The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-13
Telegraph Operators Walk
Out in Bunches in Many
More Important Places.
ASSOCIATED PRESS IS HIT
Operators Strike in Spite Of Advice
of National 0f1cial-service
is Not Nearly Tied Up.

Chicago, Aug. 13-Developments in
the strike of the telegraph operators
follow fast. Last evening the operators
IN the rooms of the Associated Press
walked out and partly tied up the news
service-that is to say all went out
cept two, and with these two a couple
OF wires was kept going all night. The
demands of the operators We're replied
TO by General Manager Stone and his
reply is given in these dispatches else
where. AS to the principal antagonists,
the Western Union and Postal officials
say they are handling their business
pretty we'll and increasing their force,
while the strikers insist that the tie
up is as near complete as possible.
Strikes Increase in Number.
Outside of Chicago strikes have oc-
Cured and are continually occurring
at new points against the too big tele-
graph companies-the operators in both
walked out at New York, Baltimore,
Washington, Buffalo. Cleveland. De-
troit. Pittsburg. Cincinnati, and other
places. At Los Angeles the Postal men
have Joined those of the Western Union
strike. The railway telegraphers are
ready to strike If an attempt is made to
have them handle any Western Union
or ROSIal business. Inc brokerage
firms ard others at Chicago operating
leased wires have ANNOUNCED that they
viii accept the unions new wage
schedule.
COnciiiators Have Arrived.
President Gompers, Labor Commis
sioner Nei1l and Secretary Easley of
the National Civic Federation, have ar
rived here to confer with both parties
10 the strike and Gompers went i'm
nediately into conference with the
Federation OF Labor officials and those
OF the telegraphers. Gompers says the
f. OF L. is behind the strike with a.
500. GOO members and a barl of money.
He, NeIn ana Easley have arranged
for a conference Thursday with Presi-
dent Small Of the telegraphers.
No Arbitration Say Both.
Both the Western Union and the
Postal Telegraph companies have an
nounced that they will not treat with
the operators now on a strike. They
both say they have nothing to arbi-
trate, and that they will refuse to con-
fer with any labor union official as
such. Also the strikers declare they do
not wish arbitration of any sort and
will end the strike only when the COM
panies grant the demands.
New York Strike "A Surprise.
New York, Aug. 13.-The strike of
telesraphers which originated last Fri
day at Los Angeles, where is was di-
rected against the Western Union com
pany. has spread eastward and reached
New York city. where three spontane-
Gus 'walkouts" followed in rapi sue
eession. These We're directed against
the Western Union. the Postal Tele-
graph company and the Associated
Press. The strike was the first against
the news organization and was fairly
general throughout the country, OK
eepting New England. Unexpectedly,
and when it had been generally sup
posed that no action would be taken
locally pending a conference of Labor
Commissioner Neiu with influential Ia
Dor representatives in Chicago on
Thursday the union operators declared
strike in the office of the Western
Union.
In explanation it was said by the
strikers that three discharged en-
ployes who had called at the Office for
wages due, had been treated with scant
courtesy. An hour or so later the men
in the main Office of the local telegraph
company walked out. In this instance
1T was said that the union man had
been asked to work a wire manned in
another city by non-union operator.
While these strikes appear TO be in
violation Of the understanding reached
by the local executive officers OF the
walkouts officers of the union declared
that the strikers would ~eceive the sup
port of their organization. 1t was ad-
ded that a secret understanding was
reached Sunday, by which authority
was given to the local employees of the
two telegraph companies to go out any
time that their interests seemed to de-
mand immediate action. Just how eff
fective the strike was is matter of
dispute. as it always is in such cases.
Strike of the Press Men.
Chicago. Aug. 13.-The Associated
Press operators in this city and at
many points in this city and at many
points en- the southern and western
circuits of the Associated Press leased
wire system stopped work at so o. m
yesterday. The north circuit. including
the offices at ST. Paul, Minneapolis. Ilu-
luth and Milwaukee was not disturbed
none of the operators at those points
leaving their work. On the south, In
dianapolis was left in full working or
der, and on the east the men in Cleve-
land refused to leave. The suspension
was not complete at New York, as suf-
ncient force renamed loyal TO send a
partial news service in all directions
and this condition was continually i'm
proved
The same conditions prevailed at all
the offices, except those in New Eng