Evening journal., 1907-08-09
TELEGRAPH
STRIKE ON
in CHICAGO
Fifteen Hundred Employees Of
the Western Union Co.
Quit Work
RESULT OF THE TROUBLE
AT LOS ANGELES. CAL.
BY THE IouHNAL's SPECIAL wire.

by THE JOURNALS Special Wire
CHICAGO. Aug. o.-Fifteen hundred
employees Of the Western Union Telegraph
Company in Chicago-operaiof and mes
scnger boys-are on a strike. The night
force OF 200 men deserted their keys at
midnight and the day force refused "a
return to work.
The unexpected wallSout in Chicago 10
direct result Of the strike in Los An
J goles. AT a special meeting last night tha
Operators Union adopted a resolution re-
fusng TO receive messages from men who
had taken places Of striking operators
Ia Los Angeles. The resolution was adopt
ed at II O'clock In the main offices OF
tho Western Union. Roger Maliey and
Peter freeman were at work on the Los
nAgoles wire az that time. They immedi-
ately deserted their keys. Chief Operation
IL. j. Price ordered them back, but they
refused. Price then turned TO each Of tho
other men Ia tho office and directed them
10 work on the Los Angeles wire. They
refused and were ordered to leave the
building.
Called Out by Whistle.
within few minutes after the sum-
mary dismissal of the men a meeting Of
the Union Executive Board was called.
AS a result Of the conference the com-
pany was given an hour within which to
reinstate the discharged operators Wire
chiefs confessed inability 10 get in touch
with superintendent r. p Cook ana
promptly al midnight a member Of the
executive committee blew "a polceman'd
whistle ana an but four keys in the big
office stopped working.
Thomas Babb aged, g.; jerry Mereness,
aged 55. George Reynolds, aged. So and
. Sam Ingram. aged so, four operators who
; refused 70 strike in 1883, remained at their
posts with Chief Operator Price.
Police Soon On Hand.
Strikers oongragated outside the West
ern Union building A call was sent In se
the Central Police statlen ana = detail of
bluecoats was soon guarding entrances ia
the building but there was no display
7 OF violence
Operators In the Postal service are
. not yet Involved. but officers Of the
union promise nothing for to-day. Local
business after midnight was transferred
to the Postal office from the Western
Union Western Union officials who re-
mained at the office during the night
promised that a sufficient force would be
I on hand to-day TO keep the wires open.
Union officials declare this viii have tho
same result IN cities having connection
with Chicago as accomplished in Chicago
through the Los Angeles. After the walk
out several operators refused TO work on
wires 70 Chicago. Several men were dis
missed and the situation is as critical
there as In Chicago.
Says Strike Was Forced
D. M. Moore. president OF the local
union, said to-day: eve did not seek this
Z strike. 1t was forced upon us by the com-
pany insisting that our men work with
~ Los Angeles strike breakers. We have a.
thousand men out now and we win stay IN
q this strike to win. In Chicago there are
10 only about thirty non-union men available
for service at the deserted keys"
Denver operators refused to-day TO ham
10 die messages from non-union men IN
Chicago, Los Angeles or anywhere else-
!, Operators declare there is every possible
y ity OF a general tleup OF the telegraph
I, business. The action Of the Chicago w're
= men. It is. asserted will meet with the SYM
@ pathy Of operators in an Of the Western
Unions thirty three thousand offices.
headquarters of the Western Union are
in New York. Chicago Is the headquarters
y OF the Commercial Telegraphers' Union,
Secretary Russell knew nothing OF ths
waikout until after It occurred.
six hundred messenger boys announced
a sympathetic strike. The only woman on
the night force Is one Of the strikers.
n No Word in New York.
NEW YORK. Aug. 9.-There is no move
meht on foot for a strike here at the
present time said Acting Secretary Car
ney. OF the New York Telegraphers' Union
II to-day. We have received no official COM
munication from President Small regard
ing the Los Angeles AFFAIR. So far we have
not been informed officially OF the Chicago
strike. though Of course we know it is on.
The situation here at the present is just
the same as il was day before yesterday
70 When I say there is no plan for strike
ed here ] mean that there is none at tha
et present moment We are taking no action
Us at all.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-President SAM
ce uel Gompers. Of the American Federation
nd of Labor left Atlantic City last night for
he chicago where it is expected he will lend
T. his aid in the telegraphers' strike.
as lie will also visit the Michigan iron ore
fields. for the purpose Of going over the
on situation there
IT,