The Washington herald., 1907-10-14

New York. Oct I3-President Samuel J.
Small Of the Commercial Telegraphers'
Union, was scored without mercy this
afternoon at a mass meeting of Local
No Is. Of the Commercial Telegraphers'
Union. for recommending vote on the
question Of declaring the strike OF.
He was hooted. jeered. and greeted
with shouts Of derision and contemptuous
epithets when he attempted TO defend
himself
Chief Strategist Russell, Percy Thomas.
and others who opposed Small We're re-
ceived with uproarous cheers when they
denounced him and charged him with in
competence, with lack of fraukness, with
being a recreant TO the cause of the
telegraphers. and with being grossly in
different to the outcome of the strike.
Small was also charged with being re-
sponsible for starting the strike move
ment. which he now sought 10 repudiate,
by ordering a strike in San Francisco
after the issuance OF the Nenl-C -Clowry
letter, in defiance of the orders Of the
general executive board If the union.
All Strikers There.
Evidently every man and woman on
strike was present AZ the meeting OF
the officers, Small was the first TO appear.
one or two persons gave him a handicap
and there was some kissing. Joseph F.
Ahearn, president Of Local 16. who was
chairman Of the meeting, refused TO open
it until the arrival of Russell and Percy
Thomas. who had a good deal to say
about Small
When they did come in they were re-
oeived with shouts of applause. Small
was called to the floor first, and began to
explain why he sent the message to the
locals on Saturday evening.
I want to make plain statement" he
said some of you may like my action
and some may not in justification, I
may say that considered my duty 10
the membership of the union higher than
any other duty. CHlsses) II is my duty
10 point out the exact state of affairs.
The telegraphers have been out nine
weeks in the East and thirteen weeks in
San Francisco. and efforts have been
made in vain week after week to get the
companies to consent to meet our repre-
sentatives."
Companies Refuse to Treat.
Small said that Commissioner Neiu told
him on Saturday that the companies re-
fused on any terms to treat with the
telegraphers while still on strike. This
fact, coupled with the knowledge of the
depleted state of the national treasury
and that some OF the members were
weakening, caused him to think It
his duty to put the facts before them.
He did not believe that the strikers
would be able TO finance the strike
with the little assistance the national
treasury could give. He said that
business men in Chicago and other
cities had communicated with President
Clowry and appeals had been made to
President Roosevelt. but nothing had re-
suited He was sorry 30 say, as an un-
pleasant duty. that the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor and the affiliated unions
did not give as ready a response to ap-
peals for help as he expected. He con-
sidered shat It would be better to end the
strike. if they were not going to win,
than to allow it TO peter out. The New
York local had missed a weekly payment
of strike benefits and other locals were
in as bad a condition.
Thomas Attacks Small.
Small was followed BY Percy Thomas.
who at once began an attack on Small
which was received with loud shouts of
approval and applause He quoted
smalrs statement that there We're no
funds to speak Of
This does not fit in we'll" he said,
with his statement some time ago, in
which he talked of raising fund of
S2,OOOOOO If I had a case in which I
wanted to- get an attorney to represent
the telegraph companies, I would GER
tainly get Small" (Cheers and shouts)
The speaker read a message from Chi
cago stating that the Chicago local had
issued a statement advising the teleg
raphers TO remain on strike and condemn
ing smalrs action. He believed that
every union in the country would do the
same
AS to SmaHs assertions about scar
city of funds, he said the idea was pre-
posterous, as there is $4,000 in the na
tional treasury Of the union, which would /
be increased by several thousand dollars. |
Would Use Benefit Fund.
''The $4,000 mutual benefit fund, rather |
than let the union get licked, he said, |
"should be devoted to fight the companies
Continued on page 2, column 4.
Look Outs Prices OF Lumber MIuch Lower. /
L,ro rtr ihhar 90 9Th 81 and - |