The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-08-17
In Spite of Every Attempt of
Union to Avoid a General
Strike, the Telegraph Mon
opoly Deliberately Forces the
Issue.
Every Man and Women Of Self
respect Who Works 9 Key in
a Telegraph Office in the Unit
ed States Quits at Blast of
Whistle.
Struggle For Supremacy.-Gov-
ernment May Interfere.-Busi-
ness is Paralyzed.-Companies
Arrogantly Refuse to Deal With
Union.

ArrOgantly Refuse TO deal win
Union.
For the first time In the history of
telesra ply there is a general strike Of
telegraph operators in the employ Of
the two great American companies.
President Small Of the Commercial
Telegrapher's union ordered a COM
plete tie-up on Tuesday, and the order
was obeyed with surprising prompt
ness by the men.
TWenty-four years Of discontent-
ment and brooding by telegraph oper-
asc1s, augmented by many months of
bushWacking by powerful corporations
that employ them, have resulted in
revolt, although only three days old,
has assumed gigantic proportions.
From series Of scattered skirmishes
between the Postal and Western Union
Telegraph companies and individual
locals OF the Commercial Telegrapher's
union, the present trouble today looms
up as life and death struggle be-
tween the union and the corporations.
Diplomacy Out Of II.
Diplomatic relations and treaties are
now out of the question. A test Of
strength Is demanded by both sides.
Active steps are being taken to as
semble the finances of all organized
labor III a defense fund to battle
against The millions of the telegra oh
companies.
Both sias.; rsgard the coming strug-
gle as the most serious crisis that has
yet confronted American interests.
Cablegvams from London and the
Bourse received by LaSa!le street
bankers reflect this sentiment in the
European stock market.
Labor unions throuhgout the coun-
try are sending assurances Of their in
tention to cooperate with the oper-
ators even to the extreme Of general
boycott against the Western Union
and Postal companies and all corpo-
rations gfvins. the telegraph. eaznnanaea;
aid and comfort.
Appeal to Roosevelt.
Alarmed at the possibilities Of other
interests being involved. conservative
and more radical interests are prepar-
ing an appeal to President Roosevelt
to arbitrate. Radicals in the Tele-
graphers union say the attorneys for
the organization are at work on plan
which will possibly be launched Mon
day for the taking over Of the tele-
graph lines by the government as
matter of public welfare. They are
acting to give the government control
in extreme cases. BY Monday, with
New York and the east tied up, the
present case will be "extreme"
General Secretary Russell in spir-
jted interview said yesterday:
1.-THE operators and all Of the union
men in America are tired Of creating
riches for people who revei in luxury
while the men and women who pro-
duce all the millionaires enjoy are only
able to live by counting every penny.
Gould Family In Il.
"The Gould family Of America has
more money, palaces, automobiles,
yachts jewels, rich gowns, and serv-
monarcbs of Europe, while the oper-
ators sit at telegraph keys until they
become prematurely aged and nervous
wrecks coming the luxury for their
employers
"Mackay is no less a sybarlte than
the most extravagant member of the
Gould family. He had a $4,000 chapel
built In his mansion, and while his
family kneels in A marble shrine the
master Of the household Is paying
young women operators starvation
wages, sometimes as low as SO a week.
The two companies as corporations
have shown determination to cheat
the operators out of their rights.
Other members are in rebellion against
the bad faith and duplicity displayed
by the Western Union Telegraph COM
pany from the beginning of negotia-
tions up to the present time.
1 have telesraphed President Small
statlng that a severe strike is on, and
asking him to come here to call a gen.
eral strike.
, we insist on our original demands,
an elght-hour day. a Is per cent. in
crease and the company to furnish
typewriters. We want more wages
and less watered stock"
There has been much unrest among
the telegraphers in all parts of the
country for many months. They have
become solidly organized, and from
present appearances are strong enough
to virtually stop the telegraph bus,-
ness Of the country indefinitely. Their
strike might not win out were It NOT
for the Endorsement of the business
community. which is heartily in their
favor.
Some operators receive very small
salaries. Women who learn the busi-
ness get from $50 month up. The
companies has been encouraging be-
ginners, and have been keeping wages
at the lowest point possible.
Duluth Operators Out,
The Duluth telegraphers Joined in
the big strike Tuesday. A message
from Chicago called them out, and
when the pr&4stla blew almost every
% -rsE -"L '--