Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-08-15

Chicago, Aug. 13.-The operators II
The Office In this city, and on tn
SCUM and western circuits Of the As
ISOLATED Press leased wire system
stopped woTx Monday night at 7:SC
o'clock
New York, Aug. 13.-Melville d
Stone, general manager Of The Az
ISOLATED Press replied Monday to the
requests Of the telegraphers employ
cd by The Associated Press. these
requests were:
Day Work-Six days, eight hours
daily $40 per week and overtime and
EXTRA at the rate Of go cents per
hour.
Night Work = Six nights, eight
hours, sS5 per week and overtime and
extra at the rate OF rs cents per hour.
The vacations to remain as at pres
emit.
A proportionate increase for chiefs
and sub-chief operators.
The telegraphers requested reply
by 1880 o clock Monday evening. Mr..
Stones reply follows:
Il received Monday morning com
munieation from a large number Of
the operators In the service of The
Associated Press asking for changed
scale Of wages and hours, and request
Ing reply BY hait past seven o'clock
Monday evening.
The changes involved are 80 radical
in their nature as to add over $780,
900 year, and probably more, to the
expense Of this organization. The As.
scctatsd Press IL mutual In It's char.
acteS, makes no profits and has no
surplus fund out Of which such sum
0paid be paid. Amy such increase
must Of necessity be levied back upon
the newspapers as a part Of their
weekly assessments. As general man
ager, have no power to make such
an fncroase either in salaries or as
saIssments without authority from the
board Of directors, and 1t is obviously
impossible b call this board together
within the time named. The board
cmstn1s a I6 members scattered
throughouA the entire country.
Al ths 1ne time, acting under
authority heretofore granted me by
the board OF directors, shall be very
glad ct any time to meet a committee
Of oklR own operators and confer with
them TegpeCing hours Of service and
compensation with Q view to making
Aome recommendation to the next
meeting Of the board of directors,
which shall meet any fair or Just ex.
pectations At these In our operating
service.
Even were l free to act, think you
must agree with me that a question
Of this magnitude should not be
pressed 70 conclusion within the
limits Of a few hours and without any
opportunity for consultation between
myself and representative Of our
Operating 1DFce.
Mr. stona, addressed, Q message toI
the operators that he would see what
be could do about getting the matter
betUrs the directors by wire Tuesday.
To thiA message the operators in New
York added q chase in the shape Of
Q message to the Chicago operators
saying that they were ready for the
strike at 1880 II II came
The situation was still unsatlsfac
tory 70 the operators south Of Louis.
willie. and they announced that unless
messages 10 the directors from Mr.,
Stone went over the fire before 1880
they would leave. They also sent q
message to Mr. Stone saying that
they wanted to know what recon,
mendations would be made to the d.
rectofs before they consented to wait
for smother twenty four hours.
Promptly at 1850 O'Clock . message
was pseafved IN the Chicago office
from AouiUSIlle saying, Good night,
we're out"
The operator IN charge Of the
operating room In this city as soon
as b received the message called out
Good night. r.. The latter letters
being ths Telegraph call for the Chi
casp offlee Of the Associated Press.
Instnntly every man working at q
wire n the office rose from dis wire
and stopped work. Only one man no.
NAMED IN his seat long enough to fin.
ish the NV words necessary to com
piete the itsm he was then sending.
The operators remained In the
room fDF . Nv minutes and then DO
lnR. reauested 30 leave The premises
they I'D 20 N God temper and with
every svbdsncs Of sood feeling
Ths shutting down of the wires
prspsnasd the situation IN other OF
fees than Chicago being known for .
tine. As soon as Communication wai
established. however. Il vas apparent
nat he strike had not By any mean
been unanimous. The offices AZ 81
joseph. No. Indianapolis. and 1t Nj
Tnuhls responded At the fiut car
Vim al o. their men ready for dut'
and 4 Fas tecarsd that both Clevs
Ind ard Denui wers sull On duty.
nsis nefe lacking from otheI
~. -. a.. sfrrrrIr ar rrrun timn.