The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-08-15


both commercial telegraph companies
in Chicago, the striking operators
are now planning to carry the war
fare to all parts of the United States
add Canada. Instructions were tele-
graphed by National Secretary Rus
sell to the men in New York and
other cities where they are still at
work to save their money and await
orders.
Another telegram was sent to Presi-
dent Small Of the Telegraphers I'm
ion, who is in San Francisco, urging
him to take the first train to Chicago
to look after the situation as it is
the announced intention Of the men
to engineer the fight from Chicago.
The telegraph companies are pre-
pairing to meet the issue and declare
they will fight to finish. They de-
clare they have been temporizing with
the union for months and they will
hold no further negotiations with the
representatives of the men. Cots
have been installed in the buildings
of both companies in Chicago for the
accommodation Of strike breakers
and other preparations for bitter
struggle are being perfected.
Approximately there are 1000 tele-
graph operators now in strike who
are employed by both companies il
thirty-nine cities throughout the
country and the list is being added to
every few minutes.
A consignment of non-union opera
tors from the East arrived and were
Immediately placed at work. The
new arrivals were evenly divided be-
tween the two companies.
+ eve are filling positions as rapid
ly as possible, said T. P. Cook, gen.
eral Superintendent of the Western
Union. eve are in better condition
than we expected We will not deal
with any representatives of the strik-
ers as this company only treats with
its own employees. When the men
quit work they ceased to be employees
of the Western Union and our rela-
tions with them are at an end. There
will be no union recognition in this
controversy.
"Will you meet President Gompers
of the American Federation of Labor,
should he come to Chicago and offer
his services Mr.. Cook was asked.
"We will not" was the emphatic
answer.
w. ]. Capen, superintendent Of the
Postal Telegraph Co., said his COM
pany was making better progress than
anticipated.
ga number of our old employees
have already returned to work." he
declared, "an others have signifed
their intention of doing So.
National Secretary Russell of the
telegraphers' union, said:
eve are highly pleased with the
situation and no matter what sort Of
claims the telegraph officials may
make the fact remains they are not
doing any business. They have "a
few chiefs and inexperienced tele-
graphers at work, but as far as the
company's being able to handle pub
lie business is concerned they are
merely trying to mislead the public
We know for an actual fact that in
Chicago there are not fifty operators.
working for the commercial compan
les, where under normal conditions
the number amounts to 1850. We sre
in this fight to stay and we must have
recognition or our union might as
well 60 out of business.
A committee is preparing demands
which will be submitted to the tele-
graph companies as preliminary 70
ordering a general strike. The de-
mands in substance provide for equal
pay for equal work, and an eight
hour day. The abolition Of the slid
ing scale now in force, the compan-
les to furnish typewriters and to
cease discrimination against union
men. If the companies refuse to
accede these demands, the men in
New York and all other cities where
they are still at work, it is declared,
will be ordered to refuse to work with
non-union men. This state Of affairs
would indicate that it would be only
a matter of few hours before the
strike will be general both ia the
United States and Canada.
Little Rock, Ark. The entire BUSH
ness section Of Portland, Ark, was