The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-14
MAY INVOLVE
RAILROADS.
Continued from page IL
fees on strike. Another state
ment will follow.
WESLEY RUSSELL,

fees on strike. Another state
ment will follow
WESLEY RUSSELL,
General Secretary Treasurer.
The executive board believed the
foregoing message would have the same
effect as general strike order. 1t
authorizes the strikes already in force.
and if men in those cities which have
not gone out refuse to handle bust
ness from struck cities it will mean
they will either have to walk out or be
discharged.
Hardly had the first message been
sent over the wires than it was fol-
lowed by another which read:
President Small is en- route to
Chicago and Will arrive tomorrow
1t is the Judgment of the executive
board and of the general secretary
and they will so recommend to the
president Immediately on his ar
rival, that a general strike be au-
thorized at once. Prepare your
forces.
Russell Given Ovation.
When Russell appeared in the mass
meeting a Brands hall in the after
noon and reported the action of the
executive board he was given an ova-
ton by the strikers.
This is a battle for the independence
of the commercial telegraphers of the
country" he said The general ex-
ecutive board has decided to make it
general throughout the country at once.
out Of courtesy to President Small
we will leave the issuance of the for
NAL order until tomorrow, when he
will be here but the communication
is so worded that it will have the same
result anyway. We are in this fight
to win and we may as we'll fight fast
while we are at it."
Russell was followed on the platform
by ]. B. Connors of the switchmen's
union, who belittled the efforts of Com
missioner Neill and Mr.. Easley to
bring about peace.
This strike looked good to me few
days ago." he said. 1T looks better
now and the faster you spread it the
better are your chances Of success.
Who brought that oily tongued gent
leman Easley here? You did't ask him
to come here and settle your troubles.
did you? No, nor Commissioner Neill,
either.
You don't need their help. This
thing will settle itself if you only hold
out. You have got the companies
whipped now, only they hardly realize
it yet Enjoy your vacation, for it has
been a long time coming"
Connors' reference to Easley and
Commissioner Neill brought out
storm of Kisses and catcalls from the
men and women strikers who packed
the hall.
To keep the enthusiasm up to the
boiling point President Paulsen Of the
local union read a communication from
the operators employed by the Chi
cago and Milwaukee Telegraph COM
pany. The letter was signed by G. D.
Rose and offered the strikers 80 per
cent of the wages of the men now at
work for that concern, which is a small
independent company The letter en-
courages the strikers to stand firm.
said the big telegraph companies were
beaten to a standstill and added that
the operators working under agree
ments would furnish the sinews of war
when necessary.
P. j. Flannery, president OF the
freight handlers union; John Fitz-
patrick. president of the Chicago Fed
Grafton Of Labor, and other speakers
addressed the strikers and the enthus
iasm ran as high among them as on