The Washington herald., 1907-08-14

There was no material change in the
conditions OF the telegraphers' strike yes
terdsy.
Both sides seem firm in their attitude.
and as both are depending largely for
their actions on outside orders. no esti-
mate can be obtained as to how long the
strike viii last
ihe telegraph companies, Western IN
ion and Postal, both claim they have not
peen injured by the strike thus far. and
tnat they can handle all the business that
wiz come 10 them. They admit that con
ditions are not so good elsewhere. and
that they often have difficulty in getting
messages through 10 other towns.
Manager Taff, OF the Western Union.
said last night that he was able 10 reach
chicago or any other striking city at any
time. and that he was able to do all the
business that was required Of the Office
either day OF night He further stated
that the figures given out BY the striS-
ers were immensely exaggerated, and
that he would have no difficulty IN man
ming his Office il the strikers never re-
turn 10 work
In suestantiation Of this statement.
Manager Prosser, OF the Postal said: NY
Office is working satisfactorily 10 me. and
there is not the slightest interruption Of
business.
Difficult TO Reach Other Cities.
1T is sometimes difficult TO reach GER
tain points. but we have been able TO get
messages all over the country at any
time to-day"
The Postal Office. however, looked quite
deserted, but for two or three assistants.
and as no one was allowed TO 60 up
stairs, the number OF men there had TO
be gathered from hearsay.
A conservative estimate placed the num-
Der Of men at work in the Postal Office
yesterday at six. while last night only
four were at the keys, and Manager
Prosser and one man attended to the
business downstairs.
At the Western Union, thirty-eight men
are said 10 have walked out yesterday
! morning. leaving a force of about forty at
the keys and IN the office. while last night
thirty-six men were at work, which de-
notes that fifteen men have gone out with
the strikers
The union men claim much larger
number than this have gone out. but the
men at work IN the Western Union once
were actually counted last night, while
one of the nonstriking Postal men
? vouched for the other figures.
It IS said that Mrs. Prosser, wife OF the
manager Of the Postal company. was al
work on one Of the wires yesterday. while
several other women imported from Balti-
more and Philadelphia assisted. Despite
the fact that the companies had pickets
out six nonuniOn men came from Phila-
dslphia yesterday and two from Baltimore
and were put 10 work at the Western
Union in the morning. Last night. how
ever, none but the regular force wos en-
ployed in either Office.
Strikers Are Confident.
From the strike headquarters, estab-
, lished at the Columbia Hotel, come conf
dent statements. President Groves said.
, I am very much gratified al the show
ing that has been made BY the walk
out. Not all OF our men have come with
us. but those who have come have come
10 stay. and we viii not go back 10 work
until we have accomplished something.
even If We have to choose other means
Of making a livelihood"
First National Vice President Beattie
supplemental this statement with the fol-
lowing announcement:
our fight is for the interest OF the
/ public as well as OF our craft The pub
lie has been imposed upon By the tele-
graphic corporations. and they sought to
make operators mere slaves. The opera
ators are intelligent men and know when
they have been unfairly treated- We are
-, this fight TO stay. and with the re-
sources SSSind US, have no reason TO feel
that We viii not be victorious
According 20 the strikers. the telegraph
{ companies are badly crippled and are
, allowing kilograms TO accumulate which
they will be unable 70 send for days. X
is said that If the strike lasts ten DAYS,
even the local Offices. which are by no
means the worst off in the country, will
be unable 10 send q message for forty
eight hours after 1t is filed.
As 10 the finances OF the strikers there
no doubt. They are backed by
eriean Federation OF Labor and
surances that every penny in the
7 of that organization will be at
T. spOsal il necessary. The men will
b gaIG their regular salaries as long as
the strike lasts. and many og them who
are married and have greater expenses
from the companies, IS the unions claims.
In several instances, men who belong
to the union. but who are working on
leased wires, have allowed strikers TO take
their places while they went of on vaca-
tions In one of these cases. the man
on the leased wire allowed three men. to
divide his time OF duty
Many contributions have been offered TO
President Groves. but thus far he has
declined to accept them. cOntentiag him
self merely with taking the names of the
generous ones. and saying that he wouli
call (on them when money was neces-
sary. Notable among the offers Of money
has been that from Griffin Halstead and
Frank Raymond, both brokers whose
wires are not affected. of 500 each.
Associated Press at work.
The Associated Press authorities claim
that the strike has not affected them.
but the operators declare that only four
, men of the usual eight were at work
last night.
The branches Of thewestern Union in
the hotels are for the most part quiet.
, Continued on Page 2, Column 4,
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