The Washington herald., 1907-06-22
COMPANY OFFICIALS MEET.
1rritated Over Action of Telegraph
ers' Chief in Calling strike.

1rFitated over Action of Telegraph
eTs' Chief in Calling strike.
New York, June 2l.-There was a meet
Ing Of officials Of the Western Union in
the executive Offices tonight. Nothing
defnite was decided upon, and another
conference viii take place tomorrow.
The officials of the Western Union are
particularly irritated over the action of
President Samuel J. Small. Of the Tele-
graphers' Union. in going TO san Fran
cisco and starting the strike there
They say that in view Of the fact that
the company yielded 10 the demands here
that Small should have waited and coun-
EeIed against strike until the matter
could be taken up with the officials OF
the company.
Officials Are sanguIne,
The officials look upon the san Fran
cisco situation as purely local. and have
no fears Of the strike spreading into a
guerrilla warfare throughout the country.
as has been threatened. Some Of those
concerned thought tonight that they saw
through President Smalls move They
figured it out that ever since the strike
agitation began the leaders Of the union
had made plays for Federal intervention
These people tonight were Of the opinion
that President Small had planned to bring
this TO a head by calling a strike at a
point where government cablegrams would
be delayed as a result of the men going
out
The government however. in the case Of
urgent messages. can have the same for
warded here by way Of Europe.
Executives Surprised.
The members Of the executive commit
tee Of the Commercial Telegraphers'
Union Of America were at first inclined
to-day TO disbelieve that a strike Of the
tslegraphers had been ordered in San
Francisco. The letter Of President Clowry
Of the Western Union, 10 United States
Labor Commissioner NeiI included,
among other concessions, the right to the
telegraphers to arbitrate all differences.
and this would have included the San
Francisco demands.
Deputy President KOnenkamp said that
he had first telegraphed a bulletin Of what
had been done 70 President Small, and
early this morning had telegraphed a
L
notified President Small that the execu-
tive committee had accepted the condition
and unofHcially called of all hOstilities.
He received no reply and later sent a
message asking if President Small had
received his messages. Up TO this even
ing he had received no reply, but a mes
sage was received from the San Fran
cisco local that the strike had taken place.
8 If ba
was that after Mr. Small had received the
messag ges a strike could not be declared
by him without the consent Of the execu-
tive body
Only Strike Authorized.
Il shall suspend judgment" said Depu-
ty President Konekamp. until I learn
exactly what has taken place. II would
not be fair TO give my views until I have
more details. In my present knowledge
I am sorry the strike was declared. but
there may have been reasons for il that
have vet 10 learn.
when President Small went 10 San
Francisco it was TO order the strike on a
certain day. and be was authorized 10
order IL. but in the meantime President
ClOwry. Of the Western Union. had sent
the letter to Mr.. Nell making the con
Cessions. and Mr Small ought 20 have
received my messages before ne ordered
the strike. ] wish TO say that if a strike
IS declared in any other town or city il
viii be unauthorized. As soon as we have
full details of the San Francisco matter
a meeting Of the executive committee will
be called to take action"
Employees Get Arrears.
Il was stated that the members who
were discharged. as alleged, by the West
ern Union for belonging TO the union will
report at the main Office Of the company
on Monday and have a good chance of re-
instatement Il was also stated that one
man was paid SIS for the arrears of the
10 per cent advance promised
One Of the telegraphers said a message
was received from President Small to the
effect that Col. Clowry had handed a
lemon 10 the telegraphers. and that he
would only be satisfied with all the de-
mands. Deputy President Konekamp
said be had received no such message or
any message of any kind from Small.
Fine Bathing at