The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-08-16

ors very soon after filing demands for
increased wages. AS a result of the
strike among Associated Press operat.
ors, news service will be crippled
throughout the United States for
time as has not been the case for
score Of years.
The Associated Press operators were
already the highest paid operators in
the world, with the exception of one
leased wire syndicate force. During
the past two or three years they had
been granted increases. And their
strike was declared against the ad-
vice of Secretary Russell.
The Associated Press operators sent
demands to Melville e. Stone of New
York and announced that he would be
given twenty-four hours in which to
reply. Mr.. Stone is merely general
manager of the Associated Press,
which is mutual organization. He
had no authority to authorize an in
crease of salaries aggregating 100000
year. The Associated Press Is not
a money-making, profit taking organi-
cation. 1t is operated for the benefit
of the newspapers included in its mem
bership and the weekly assessments
against each member go to pay actual
expenses, not for accommodating a re-
serve fund or dividend. The associa-
ton is operated through the medium
Of fifteen directors, who reside all
over the country and the result was
that these directors must be conferred
with before reply could be framed
up for the telegraph operators.
The general manager telegraphed a
statement to the men explaining the
situation and agreeing to take up the
matter with directors by wire. But
the operators refused to wait. They
closed up their typewriters and walked
out, despite their high salaries.
Day work-Six days, eight hours
daily, $50 per week and overtime and
extra at the rate of 60 cents per hour.
Night work-Six days, eight hours,
$35 per week and overtime and extra
at the rate of 70 cents per hour.
The vacations to remain as at pres
ent
A proportionate increase for chiefs
and subchief operators. The telegra.
piers requested reply by 1880 Mon
day evening.
Mr.. Stones reply follows:
New York, Aug. II, 1907.-To OPP
orators: l received this morning a
communication from a large number
of the operators in the service of the
Associated Press asking for changed
scale of wages and hours and request
ing reply by half past o'clock this
evening.
The changes involved ale so radical
in their nature as to add over 100000
year, and probably more, to the ex.
pense of this organization. The Asso-
ciated Press is mutual in it's charac-
ter, makes no profits and has no sur.
plus fund out of which such a sum
could be paid. Any such increase must
of necessity be levied back upon the
newspapers as part Of their weekly
| assessments AS general manager
have no power to make such an in
crease, either in salaries or assess,
ments, without authority from the
board of directors, and it is obviously
| impossible to call this board together
within the time named. The board
consists of fifteen members scattered
throughout the entire country.
AT the same time, acting under au
thority heretofore granted me by the
board of directors, | shall be very glad
at any time to meet a committee OF
, our own operators and confer with
them respecting hours of service and
compensation with a view to making
some recommendations to the next
meeting of the board of directors
which shall meet any fair or just ex
pectation of those in our operating
Service.
! Even were free to act l think you
must agree with me that question Of
this magnitude should not be present
, ed to a conclusion within the limits Of
a few hours and without any opportu
nifty for consultation between myself
and representatives of our operating
force. Melville e. Stone,
General Manager.
This gripping of the news service
of the country will be one of the mos
sorely felt features of the strike. As
one result, the public may come tt
know, by reason Of it's loss, the grea
dependence which is placed from day
to day upon the public press.