Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-08-15

eral strike attempted yesterday by
the commercial telegraphers' union is
bv no means as general as the strlk-
ers had hoped, they pointed to the
cities in which number OF operators
of both the big companies yesterday
had left their keys and predicted that
their example would influence other
offices in which the men have been
wavering TO join the ranks OF the
strikers.
AS far as the situation in New YORK
is concerned but two new features de-
veloped yesterday. One was meet
ing of the Wall street chapel Of the
commercial telegrapheTs' union late
Yesterday afternoon, at which it was
decided to present demand to their
employers today for a contract for a
minimum weekly wage Of $50. The
Wall street chapel had about 500
members. all men who operated brok-
ers' leased wires in this and nearby
cities. The proposed contract is to
run for one year but no time limit
was set for it's signature.
No nOuQnI OF ~ biti dllOIis
The other development was on OF
fer of Mr. M. j. Reagon, state mediaC-
or of the department Of labor of the
state of New York, to lend his good
offices to bring about a settlement. Mr..
Reagan called on the officials of both
of the big telegraph companies. Cen
eral Superintendent Brooks of the
Western Union declared his company
had nothing to arbitrate and Mr.. Nally
Of the Postal made practically the
same reply. George F. Ahearn, pres
ident of the local union, said that he
had told Mr.. Reagan that the Operat-
ors were perfectly willing to submit
their case to sincere arbitration
and would readily appoint man to
act for them if the companies would
do the same Thus far the employers,
however, have given no indication
that they will do so, and maintain the
position that so far as they are con-
cerned there is nothing to arbitrate.
General Superintendent Brooks Of
the Western Union said last night
after receiving late reports from all
directions:
Practically Normal.
THE Western Union is practically
on a normal basis tonight We have
enough operators at work to man our
whole system and both commercial
and press matter is being dispatched
with little Or no delay. You can
guage our situation when l say that
the New York office answered to l.
500 offices direct yesterday and last
night not a single call from one of
these offices has gone unanswered,
and without delay at thai. We have
now on duty more operators than we
actually need and so far as my re-
ports from all over the country go the
same is true of other divisions"
Only Slightly Deranged.
e. J. NaIIy vice president and gen
eral manager of the Postal company
said:
"I think the worst that can be said
of our system is that it is slightly
deranged We are not crippled any
where and we have not been since
this strike began. There is not a
single office of our company but now
has on duty a force ample to handle
the present volume of traffic Many
of our former operators went out, it
is true. but many more remained and
we are experiencing little or no diff
Guilty in getting competent men to fill
their places. This is true not only
of New York. where We now have
practically a full force but of all 9th
eT important wire centers as well.
For instance, We handled in the New
York Office today up to 5 p. m. 33 951
messages, exclusive of press matter,
and when 1T is remembered that the
normal traffic of our Office is approx
mately $4,000 messages per day, you
can Judge for yourself the situation
as it affects us"
Percy Thomas, deputy national
president of the telegraphers' union,
said:
"Twenty-six cities in the United
States and Canada struck yesterday.
The situation tonight is satisfactory
in every way to the national officers.
In New York city the men are stand
ing pat and are unaffected by the
statements given out by the officials
of the companies"
Press Operators Work.
The Associated Press leased wires
were working last night as usual. The
entire force of day operators in the
New York Office reported yesterday
morning and remained at their keys
until late in the afternoon when d
special order directing them to 90
out was made by the president of the
local union. Three men obeyed the
call.
Railroad Men May Strike.
Pittsburg. Pa, Aug. 14.-Because an
operator employed by the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad company at Gallery,
Pa, near here, is said to have refused
to handle a Western Union telegram
and may be discharged, the strikers
here say the order of railroad teleg-
raphers is likely to be involved.
A report of the matter reached the
Western Union officials here and they