The Washington herald., 1907-08-13
TeIeKraphers Repudiate Measures
Contributed by Ralph L. VI. EasIey.
Western Union Flatly Refuses TO
Submit to Negotiations-Lasor
Leaders Gather for Conference.

Mon OF america ana president GoTn-
pers. o. the American Federation OF La
Dor
General Superintendent 2. P. Cook. OF
the Western Union. Issued q statement in
which he said fatty thar there would be
no arbitration
General Secretary Wesley Russell. ~
lhR union issued huliettn tn striking
locals 10 which he told them 10 stand
fast and described their fight az won.
This was the situation that confronted
Diessrs. Neil, Easley, and Gompers when
they arrived in Chicago to-day in the role
Of peacemakers. Mr. Easley, who on Sun
day tried to induce the New York opera
tors to remain at work, awaiting develop
ments. until Thursday and then hurried
TO a Chicago train, arrived, to be greeted
by Chicago union officials rejoicing over
the news received a moment before that
the New York Western Union operators
had gone out.
Conference OF War.
President Small and other members OF
the executive board are due in Chicago
Wednesday night TO hold a conference Of
war. following which. prevailing senti-
ment at headquarters said. a general
strike surely would be called.
Mr.. Easley and Commissioner Neill
were seen at their apartments III the
Great Northern Hotel Mr. Easley, who
was alone at the beginning Of the inter
view said that he and Commissioner
NELL had had a meeting with President
/ Gompers during the morning, following
which Mr Nell had gone 10 the chi
cago headquarters Of his department in
the Federal Building.
Il can say nothing. II is for him TO
do the talking. said Mr.. Easley At
that minute Commissioner Nell entered
the room. He said: I will make no
statement while in Chicago"
Conflicting statements were contained
IN the interviews and bulletins that came
thick and fast from both sides 20 the
controversy. The company officials say
that they are turning away applicants
/ for positions. and are handling business
/ promptly. Secretary Russell says that
Notwithstanding reports. no strike-bresk-
I ers have been brought in. and that Chi
/ cago is tied Up.
Trouble in Brokers' Ofces.
Trouble began in. brokers' Offices when
the men were required to handle Western
Union Telegraph Company market quo
/ tations In the course of the day the
leased wire operators working for brokers.
packers. and press associations made de-
rlands for higher wages, independently
and privately on their respective firms.
( following a vote taken by them yester-
| day
I 1t was said several brokers and asso-
Citations signed up. Late this afternoon
the broker firms OF Bartlett Frazier &
Darlington and Sydney c. Love &
Co. two OF the biggest In the city,
came out IN active support of the oper-
ators. First they signed a new agree
ment with the men in their own Offices,
granting their request for higher wages,
and granting them the closed shop.
/ Then they summoned several Of the
most important brokers IN La Sale street
/ 20 attend q meeting later to discuss get
1 ting things on the same proposition 10
! prevent the spread Of the strike to their
Offices.
stock Market Weakened.
The market has weakened very much
under the conditions brought about by
the strike, said Secretary W. W. wrenn.
! Of the stock exchange. "The quotations
at the opening OF the exchange this morn
/ ing are so low that they are panicky.
Look at these (and he pointed to several
quotations). They have fallen OF from
to points. and, in some cases. 8 to 10.
The difficulty comes in the inability of
customers to place orders and thus get
into the market, as they would nor
mally"
As the stock exchange deals with all
the large brokerage houses in the city. the
/ tone Of Mr.. Wrenn's statement reflects
! the general conditions which the brokers
are facing.
On the floor OF the exchange quotations
were coming over a long private wire,
/ and as the prices were placed on the
/ board. murmurs as TO the unfavorable
/ conditions Of the market were heard on
/ every side.
We are suffering heavily from the
strike, said President Sager. Of the
/ Board of Trade while the board will
not take sides. and refuses to mix up in
/ the trouble between the operators and
/ the companies, we shall watch the prog
ress of the proposed peace conference
! with the greatest interest. and we hope
that If the negotiations are entered into
/ in a friendly fair way a just settlement
will be reached.
No Operators in wheat Pit.
The wires leading from the wheat pit
are without operators, as they were Sat
urday. The greatest uncertainty is felt
on the board Of trade and the stock ex-
| change, and the former is keeping care
fully out of the trouble owing to the diff
culties which It hac with the companies
over the recent rise n the telegraph rates
Two great systems of railroads are
| threatened because OF the use of the rail
road wires IN commercial transmission of
messages Secretary Russell was notified
that the Chicago and Northwestern Rail
road was sending commercial messages
from the Milwaukee Office of the road.
z. J. Cassidy, an official OF the teleg-
raphers union, notified President Perham
OF the Order OF Railway Telegraphers,
that the operators in the employ of the
system would take a vote on joining the
commercial men.
The Chicago Burlington and Quincy
! Railroad, through its superintendent OF
telegraps, has issued an order that CON-
mercial business be accepted for trans
mission ever the wires controlled by the
| company. Thus the effects Of the strike
are reaching into the district in which
1000 union operators hold contracts with
the railroad companies Of the nation.
GOmpers for Arbitration.
! Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation OF Labor, favors
arbitration as a means of ending the
telegrephers' strike. Shortly after arriy-