The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-11
Many Cities Are Now
 Tied Up,
NEW YORK OPERATORS
 MAY WALK OUT
Situation in Chicago is Growing
 More Serious.
First violence of the Strike occured when a Postal Clerk Was Assault-
 ed By Opera-
 tors. lg

Chicago Aug. 1o.--Encouraged by their success in hampering the fa- cilities of both commercial telegraph comsanies in Chicago, the striking op- orators are now planning to carry the warfare to all parts of the United States and Canada Instructions were today telegraphed by National Secre- tary Russell to the men in New York and other cities, where they are still at work to save their money and await orders" Another telegram was sent to President Small of the Tele- graphers' Union, who is in San Fran cisco, urging him to take the first train to Chicago to look after the situation. as 1t Is the announced intention to engineer the fight from here.
 The telegraph companies are pre- pairing to meet the issue and declare they will fight to a finish. They de- clare they have been temporizing with the union for months and that they will hold no further negotiations with the men on strike. Cots have been installed in the buildings of both companies in Chicago for the accom- modation of strike breakers. and other preparations for bitter strug- gle are being perfected
 Approximately there are 4,000 tele- graph operators now on strike who were employed by both companies in thirty mine cities throughout the coun- try and the list is being added to av- . cry few minutes. The points already affected and the total of strikers are as follows:
 Western Union--Chicago. 1.15oi Hous- ton, 30; Kansas City, ss0; Topeka, 8; Oklahoma City, 10: Pueblo, 8; New Or- leans, 100; Nashville. 75; Columbus. O., 10; Memphis, SO; Dallas, 105; Meridian, Miss, 10; Jackson Miss. Is; Minneapo- aNA. T afu Helena, Mont, 45 Salt Lake City s6; Colorado Springs 10: Denver, 75; Fort Worth 40; Fl Paso. 30; St. Paul. 100; Los Angeles, 50: Fargo, 10; Omaha, 60; Sioux City. 25; Knoxville IS.
 Postal-Chicago. 500; Kansas City, 70; Topeka. 5; Oklahoma City, 10: New Orleans. 60; Dallas. 70; Memphis. sN: Jackson, Tenn, 5: Augusta. SS: St. Louis, S0 Milwaukee, 15s Rirmingham, T5. Omaha, 25.
 A consignment of strike breakers from the East arrived here today and were immediately placed at work The nsw arrivals. were evenly dts- tributed between the. two companies.
 Filling Positions.
 I've are filling positions as rapidly as possible'' said T. F. Cook, general superintendent of the Western Union than we expected. We will not deal with any employees. When the men quiet work they ceased to be employees of the western Union and our relations with them are at an end. There was no union recognition In this contro- versy."
 ''Wnl you meet President Gompers { of the American Federation of Labor. should be come to Chicago and offer his servicesT' MT. Cook was asked
 We will not" was the answer.
 MT. compeTs is expected to reach sla4 1fRe INY T Capen. superintendent of the Postal Telegraph Company, said his company was making better progress than an- ticipated "A number of our old em- ployes have already returned to work" he declared, "and others have signified their intention of doing so.''
 National Secretary Russell, of the telegraphers union. said:
 We are highly pleased with the sit- uation and no matter what sort of claims the telegraph officials may make. the fact remains they are not doing any business. They have few chiefs and inexperienced students at work but as far as the companies be- Ing able to handle public business Is concerned. they are merely trying to mislead the public We know for an actual fact that in Chicago there are not fifty operators working for the commercial companies tonight where, under normal conditions. the number amounts to 1,1s0. We are in this fight to stay and we, must have recognition or our union might as well go out of existenca."
 All day a committee was preparing demands which will be submitted to the telegraph companies Monday as a pre- liminary to ordering a general strike. The demands in substance provide for equal pay for equal work and an eight hour day: the abolition of the sliding scale now in force; the companies to furnish typewriters and to cease dis eliminating against union men. If the companies refuse to accede to these de- mands the men in New York and all other cities where they are still at work, it Is declared tonight. will be or dered to refuse to work with non- union men. This state of affairs would indicate that 1t would be only mat ter of a few hours now before tho strike will be general both in the Uni ted States and Canada
 To Cripple Phone Service.
 The strikers it was said tonight, were planning to cripple the long dist ance telephone service. There are thirty telegraph operators employed in this branch of the service in Chicago. These men are expert wire men and are used in making up circuits. The strikers declare they all belong to the union. These men have been told to Wdtcn anu seS IT the leleBTapn coul- panies are sending messages by long distance telephone that would ordinar- fly be sent as telegrans and if so Go refuse to allow such messages to be handled. This means that they will probably be called out.
 The local executive committee of the union will hold meetings to consider the advisability of ordering the 33O men employed on leased wires m Chi cago to quit work. If such a plan is put into execution and the men re- spond to the order, it will put the Chi cago Board of Trade out of business as well as other corporations and com panies who have leased wire systemS
 At a mass meeting of the striking operators today Chairman Likes an- nounced that President Small at San Francisco had telegraphed an order suspending the Constitution of the na- uonal ofganization for thirty days.