Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-08-13

New York, Aug. 12.-The strike
of telegraphers which. originating
last Friday in Los Angeles. where it
was directed against the Western
Union Company, gradually spread
eastward, and today reached New
York City. whore three spontaneous
walk-outs followed in rapid success
sion. These were directed against
the western Union. the Postal Tele-
graph Company and The Associated
Press In the latter instance the
strike was the frst against the news
organization and was fairly general
throughout the country, excepting
New England. with the stopping
OF work by majority OF union OPP
orators here situation unparal
leled followed. the telegraph. though
by no means being tied up. was serI-
ously handicapped.
Unexpectedly. aud when IL had
been generally supposed that no ac-
ton would be taken locally pending
conference OF Labor Commissioner
Neill with influential labor represen-
tatives In Chicago. the union oper-
ators declared a strike I'm the Office
OF the Western Union. In explana-
ton IL was stated that secret un-
derstnnding was reached Sunday.
through which authority was given
TO the local employees OF the two tel
egraph companies TO go out any time
that their interests seemed to de-
mand Immediate action. Just how
effective the strike was tonight was
matter OF dispute. The Western
Union people claimed to be doing
business as usual In this city and to
nave all the help needed. In fact.
they said that they could not use all
the men seeking employment. on
the other hand. the union men claim
that very few competent men were
working and that the company was
being tied up.
The Postal people claim 10 have
SO out OF force Of about 300 work
Ing tonight and that they we're doing
business without serious delay. To
this the strikers replied that the
Postal had not more than twelve
operators at work
The strike against The Associated
Press began at $3.50 o'clock (east-
ern timej tonight II was distinct
from the other strikes as The Asso-
ciated Press controls It's own leased
wires and the operators are I'm the
direct employ of the news organlza-
tion
Though no demands had been
made recently by the mon. the strike
had been foreshadowed.
General Manager stone received
the first intimation early Sunday
night that the telegraphic force OF
the association was likely TO formu-
late demands These took shane
later that night and we're put into
the form ~ petition, which
reached Mr. Beaae Monday morning.
The petition Wss signed by many Of
The telegraph operators Of The As.
sociated Press throughout the coun-
try and in brief requested reduc-
tion in the hours Of service and an
increase of wages
These requests were.
Day work six nights eight hours
daily $50 per week and overtime
and extra at the rate Of so cents per
hour
Sight work Six nights eight
hours $50 per week. and overtime
and extra at thc rate of 20 cents
per hour
The vacations 70 remain as at
present
a proporfionate increase for
chiefs and mb-chlcf operators.
The felcuaphcrs requested re-
ply by 7:3O o'clock this monday
evening Mr. stones reply follows.
During fhia afternoon Mr. stone
formulated his reply TO the opera
tors which ls as follows.
Sew York Aug. ~. 1907.
To Operators + received this
mornin communication from
large number of the operators in
iho service Of The Associated Press
asking for q changed scale of wages
and hours and requesting reply
by halfpast seven o'clock this even
Continued on page sixl