Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-08-15
STRIKE MAY SPREAD.
IF Operators Demands Are Refused
General Strike Viii Follow.

Chicago, Aug. 1.-THE strike OF
the union commercial telegraph op-
orators will be universal throughout
the United States and Canada within
"a hours, according to National Sec
retary Russell, of the telegraphers
organization. This statement was
made by Mr.. Russell after he had
been informed of the action taken
by the men in New York, who, at a
meeting there today, decided to hold
walkout in allegiance until the lat
ter part of the week.
This strike movement, said Mr..
Russell, has come to a point where
there can be no backing down. The
| ltelegraphers have been trodden on
long enough by the companies, and
now that we have the opportunity
we are going to use all our strength
to enforce our demands. For several
weeks President Small and myself
have been holding the telegraphers
back, and have been advising concil-
iation; but they have taken matters
in their own hands and we are going
to stand by them. No union man will
be allowed to work with anyone not
belonging to our organization, and
this means that tomorrow morning,
when the business of the week be-
gins, the strike will become univer-
sal. We cannot go half way in this
matter now. The strike has been
precipitated by the men themselves,
without the sanction of the national
officers, but we are now working in
unison and anything that the Off
cials of the various unions through
out the country have done in calling
strikes meets with our hearty CO.
operation"
This announcement was made by
Mr.. Russell at a mass meeting of the
striking telegraphers held in Brands
hall Sunday afternoon. The hall
seated 1900 persons, and so great
was the demand for accommodations
that several hundred of the striking
operators were unable to gain admit
tance to the building and remained
on the streets in the vicinity until
some of the early arrivals had left |
the hall.
The Order of Railway Telegraph
ers was represented at the meeting |
by National Secretary Quick. Mr.. !!
Quick informed the strikers that his |
organization was at their disposal, |
both morally and financially. 1--WE |
have $1,000,000 in our own treas
ury,' said he, "and it is at your dis
posal. Your fight is ours, and we
will stand with you until the end"
Before the mass meeting the 800
lnion telegraphers employed by COM
)aHies using leased wires was held.
At this gathering brokers, news
agencies and commercial organiza-
ions, including the big packing
louses, were represented. A resolu-
ion was adopted declaring that this
lass of labor was underpaid and that
he various firms would be asked to
ign wage schedule and also to
mploy none but union telegraphers.
1t was decided to let the private .
yire men prepare and present their ..
wn schedules to their employers. :
he brOker-men will present their !
chedule at 10 O'Clock Monday morn ;
ng. The brokermen will ask for a
minimum of $50 a week.
The men employed by the press as
ociatiOns presented their request at ,
80 O'Clock Sunday night, and the |
Employers will be given "a hours to t
omply with it. The schedule pre- T
ented calls for $35 a week for six v
lights work, and 70 cents an hour r
vertime, eight hours to constitute a I
ay's work, with half an hour for T
inch. The operators employed by F
le news companies and newspapers '
the day time will ask for $50 a d
eek and 60 cents an hour overtime, [
ght hours to constitute a days Y
ork, and the regular lunch. These p
equests were presented to every
7wsgathering organization in the
nited States and Canada Sunday
-ening, and "a hours will be al
wed for an answer. If at the end Z
the time the demands have not p
ct with a favorable response, the o.
en- will report to the union officials, W
I'd they say strike will be ordered Ia
In regard to the newspaper end of l.
e controversy Secretary Russell is o'
ed the following statement: bl
To all publishers, United States se
d Canada: The Commercial Tele- sc
aphers' Union does not desire in tr
y way whatever to hamper the m
wspapers of the country. We are
hting for our rights, however, and
lieving that the telegraph opera
s employed in this service are un- RI
rpaid, we have authorized our men tb
present schedule to their en- th
'yers asking for what we consider Rs
recOmpense for their He
'ors. If these demands are not Sa
t by the various news gathering ba
,anizations within a specified time of
men will be ordered to quit sey
rk.