Evening star., 1907-08-15
OPERATORS WAITING,
CRISIS. IS EXPECTED
Spirit of Unrest Among the
Local TeIegraphers.
WIRES ARE STILL WORKING
Company Officials Claim to Have
Situation in Hand.
MESSENGERS RESUME WORK
Bicycle Boys Fail to Win Their Fight.
Pickets Still on Lookout for
Strikebreakers.
ARE STILL WORKING
Company Officials Claim to Have
Situation in Hand.
MESSENGERS RESUME WORK

eve have an ample force OF oP-
orators at work and everything is
going on smoothly James T.Bres-
nahan, assistant Washington man
aeer of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company.
1--WE are impatiently waiting for
orders from Chicago calling a gen
eral strike. Instead Of deSertlons
from our ranks we are having ac-
cessions. The men of the local union
are optimistic as to the outcome" -
w. w. Beattie, second national vice
president of the Commercial Ieleg-
raphers' Union.
''Conditions in Our office are nor
NAL" Postal Telegraph Company's
official.
"The messenger boys have lost
out, but we made game fight while
it lasted."-Will Bowes, one OF the
strike leaders of the messenger boys.
A spirit Of unrest was observable today
among the striking telegraph operators in
this city. This was not due. they ex-
planned, because Of any fear Of failure, but
owing to the uncertainty as to whether an
order will be received from President Small
calling a general strike: also as to the
probable action of the Brotherhood Of Rail-
way Telegraphers in declaring a sympa-
thetic strike with the commercial men.
I'VE feel that crisis is impending" said
one Of the leading strikers, but in the
last analysis we are certain OF public SYM
pathy, funds and victory
The crowds of strikers shifted about this
afternoon from one place to another in
the uptown district, and were ever on the
qui vtve to get the latest news from the
front or to "hold up some imported non
union operator and use their persuasive
eloQuence on him.
Western Union Claims.
I'VE have an ample force of men and
things are going on smoothly" said As
slstant Manager Bresnahan Of the Western
Union today. I'VE have certain direct
wires or circuits working out of Wash
mgton. These are all set up and working
normally. and we have all the operators we
need. The messenger boys or such as we
wanted Of them, have returned to work
since the police have restrained the rabble
from committing depredations. and the
messenger force Is now under police sur
veillance'
Mr.. Bresnahan also said that notice Is
given to all patrons Of the company that
messages are taken subject to delay, be
cause we do not know what conditions exist
in other parts Of the country"
He added that he received this morning
a service message on office business from
Oakland, Cal, near the scene Of the origi-
nation of the present trouble, and that the
message was dated today. In conclusion
Mr. Bresnahan said:
THE Western Union Company Is satisfied
with the situation and the outlook
When inquiry was made at the Postal
office for Manager Prosser, the official be-
hind the desk said he could not be seen.
But he added, you may say conditions
here are normal"
Awaiting SmalPs Word
The headquarters OF the striking op-
crowded all day by members of the execu-
tive committee and others. who were i'm
patiently waiting to hear from President
Small at Chicago. PIckets came in at in
tervals to report and they said but few
strikebreakers were coming into Washing
ton.
Vice President Beattie was as hopeful as
could be desired. He said the union was
not suffering any losses from desertions,
but was gaining recruits.
Last night. he added, the union sent away
from town on the owl train three imported
strikebreakers who had been captured by
piokets and converted to Hnionism. The
men were returned to their homes.
MIR. Beattie had been informed that a can
vass of the business men. particularly the
commission merchants. had been made and
the information gained that the great strike
had in a measure paralyzed certain business
interests here. This was particularly true
Of the commission merchants. some of
whom complain that the quotations are
coming in from twenty-four to thirty-sir
hours late.
Others spoke Of the almost impossibilitv
Of getting OF kilograms to their patrons.
and as the produce they handle is largely
perishable much damage has resulted, II
was said.
One case was cited by Mr.. Beattie where
q telegram nled by q merchant yesterday