The Washington herald., 1907-08-17
ALLIED TRADES MEN
MAY JOIN STRIKERS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

have refused to agree TO the demands of
their telegraphers, but no reports Of
walk-outs from these houses were made
to-day.
No Break I'm Ranks.
Although union men declared that they
expected many Of the wire chiefs en-
ployed by the Postal and Western Union
companies to be influenced by the last
general order officials Of those companies
deny to-day that there had been any
break IN the ranks OF the operators that
remained loyal in the walk-out of Mon
day last.
A report reached the union headquar-
ters at IS Pine street this afternoon TO the
effect that the officers of the American
Telephone and Telegraph Company had
signed a new wage scale and immunity
agreement with the telegraphers' union,
which should be binding on all the COM
panies Offices throughout the country,
This report was promptly denied by c. H.
Wilson, general superintendent Of the
telephone company.
Mr.. Wilson explained that the American
Telephone and Telegraph Company did
not employ more than from 900 TO 400 tele-
graph operators throughout the country
There are about thirty-five In New York
offices. The telephone company does not
send general telegraph messages. said the
superintendent: it merely works leased
wires in conjunction with its telephone
service.
Must Draw Up Formal Charge.
Daniel l. Russell, chairman Of the STRAIT
egy board OF the telegraphers' local. called
again at the attorney generals office to-
day and had a conference with Deputy
Attorney General Charles r, Dolson. The
deputy told Russell that in order to have
the alleged lncompetency of the telegraph
companies to deliver messages by wire in
timely season brought legally before the
attention Of the attorney general, Il
would be necessary to draw up formal
charges and append thereto whatever
proof the union officials might have IN
support Of their claims.
The strategist of the union said after
his conference that the union had Sc
cured proof that the telegraph companies
were receiving fun rates for messages
which were sent out OF town by mail or
in cases of urgency by long distance
telephone. He believed that Attorney
General jackson would see in this an in
fraction Of the charter rules under which
the telegraph companies operate
Contracts VIII De Kept.
President Joseph Ahearn, Of the teleg-
raphers' local, was asked to-day con-
cerning the attempt made in the meeting
Thursday night by the radical members
Of the local 70 call out all the brokers'
operators and leased-wire men in the city
who were working under the agreement
made on Wednesday between the en-
ployers and the local.
1t was asked II the immunity contract
made by the union could be broken any
time by a majority vote Of the union rad
icals.
You may say for me that as long as
I am president Of the local I will guaran-
tee that all union contracts made with
the brokers viii be kept said the presi-
dent. I'VE will not allow the radical ele-
ment I'm the local to force any violation
of faith on the unions part"
Thursday nights motion 20 call out
brokers oprr ltors In New York was
on the tab by a narrow vote and
be taken Vi Igain at any time.
Draw Full Pay.
To-day was pay day at the Offices e
the telegraph companies. According
the custom Of the companies Of holding
back a weeks pay on the running account
of each operator. the strikers drew to-day
weeks pay plus the wages for the
unfinished week interrupted by the strike.
officers Of the union said to-day that In
many instances the pay vouchers were
mailed 20 the homes Of the strikers with
the word Final stamped across the
front.
Thirty-fve or forty former employees OF
the Postal Company reported 10 the union
president to-day that their vouchers were
% or 81 short. When complaint was made
they were told to see c. Shirley, the man
ager. or c. +. Leonard, assistant man
ager. The union people believed this was
a subteTfuge designed 70 lead 10 attempts
on the part of the telegraph companies
officers to win strikers back in private
conversation.
Fails 10 Win Men Back.
John J. Whelan. an assistant manager
of the Postal. who was always popular
with the operators. went into the park
across the street from the Postal building
to-day, according TO the pickets' report.
and attempted to induce Postal telegram
ers standing there to return to work be-
fore formal notice Of discharge should be
sent them with their pay envelopes. He
was unsuccessful.
The spokesman for the telegraph COM
panies did not consider It necessary to-
day to prepare written statements OF
progress.
Belvidere Brooks, Of the Western Union
said briefly that the company was doins
70 per cent Of its normal business.
Mr.. Nally, vice president and general
manager Of the Postal, said that his
company was doing a little bit less than
.75 per cent OF the average business. Some
points In the West still remain troubled
according to the statement OF both com
panies' representatives
Since the strike started the operators
at Oyster Bay and in other Western
Union offices on Long Island have beer
annoyed by the wire comments Of the
railroad telegrapheTs. who called them
'scabs,' and made remarks which were
in many cases insulting
BECOMES ENDURANCE CONTEST