The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-08-15
A. P. Operators Quit.

The telegraph operators employed
on the leased wires of the Associated
Press-the country's general news
association on strike in Chi
cago and in many other cities Mon
day night The step was taken sud-
denly at 7:31 o'clock in Chicago and
was a surprise even to the national
labor leaders in the city.
For the time being the action COM
pletely crippled the news service of
the organization. The New York op-
orators left their keys Simultaneous
ly with those in the big news dis
tributing office in the Western Union
building, Clark street and Jackson
boulevard in Chicago
In some cities, however, the "a
P" men remained at work This was
the case in Detroit, Cleveland, Mil
waukee, and St Joseph, Mo.
The Associated Press employs
throughout the country 300 operators
for its leased wire service.
The operators in Chicago and New
York refused to give the corporation
any further time in which to consider
their demands, although it was ex-
planned to the union officials in a
communication from Melville F.
Stone, general manager of the Asso-
ciated Press, that it would be i'm
possible to consider the demands in
the short time allowed in the ultima
tum
In Chicago the seventeen operators
walked out with scarcely any demon
stration They fingered few min
rites around their keys until one of
the officials advised them to leave
the operating room.
Immediately after the strike the
local officials of the Associated Press
took what measures they could for
furnishing the newspapers the best
possible service under such condi-
tons.
Mr.. Stones reply to the demands
was as follows:
New York. Aug. IL. 1907
To Operators:
I received this morning a commit
nication from a large number of the
operators inCthe service of the Asso
ciated Press asking for changed
scales of wages and hours and re-
questing reply by 7:3O this evening.
"The changes involved are so rad
ical in their nature as to add over
100000 a year. and probably more.
to the expense of this organization
The Associated Press is mutual in
it's character, makes no profits, and
has no surplus fund out of which
such sum could be paid Any such
increase must of necessity be levied
back upon the newspapers as a part
of their weekly assessments.
CAS- general manager | have no
power to- make such an increase,
either in salaries or assessments
without authority from the board Of
directors. and it is obviously impos-
sible to call this board together with
in the time named The board con
sists of fifteen members. scattered
throughout the entire country
AT the same time, acting under
authority heretofore granted me by
the board of directors, | shall be glad
at any time to meet committee OF
our own operators and confer with
them respecting hours OF service anc
compensation, with view to max
ing some recommendation to the
next meeting Of the board of direc
tors which shall meet any fair or JUS
expectations of those in our operat
ing service.
even were | free to act, | thinl
you must agree with me that ques
tion of this magnitude should not b.
pressed to a conclusion within th'
limits Of few hours and withou
any opportunity for consultation be
tween myself and representatives. o
our operating force.
Melville E. Stone.
General Manager.