The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-12
GOMPERs IN CHICAGO.
Strikers Say They Have No Desire to
Arbitrate.

| Chicago Aug. 12-Both the Western
| Union and Postal Telegraph companies
| claimed today to be in better condition
than at any time since the commence
ment of the strike of the operators.
The Western Union announced early in
the day that it had more than 200 men
at work and was able to care for bust
ness in fair shape. The Postal claimed
to have about 100 men and also assert
ed that the delay in handling messages
was not great. Both companies, now
ever. had posted in conspicuous places
the notices that messages would only
be accepted subject TO delay in trans
mission.
number of men were imported last
night by the Western Union and all or
them went to work today
The officers of the union claimed that
the companies had about one-third OF
the number of men at work that they
claimed to have and declared that many
of them were telegraph students VINO
are not yet capable of doing good work
The decision of the operators in New
York Washington and Boston not to
strike Immediately did not discon ts,i1
the officers of the union. Secretary
Wesley Russell said today:
1T makes no difference what the men
east vote to do. When the time comes
they will be ordered out and that VIII
be all there is to it. They VIII come
out when We want them.
Superintendent Cook Of the West
ern Union in this city, today. issued
statement that there will be no ar
bitration.
g Twill receive no Populations of the
strikers" said Mr. Cook, land will
hold no communication with them ex-
cept4ng in a circular letter which l
will send out today. This will be brief
of the company, you will apply at
once for your pay We now have p
men at work and we are commencing
to choose our men Today we nave
,INa, Of 1io1 MI
because we did not consider them
competent men,"
President Samuel Gompers of the
American Federation Of Labor, arriv-
ed in the city today to aid the strik-
ers in an advisory capacity.
What Gompers Says.
President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor, said today:
LAS to the merits of the teIeg-
raphers strike, 1 know nothing. The
action has had the sanction of their
executive committee and national Of
fcers and that removes from the
scope of the inquiry any investigation
as to it's merits.
1--WE assume that an affiliated or
ganization which has legalized strike
has a just grievance and, adherlng 10
union principles, we are determined TO
give the operators our best support.
Before any plan of action can be
the local heads of unions and
the national officers must confer. We
will do that some time today
The OFFICIALS of the Chicago local
union today declared that they have
no more desire to arbitrate the issues
of the strike than has the Western |
Union. They made this declaration
today as soon as they learned OF the
efforts of the officials of the National
Civic Federation to secure interven-
ton again by Commissioner of Labor |
Neill and of a reported promise by |
President Small to send the men back
to work if the government Will prom /
se to secure arbitration.
General Secretary VESSEL Russell |
received answers today from many of /
the 135 local unions throughout this |
and Canada to whom he sent /
requests for a vote on the proposltlh |
fo call a general strike. All the mes |
sages received thus far, according to I
Secretary Russell, are in favor OF the /
general strike