Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1907-06-28
INSIST THAT THEIR
DEMANDS ARE JUST
President MaCkdy. of Postal Com
pdny. Writes Letter Showing
Determined Stand of That
Concern In Its OppoSi
ton to the Union.

San Francisco, Cal, June 2S.--The
belief that the strike of the telegra-
pliers will be of short duration Is
strengthened and a spirit of optlm-
ism prevails among the operators.
The prospect that President Roose-
welt may take a hand in adjusting
their differences tended to brighten
the situation.
President Small has been notified
by Deputy President Konenkamp,
who is in New York, that he has
been invited by Labor Commissioners
Neill to discuss the situation with him
at Washington.
The companies claim to be handl-
ing all business, but no new men were
put to work yesterday.
Appeals to President.
President Small, OF the Telegra-
piers union, stated today also that
there was little doubt that President
Roosevelt will heed the appeals of
the union. He said that he would
take advantage of the presence in
San Francisco of three of the presi-
dents cabinet to try to bring about
an investigation. He asserts that the
telegraphers are not to blame for the
strike and that an investigation will
prove they are right.
He does not seem to think that the
strike will last more than three
weeks, but declares the union is ready
to carry it on for six months If nee
essary.
"The strike situation remains un-
changed" he said. I'VE have about
fifty pickets around the company's
offices.
The railroad telegraphers are
willing to aid us with $4,000 If nee
essary, and large amounts are COM
ing from eastern telegraph unions
W 1n hi wifi n in thn tril
I'VE are willing to meet the en-
ployers at any time. What we want
is a 25 per cent increase in wages.
We are greater power than the
Western Union Telegraph company
and the Postal Telegraph company
combined. These companies cannot
bear investigation"
superintendent /. w. Storror of the
Postal has received a letter from
Clarence H. Mackay, president of the
Postal Telegraph company, in which
he takes a firm stand. Mackay says
In part:
while deeply regretting the situa-
ton, j feel that our men, in abandon
ing their posts, were unmindful and
needless of their duty to the public
and the company, and guilty of the
most unwarranted action. We shall
take firm stand in dealing with the
situation, and we are determined to
win regardless of the cost. With this
in view, l hereby approve and con-
firm the instructions given you by
the general manager, and in addition
thereto, you are authorized to say 10
loyal men who stand by US in this
difficulty:
"All operators will be paid their
regular salary as bonus and their
services will be computed as extra on
the basis of seven hours per day OF
night
where you deem it wise to do so,
you may also furnish free meals and
lodging until We return to our nor
NAL condition.
II also wish to impress upon you
that you should afford them every
protection and comfort. We don't |
desire them to work unduly long
hours or uninterruptedly. While anxi- |
Gus to move the traffic, we do not |
wish it done at the expense of the |
health of our men.
If you have not already done so, |
l hope you will at once serve written {
notices upon all who abandon their |
posts, that unless they report for duty |
on or before Monday morning we |
shall consider them out of our en- |
ploy. Please accept for yourself and |
convey to other officials and man
ayers who are assisting you in this |
good work, my deep appreciation of |
the promptness and zeal with which |
they have responded. l have their |
names and will keep all in personal |
memory.
CLARENCE II. MACKAY."
Situation at Offices.
At the offices of the Western I'm
ion and Postal in the Ferry building |
yesterday the keys were clicking mer-
rily as usual, and, although the force
of operators was much reduced in |
messages were being sent |
and received much as if no strike
were in existence
Manager O'Brien Of the Western
Union said that his office was about
an hour behind in sending out its
messages, but admitted that this
would not be the case if the usual
amount Of business were coming in.
He estimated the days business at
I5 per cent of normal
superintendent StorroT Of the Pos
tai said that his company was re-
ceiving about tWO-thirds of the regu-
lar amount of business, and that
every message was going out as soon
as received
In the Western Union Office there |
We're three or four operators at work |
and the Postal bOasted eight Two |
chief operators from salt Lake City
and one each from Portland and |
Seattle nave been brought down by
the Postal to work the keys here.
Both companies stated that no non
unionists We're to be brought in SO