Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-12
I'M T|AL STEP IN
LOCAL STRIKE
Two Postal Photographers Re-
fuse Atlanta Wire.
BOTH MEN ARE SUSPENDED
Company Officials Report Chicago Line
Out of Business.
SITUATION SAID TO BE ACUTE
Local Strike May Follow Action
Taken in New York-West-
ern Union Conditions.

The first step toward the predicted strike
of the local telegraphers was taken this
forenoon IN the operating room of the
Postal Telegraph Company in this city.
Two of the local telegra phers-F. S.
Mitchell and P. II. Deleplaine-pe remptor-
lily refused 10 operate the wire to Atlanta
The two men were promptly suspended
from duty and the wire to Atlanta was de-
clared dead" in the parlance of the tele-
graph world.
The declaration was also made that the
Postal wire to Chicago was also as dead
as doornail.
These overt acts. as the management term
the refusal of the union operators to work
on the Atlanta and Chicago wires, will, it
is believed by the telegraphers, hasten the
hour when the strike will be sounded in
the Washington offices.
The report was current this afternoon
that when the sun goes down this evening
the local Geographic establishments will be
tied up good and tight" as an operator ex-
pressed it.
The operators who took the initial step
toward the local strike, Messrs. Mitchell
operator to take message over the At
lanta wire. declined to do so. accompany
ing their declination with the explanation
that there was a strike breaker at the other
end, and they therefore could not work with
him. 1t was also stated that the strike is
on at Atlanta The men were thereupon
suspended from duty.
Local Union Meets.
AS result of their action and suspension
quick call was made for a meeting Of
the local executive board of the CONNER
cial Photographers Union, and an informal
session was held shortly after noon today
while the operators were at their lunches
The board, without taking final action In
the case of Mitchell and Deaplaine, ad-
journed until o'clock this afternoon to
further consider the matter.
While the session was being held much
enthusiasm was caused by the announce
ment that Samuel GOmpers had stated to-
day that the executive board of the AmerI-
can Federation of Labor had Endorsed the
demands of the organized te'egraphers and
would support them morally and financially
should their association decide to enter
upon strike. President Gompers Is said
to have also promised his hearty personal
support to the operators.
The Local Situation.
Little, if any, change in existing condi-
lions appeared to be caused In the local
telegraph offices by the news received at !
o'clock that the operators in New York had
gone on strike, but it was impossible to tell
at that hour when the union men in
Washington would desert their keys.
While this uncertain state of affairs OBJ
tained during the early afternoon Superin-
tendent Collins of the operating depa rtment
of the main office Of the Western Union,
18th and f streets northwest, declared all
business was being transacted without de-
lay. Concerning messages to and from
New York, he said everything offered at
either end was going through. This means
that the union men at the Washington end
of the lines were at work with non-union
men in the New York offices. There were
no indications of strike by the Washing
ton operators, Mr.. Collins said when ques-
toned at 80 o'clock.
No demands of any sort have been made
by the operators upon the local offices of
the Western Union or Postal Telegraph
companies, and so far surface conditions
might be taken as a criterion this morn
ing there was no indication of impending
trouble.
Statements to this effect We're made by j.
D. Prosser, local manager for the Postal
Telegraph Company, and by j. T. Bresna-
han, assistant manager in Washington for
the Western Union company Both declared
all the men in their regular force of tele-
graph operators are at work. and no diff
Guilty has been experienced either in re-
ceipt or dispatch of messages.
Mr.. Neill's Activity
Charles p. Neill United States commits
sioner of labor, whose good offices were
sought some time ago to settle the then
existing troubles of telegra pliers, has taken
a deep interest in the present difficulty. and
has been i'll communication with Samuel ].
Small, president of the telegra piers ma
tional union. seeking to learn Just what
terms will be accepted by the operators to
return to work. The reply of President
Small that all operators would be ordered
to return to their keys In the event the
government will agree to intercede inves-
tigate and arbitrate the grievances between
operators and the companies, has already
been quoted.
Philadelphia, and no one in his office TODAY
could tell the nature of his mission to the
Quaker city. He expected to return TO
the capital last night before proceeding to
Chicago, where he will meet President
Small. Samuel Gompers. president of the
A. F. l., and others prominent in the labor
movement. but the urgency of the situation
as ii developed in various cities throupbout
the country yesterday, made it Imperative
that no time be lost. \ MESA &c received in
the Department of Labor this morning an
nouncod that Mr.. NELL left Philadelphia for
Chicago yesterday on the "PennsvIya MIA
Special, which carried him into Chicago
this morning officials of the department
are not advised what steps Commissjnnnr
NELL contemplates. and they vii NOT he
Informed until after his return
No Instructions From President.
1t was stated bV one of tho ,,,.r,b.rs n .