Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-08-13

York refused to give the corporation
any further time in which TO consider
their demands. although it was explain
ed TO the union officials in Il communi-
cation from Melville f. Stone, general
manager of the Associated Press, that
it would be Impossible to consider the
demands in the short time allowed in
| the ultimatum.
| In Chicago the II operators walked
out with scarcely any demonstration.
| They fingered a few minutes around
| their keys until one of the officials ad-
vised them to leave the operating room.
! Immediately after the strike the local
officials of the Associated Press took
what measures they could for furnish
ing the newspapers the best possible
service under such conditions.
Demands of the Strikers.
The demands made by the operators.
submitted just 24 hours before the
walkOut. were as follows:
| Day wOrk-SiX days. s hours daily,
$50 a week and overtime and extra at
the rate of 60 cents an hour.
Night work-Six night, s hours, $35
a week and overtime and extra at the
rate of 10 cents an hour.
Vacations to remain at present.
A proportionate increase for chief
and subchief operators.
Manager stones Reply.
Mr. Stones reply to the demands was
as follows:
New York. Aug. u, 1907-To OPP
orators: l received this morning a
communication from a large number OF
the operators in the service of the As
sociated Press asking for a changed
scale of wages and hours and request
ling a reply by 1870 o'clock this even
ing.
"The changes involved are so radi-
cal in their nature as to add over $780,
600 year. and probably more, to the
leXpense of this organization. The AS
sociated Press is mutual in its charac-
ter, makes no profits, and has no sur
Plus fund ont of which such a sum could
be paid Any such increase must of
necessity be levied back upon the news,
papers as a part of their weekly as
sessments.
'As general manager | have no pow
er to make such an increase either in
salaries or assessments, without au
thority from the board of directors, and
il is obviously impossible to call this
, board together within the time named
The board consists of Is members
scattered throughout the entire country
Glad to Consider Demands.
"At the same time, acting under au
thority heretofore granted me by the
board of directors, | shall be glad al
any time to meet a committee of oul
= = own operators and confer with them
respecting hours of service and com
lpensation, with a view to making some
recommendation to the next meeting
, of the board of directors which shall
meet any fair or just expectations o.
those in our operating service.
Even were | free to act, | think yoI
must agree with me that a question o
this magnitude should not be pressed
to a conclusion within the limits of ;
. few hours and without any opportunit,
g for consultation between myself an'
representative of our operating force
:, MELVILLE E. STONE.
General Manager"
- Leaders i'm City.
o. National chiefs of union labor flock
!, led to Chicago yesterday with the avow
led purpose of bringing peace out of tn
&c lpresent growing telegraphers' war.
,e1 simultaneously came Labor Commits
sioner Neill, representing the presiden
land the government, and Secretar
WI Continued on Page Five.)