The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-14
REPUDIATED BY
LOCAL UNIONS.
TeIegraphers in Big Cities Vote
Upon Proposition of Pres
ident Sam Small.
STRIKE TO BE CONTINUED
BITTER EXCHANGES AT NEW
YORK MEETING.
STRIKE TO BE CONTINUED

New York. Oct. 13.-The New York To-
cal of the telegraphers union today voted
unanimously to continue the strike
against the Western Union and Postal
Telegraph companies.
The vote was taken upon the sugges-
ton of President Small, who, in messages
10 subordinate officers yesterday. pointed
out the inability of the general assembly
to further finance the strike and re-
quested that locals in the various cities
vote upon the adyisability of the men re-
turning to work.
Would Not Listen to Small.
The meeting was characterized by bit
ter exchanges between President Small
and the other speakers. me latter
charged the national leader with incon-
sistency i'm first claiming that the strike
would be successfully financed and yes
terday admitting that the general assem-
bly, was without funds. and with having
conducted the fight in a half-hesrted. dill
atory manner. Small replied, trying TO
explain his position, but was interrupted
by Kisses. When he suddenly left the hall,
in the midst of the speechmaking cries
of resign followed him. Tonight Small
issued a statement in which he said he
was willing to continue the strike If the
men insisted.
Explained His Action.
When the meeting opened President
Small was given the floor. and said:
Il am not here to make an argument
for or against continuing the strike, but
merely to explain why l called for vote
of the locals on the proposition saturday
Commissioner NELL informed me that
President Clowry had told him that fur
Their negotiations were futile l believe
what they say. Our funds are quite eX-
hausted. as you know. when we were I'M
able to make a payment to you yesterday.
There are no more in sight These are
h foo do aS nil
Thomas Attacked Small.
Percy Thomas. former national deputy
president followed Small, saying that the
latter had said when the strike began
that he could raise 100000 to support il.
Small. he said, had asked him thirty days
ago to send out the word mo funds" but
the speaker refused. He continued:
President Small has utterly neglected
10 properly approach the subject of rails
ing money, and now he comes before you
and tells you that we have no more mon
ey This strike cannot be lost if we have
leader, national president with any
ability
There were cheers for Thomas and as
Small arose TO reply, shouts of resign
greeted him.
Nc Intention of Resigning.
Il have no intention OF resigning," he
said when he could be heard ITO re-
sign is the last thing that | will do, and
want to tell YOU that personal attacks on
me won't get you bread and butter.
las for assessments of other labor or
CARNATIONS, ] want to tell you what they
amount to. The Order of Railroad Teleg-
raphers, with A membership of forty thou
sand. was assessed first two dollars. then
one dollar and has turned in about S32, 600.
From the 25000 locals of the American
Federation of Labor, we have received
about $4,000. l have come here to state
facts and 20 tell you of your position
Do what you will.
Chairman RussePs Speech.
As Small sat down. Daniel Russell
chairman of the local board of strategy,
sprang 10 his feet.
Up to last night" he said, this was
Smalls strike and up to last night he did
everything he could to lose. Today it is
your strike. Keep il UP and we will win
He alone brought on the strike, and now
he Is trying to repudiate that"
Other speakers followed in a similar
vein. after which the resolution declaring
that the strike be continued and calling
upon the national executive committee to
at once remit 5000. the New York locals
share in the general treasury. and re-
ouesting the appropriation OF the insur-
ance fund for strike purposes was
adopted
Statement by Small.
In his statement tonight, President
Small says that in his recent telegram he
merely wished the locals to act intelli-
gently. Should the locals throughout
the country, or bare majority of them
vote to continue the strike. il will be
pushed with greater vigor than ever and
the membership being in possession of the
facts regarding negotiations and finances
10 doubt will work with greater determi-