The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-09
PETITION
FOR SWEEPING ORDER
Would Call Out 500 Keymen
in Brokers and News
paper Offices.
ONE HUNDRED SIGN DOCUMENT
Operators Abandon Hope for Early
Capitulation of Telegraph Com
panies-More Developments.

Chicago. Sept. 9-Another furry in
the telegraphers' strike was caused yes
terday by an effort to call out about
500 more operators now employed in
brokers' offices. newspapers. and on
leased wires. A meeting OF these men
will be held tonight to consider the
proposed walkout.
Union officials attributed the move to
the more radical element OF the union.
1t originated in petition circulated
during the afternoon among the strik-
ers. which made demand upon the
executive board of the local union to
order out every member in Chicago.
regardless of the existence of contracts
or agreements signed since the strike
began. About 100 names were signed
to the petition.
Il can't say anything about the pro-
posed spreading of the strike until the
national executive board meets tomor-
row." said Secretary Wesley Russell.
Mr.. Russell said that similar petit
tions were being circulated among the
strikers in Seattle. Portland and Mem
phis. He denied that the movement
was authorized by the officials of the
union in any of these cities
In case the leased wire men should
decide to strike the big brokerage
houses would suffer most. These firms
recently raised the wages of their op-
orators and made union CLOSED shops"
out of their offices. In return they
were given the protection of written
contracts signed by union officials.
Text of Strikers Petition.
The petition which the Chicago strik-
ers were asked to sign read as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned members of
local No. 1 of the Commercial Telegra-
piers Union of America, after due de-
| liberation and thought, deem it neces-
sary to request, and If necessary to de-
mand, that every member of the union
be called upon to cease work immedi-
ately, Notwithstanding any contract
that has been signed that compels
one brother to work to the disadvant-
age of another is better broken than
kept. and further believing that this
method is the quickest and most salts
factory way of settling our differences
with the Western Union and Postal
Telegraph companies.
I'VE believe that there would be as
much sense in signing an agreement
with the Postal and letting the West
ern Union men fight out their own
fight as to keep an agreement with any
| broker or newspaper while differences
with the Western Union and Postal
companies remain unsettled. We fur
Their demand prompt action on the part
of our honorable executive board"
No Hope of Early CapituIatiOn.
/ From statements made at the daily
mass meeting of the strikers at Brands
hall the union leaders have aha ndOoed
hope of an early capitulation of the
telegraph companies. Secretary Rus
sell told the operators that he did not
expect important developments from
the meeting of the Western Union
board of directors in New York tomor-
| row.
II believe the board will pass the
matter over for another week." said
Mr.. Russell, ito see If the strikers will
not break ranks"
Russell made the charge at the meet
ing that the Western Union company is
furnishing free chocolates and bon
bons" to women strike breakers to
keep them from deserving Russell
said such a report was made to him by
the union pickets.
A poem, written by Mrs. Emma Park
er, one of the strikers, was read at the
meeting. 1t exhorted the women OPP
orators to furnish an example in loyal
ty to the men strikers.
Manager Duce of the Garrick theater
has arranged to produce new vaude-
Vile sketch by a Chicago newspaper
woman at the benefit for the striking
telegraphers Friday afternoon.