Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-10
1000. OUT
IN CHICAGO
POSTAL AND WESTERN UNION
OPERATORS STRIKE
TROUBLE is SPREADING TO
MANY OFFICES
Kansas City Adds Over Three Hum
dred to Number Who Have Left
Keys-El Paso Men Quit
Work
tcontinued from Page One,

propose to see that the company does
as it has agreed to do. We are prepared
to quit work here upon instructions from
Lie national officers. The strikes in the
west have, we understand, been the re-
suit of directions from the local unions
of those cities. This will not be the case
here, where orders from the chief ex-
ecutive will be awaited. We will not man
wires operated at western ends by nom
union men, which include company chiefs
and Clerks
None of the high Western Union off,
cials would be quoted today. In reply
to all inquiries the reply was mo com
ment to make
Although the Postal Telegraph and
Cable company's men are out at Chicago.
the company does not consider that 1t Is
involved, except incidentally, In the pres
ent trouble.
At midnight Vice President Charles P.
Adams of the Postal company, who is at
his Broadway office, said:
This time it is going to be a fight to
a finish. Not only have IT'S men walked
out on us in Chicago, but in New Orleans
men without moments warning notified
our manager that they, too, had Joined
the strike. AS l understand 1t, two of'the
men refused to work on Chicago wires
with non-union fillers-in, and when they
were discharged the whole crowd went
out with them. Their action was unjus-
tifable and unwarranted.
''At Z o'clock tonight our general east
ern superintendent, w. I. Capen, was
told by the men that they were quitting
and I made arrangements to fill their
places. In spite of the trouble four wires
are now working between here and that
point. 1t was just two hours later that
I got word of the New Orleans walkout.
We are still taking messages for that
section, but subject to delay.
This is purely a sympathetic strike.
There is absolutely no grievance what
ever that the operator have against the
company. All their demands have been
granted and they are no doubt perfectly
satisfied as far as their treatment by
the Postal company is concerned. We
will make no concessions this time. This
thing will be fought to the end by us.
Our men here are better off than they
ever were before, 1 think, and l do not
look for trouble at this point"
Night Manager Robinson of the West
ern Union office said here tonight that
the company had eight or ten wires to
Chicago. Everything is running smooth
ly with no indication Of trouble locally.
special meeting of the local union
has been called for Sunday to consider
the failure of the two big telegraph COM
panies to live up to the agreement with
United States Commissioner of Labor
Neill. Tonight President Ahern of the
local union said:
"Break Agreement"
eve have tried for the past three
weeks to secure the reinstatement of
nine persons, five men and four women,
who were suspended on account of union
affiliation some months ago. Under the
agreement made by President Clowry OF
the Western Union Telegraph company
all fInG
members were to have been reinstated
The Western Union officials have refused
to reinstate these persons. Our members
in the main office and In the several
branch offices throughout the city have
grown restless under this shabby treat
ment. We have done everything in our
power to prevent a telegraphers' strike in
this city. The Western Union officials
have used every method at their COM
mand to bring about strike, and If
one occurs in the city they will be held
directly responsible for it,
Officials of the Western Union were
in conference, as were officials of the
Postal Nothing of their conclusions was
made public.
The last general strike of the Western
Union men was called in July, twenty
four years ago, and lasted exactly one
month Business for a time was de-
moralized. Eventually the company
claims to have won. the men returning
to work unconditionally. The strike was
for shorter hours. and after the trouble
was past the new conditions sought by
the men were put in effect by the COM
pany.
1t is figured that there are 5000 tele-
graph operators employed in Greater New
York by the two companies. the tele-
phone companies and brokers. What pro-
portion of these would be involved in a
strike directly or through sympathy is
problematical.