Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-08-15
BOTh REFUSE TO AkDITRATt
COMPANIES AND STRIKERS SAY
THEY HAVE NOTHING TO AR
BITRATE.

BITRATE.
| Chicago. Aug. 14.-The operators in
the Office in this city and on the South
and Western circuits of the Associ-
ated Press leased wires stopped work
last night at 1880 o'clock. The strike
was made against the wishes and adj
vice of Grand Secretary Russell of the
telegraphers' union, who tried to keep
them at work for another twenty-four
hours, or until satisfactory arrange
ments could be made for conference
between M. E. Stone, the general
manager of the Associated Press, and
committee of the operators.
Asked for Conference.
Following the delivery of Mr..
Stones reply to the operators, in
which he said he had no authority to
grant the demands and that the mat
ter would have to be decided by the
board of directors, Secretary Russell
sent a message to the operators of the
Associated Press, suggesting that Mr.
Stone be asked to set a definite date
on which he could meet the operators,
the date to be announced by 1880
Tuesday night. To message asking
him to name a date Of a meeting of
the directors, Mr. Stone replied that
| meeting of the directors would be
held on Sept. IS, and he would be glad
to lay the matter before them at that
time.
Operators Walk Out.
This Arrangement was unsatisfac-
tory to many of the operators, partic-
ularly those on the Southern circuit,
and they sent message to Chicago
announcing that they had quit. This
was quickly followed by walkout of
the men in Chicago and New York.
One Associated Press wire was kept
going in st. Paul part of the night, re-
ceiving dispatches by way of Denver.
Strike Spreads Rapidly.
Chicago Aug 13.-The strike of the
telegraphers spread rapidly yester-
day. the men walking out in many
cities in the East and West. The chief
strike of the day was in New York,
where the operators of both the West
ern Union and Postal companies left
their keys. Other strikes during the
day were as follows:
Western Union-Montgome Ala;
Savannah, Ca; Augusta, Ca; Des
Moines, Iowa; Chattanooga, Tenn;
Cleveland, Buffalo, Baltimore, Toledo,
Columbia, S. c.; Pittsburg, Washing
ton, D. G.
Postal-Columbus O.; Des Moines,
Iowa; Denver, Los Angeles, Salt Lake
City, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Buffalo,
Baltimore, Columbia, S. c.; Washing
ton, D. c.; Minneapolis.
Some Brokers Sign Scale.
During the day two of the largest
commission houses in this city signed
the scale presented by the operators
al also issued call for a meeting of
representatives of other commission
houses to discuss means of warding
off the strike.
Small Show for Peace.
Arbitration advocates, in the shape
of Secretary Easley of the National
Civic Federation and Labor Commis-
sioner Neill, arrived in this city, but
their mission was made difficult be-
fore they arrived by the statements of
superintendent Cook of the Western
Union and Capen of the Postal COM
pany, to the effect that they would
arbitrate nothing
Operators Say Fight Is Won.
oiI hn
would not agree to arbitrate for the
reason that the fight was already won
and it would be foolish for the men
to throw away the advantage they
have gained. Mr.. Russell issued a
bulletin to the operators yesterday, in
which he declared that the fight was
won and urged all members of the
union to stand firmly for a few days
longer. He reported the strike in all
sections of the country as progressing
favorably for the men.
Vote on General Strike.
The local unions of the operators
throughout the United States and Can
ada were voting on the question of or
dering~ a general strike if their de-
mands were not granted by the COM
panies within the next twelve hours,
but Secretary Russell said late yester-
day that the vote was practically
unanimous for strike if the demands
of the operators were not granted.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, ar
rived in the city yesterday to take an
active part in the conduct of the
strike He was in several conferences
during the day with the leaders of the
union, but declared at night that the
situation had not materially changed
since his arrival. -
Operators Pull "PIues."
Both companies we're troubled dur
ing the day by the pulling of plugs
by operators at various points along
the line Officials of both companies
declared that arrests would be made
for this offense whenever possible.