee OF the district council
again conferred with Mr.. Gentry, put
with no tangible results. Finally. last
T,eccmber Mr.. Gentry agreed to Increase
the wages for lincmen in certain towns.
These promises were never fulfilled
t"At the same time Mr.. Gentry agreed
to take .up the question OF $40 for the
linemen and ovcrpay for certain duties
yyc met last month. aud he then stated
that he had not and would not take un
tie matter. This brought us dowh TO
last Saturday when Mr.. Gentry llnally
said he would not agree to anything, and
we Issued orders FOR INC men ~ ~. w
rltory to so out Monday morning,
The Other Side.
"Tle mon who struck said Colonel
Gentry, Vice president Of The company
"werc receiving moro money than was
demanded by the union. Tho highest
daily wage demanded by union olhclals
vas g.. IL ner day of nine hours. We are
having our nrst class lInemen s2.7o per
day Of nine hours, giving them two hours
off on Saturday, for which they receive
fun pay, making their total wages az
oraEn $3.50 per day. Numbers OF our
linemcn have stated that they have sriov-
ances against the company Tho wages
Tho hours and the treatment they rc-