Evening star., 1907-08-15
CLOWRY VERY OPTIMISTIC
SAYS W. u. has ALL THE MEN
IT NEEDS.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. August 15.-Everything was
quiet locally in the telegraph strike this
| morning. The situation had not changed
for the worse during the night as concerned
either the Western Union and Postal Tele-
graph companies. Both got or their night
business in good time with sufficient
working force Of operators.
Col Clowry. president Of the Western
Union. was in a cheerful mood when seen
this morning. tie announced that the strike
was a fzzle. He said: so far as the
Western Union figures in the matter the
strike Is over We are working with our
full force of men. getting the business of
our hands in fine shape. and a number Of
the strikers have applied for their old jobs
We have been obliged to refuse the appli-
cations. as we had no room for the men.
This strike seems to have been conducted
without system and organization. Appar-
emily the president OF the union wanted
one thing. the executive council wanted an
other, and the local still another. In fact.
1 don't know just what they do want or
what they are expecting of US. The 10 PCT
cent increase which we put into effect in
March was a general increase. The action
Of the company seemed to surprise the
| men. and they then began to trump up
other complaints"
Branches Will Stay Closed.
Superintendent Belvidere Brooks was not
a whit less optimistic. He told of the re-
ceipt of two pitiful letters from strikers
who had wives and families, who asked to
return to their old jobs. Superintendent
Brooks said that he was sorry for them, but
that there was no room for the men. since
every place was full. He was asked if he
would take back 100 Of the old men, pro-
viding that they should apply for reinstate-
ment.
I'm afraid not" he said I'VE would
not have anything for them to do.'
Superintendent Brooks went on to say
that the thirty branch offices which still
remain closed will probably never be re-
opened. as at no time had they done much
business, and the company could get along
without them.
He said that the executive board held a
meeting yesterday at which they did not
even discuss the strike.
Vice President Naliy OF the Postal had
! the same optimistic accounts to give about
the business Of his company this morning
at the Western Union Offices
In a nutshell the situation appeared tn
be this: The strikers, who assert that they
now number 1900. have not gained any
| thing except recruits. Their hopes of cut
ting of communication with important
points In the strike zone have seemingly
been blasted by the ease with which the
companies are maintaining connections
with distant points. II the strikers have
been playing for Interference on the part of
President Roosevelt they have been disap-
pointed. for the President. to whom several
boards of trade appealed for mediation
has Indicated that he will not interfere, but
Is leaving Labor Commissioner Neill to
bring about an amicable adjustment of the
dif1culty. II he can.
Months Funds on Hand.
Daniel Russell. chairman of the strategy
board OF the local union. said this morning
that the union had $SS,OOO in the treasury.
enough for a months fight. From this 1t
was taken that the union expects a long
contest. Should more than the amount in
the general treasury be needed, said Mr.
Russell. he had no doubt that the Wall
street operators. who had benefited In the
present controversy by securing a raise1ef
$40 a week, would willingly contribute to
the cause.
AS much as $4,000 or SIS 900 more would
be added to the fund by the financial dis
trict men. Mr.. Russell thought, and by the
additional help of q 1 per cent tax on the
salary Of each member of the American
Federation of Labor, he sad the telegraph
ers would be enabled to fight indefinitely.
Mr.. Russell took great apparent delight
in telling a story about union man who
last evening mailed a postal card in Phila-
delphia to the office of the local here and
a the same time sent telegram over the
Western Union wires. The postal card was
delivered at o'clock this morning the
telegram an hour later, Mr. Russell said,
and he thought 1t was a striking sign of
the completeness Of the tie-up.
The union men held no meeting this
morning, but devoted their activities to
arguing with strikebreakers in the en-
deavor to turn them away from their
work.