The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-11
STRIKE Of OPERATORS
SPREADS FAR AND WIDE
Only Question Of Few Hours When Teleg-
raphers in Big Eastern Cities VIII
Cease Working
Probability that Men Employed Leased Wires in Chicago
Will Be Called Out Today.

Chicago, Aug. J10.-Encouraged by
their success in hampering both COM
mercial telegraph companies in Chica-
90, the striking operators are now
planning to carry the warfare to all
parts of the United States and can
ada. Instructions were today 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 y as sent TO Presi-
dent Small of the telegrapheTs' union
in San Francisco, urging him 10 take
the first train to Chicago, as it is the
announced intention of the lien to en-
gineer the fight from Chicago.
The telegraph companies are prepar-
ing TO meet the issue and declare they
viii fight to a finish. They declare
they have been temporiZing with the
union for months, and that they will
hold no further negotiations with it.
Cots have been installed in the build
ings of both companies in Chicago for
the accommodation of strike breakers,
and other preparations for a bitter
struggle are being perfected.
Four Thousand on Strike.
approximately 1000 telegraph opera
throughout the country. and the list is
being added to every few minutes
The points already affected and the
total of strikers are:
Western Union-Chicago. 1150: Hous-
ton, so; Kansas City, $50; Topeka. 8:
oklahoma City. 10: Pueblo 8: New Or
leans. 100; Nashville rs: Columbus. 20:
Memphis, so; Dallas, 100: Meridian. 10:
Jackson, Miss. 10; Minneapolis, so:
Milwaukee, so; St. Louis, 225; Helena,
Mont, 40: Salt Lake City, SO; Colorado
Springs. 10: Denver 20; Fort Worth
40; Ell Paso, 30; St. Paul, 100; Los An
geles, 90; Fargo, 10; Omaha, so; Sioux
City, %; Knoxville, Is.
PostaEchicag 500; Kansas City,
20; Topeka. 5; Oklahoma City, 10; New
Orleans, so. Dallas, 40; Memphis. So
Jackson. Tenn. 3; Augusta, %: St.
Louis, so; Milwaukee, %; Birmingham,
So: Omaha, D..
Non-union Men at Work.
Several non-union operators from the
east arrived here today and were i'm
mediately placed at work. The new
arrivals were divided between the two
companies.
We are filling positions as rapidly
as possible, said T. P. Cook. general
superintendent of the Western Union,
tonight, land we are in a better posi-
ton than we expected. We will not
deal with any representatives of the
strikers, as this company only treats
with its own employees When the men
quiz work they ceased to be employees
of the Western Union, and our rela-
lions with them are at an end. There
will be no union recognition in this
controversy"
"Wili 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 an
swer
Mr.. Gompers is expected here Mon
day morning.
w. l. Capen, superintendent Of the
Postal Telegraph company, said his
company was making better progress
than anticipated.
Some of our old employees have al
ready returned" he declared land
others have signified their intention of
doing So"
Strikers Appear Satisfied.
National Secretary Russell of the Teleg-
raphers union said:
We are highly pleased with the situa-
ton. and no matter what sort of claims
the telegraph officials may make the
fact remains they are not doing any bus
mess They have few chiefs and mex
ptIieHCtu le4esFdpnefS AT Work. but IN
stead of the companies being able TO han
die the public's business they are merely
trying TO misiead the public. We know
that for an actual fact that in Chica go
there are not fifty operators working to-
night where under normal conditions tile
number amounts to 1.550. We are in this
fight Ia stay and We must have recogni-
ton or our union, or the union might as
well 90 out Of business 3"
Ali day today committee was prepar-
ing demands which will be submitted to
the telegraph companies Monday as a prS-
iiminary 10 ordering a general strike
The demands in substance provide for
equal pay for equal work and an eight
hour cay, the abolition of the sliding
scale. companies to furnish tyDeWriters
and to cease discriminating against union
men. If the companies refuse these de-
mands the men in New York and all 9th
er cities, il is declared tonight viii be
ordered TO refuse to work with non union
men. This indicates that it will be only
a matter of hours before the strike will
be general in the United States and Can
ada.
Plan 10 Cripple Telephone Service.