Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-10
WANT rs PERCENT
INCREASE IN WAGES
Walk Out Precipitated by
Refusal Of Chicago Men
to Work With Non.
Union Operators at
Los Angeles
From Fridays Daily.

from Fridays Daily.
The country is threatened with
a general strike of telegraph op-
orators. Last night the operators
at the Chicago office walked out
in sympathy with the Los Angeles
strikers and through unwilling
ness to send or receive messages
from the non-union operators
working in the California town.
Today the Associated Press was
Of it's telegraphic report over the
Western Union wires. although a
brief report was received over
the Postal
Manager voight or the Cassidy
and Gray Commission firm, which
operates a private wire with Chi
cago, received reports today that
the operators in Philadelphia,
New York and Kansas City had
walked out in sympathy with the
Chicago and Los Angeles strikers.
This report cannot be verified
through inability to get in com.
munication with the Associated
Press. A verefled report, how.
ever, has been received that the
Helena, Mont, operators are out
and that the operators in Denver,
Salt Lake City and other relay
points are awaiting word to join
in the movement
II the strike continues In Chicago,
local telegraph business. In addition
to the press reports. will be curtaiIed
II not absolutely suspended. Chicago
ls the principal relay point for tho
west and II the strike continues there
and the few men still working Join tho
the Western Union will ba
seriously affected In receiving mes
all points In the east. II the western
offices go out the same Will hold true
Of the west.
The Cassidy and Gray firm. also re.
celved run,or this afternoon that ti1e
Postal ou.rators In Chicago and New
York will join the movement.
Chicago, Aua. e.-At the headquar-
ters Of the strikino teIeqraphers al
noon today, II Is said that but 2e men
are at work out Of a total Of 300. This
statement is denied by officials Of tho
company. who say they have many
times that number at work. This AFT,
ernoon It Is expected the union will
present to the Western Union dc
mands for an eight hour day, an in
crease of 25 per cent In wages and re
connltion Of the union.
Reports from St. Louis, Denver
Salt Lake City and other relay points
say that the union Operators are ready
to strike In sympathy with Chicago
end Los Angeles.
Chicago. Aug. 9.-The telegraph op-
orators employed by the Western
Union in Chicago went on strike
last night at IL O'Clock. The trouble
was precinitated by the Los Angeles
strike which was inaugurated two
days ago.
The local executive board OF the
Commercial Telegraphers' union met
men to refuse to work with the non
union operators employed in Los An,
geles. When the men were notified
Of this step all operators employed in
the overland division of the local of.
fee refuse to work any longer with
the non-unton men on the other end
Of the wire.
Seventy Men Sent Home.
When this announcement was made
Night Chief Harry Price ordered all
who refused to work to leave the Of
flee. He then went into other divis.
ions and requested the men to go In
to the overland division. In every case
he was met with refusal and over
seventy men had been sent home
The grievance committee of the union
called on Mr.. Price and notified him
that unless every man was reinstated
by midnight every union man In the
Office would be called out.
Leave With Rousing Cheers.
This demand was refused and
(Continued on page 81