New-York tribune., 1907-06-22
TELEGRAPHERS STRIKE
GUERILLA WARFARE ON.
Operators Obey Small and Go Out
an San Francisco.

San Francisco, June 21.-The two hundred and
fifty telegraph operators employed in Oakland
and San Francisco by the Western Union and
the Postal Telegraph companies left the keys at
$50 o'clock and walked out Of the offices. Three
short blows on police whistle gave the sig
nal and the operators rose Srom the tables, put
on their coats and quit work.
The Postal and Western Unicn main san
Francisco offices are both in the Ferry Building.
Since the fire in 1906 the main relay office of
the Western Union has been at West Oakland.
where about one hundred and fifty and
women are employed. In the San Francisco
office about twenty operators are employed. and
at branch offices about twenty moro. The Pos
tai company has sixty operators in it's main
San Francisco office.
The operators in San Francisco and Oakland
were dissatisfied with the letter written by Presi
dent Clowry of the Western Union to Labor
Commissioner Neill published yesterday, and
insisted that their demands for % per cent
increase in wages be granted.
President Small of the Commercial TeleE-
rapheTs' Union arrived yesterday and. after COM
sderng the situation ordered the strike unless
the increase was granted. Both the Western
Union and the Postal offices declined to grant
the % per cent increase or TO consult with the
union. They expressed a willingness to con-
slider any advances asked by their employees as
Individuals but this did satisfy the men,
The superintendent of both companies say
the controversy will have TO be adjusted in New
York. and they have issued notice TO the public
that messages will be accepted subject to in
definite delay.
President Small Of the union will probably
remain to advise the strikers So long as at
tempt is made to bring in operators from out
side points. the strike will be purely local for
San Francisco and Oakland. If, however the
company attempts to bring in men. operators in
other cities may be called out.
1t is announced that operators in other cities
will be allowed 10 work with operators in San
Francisco and Oakland who did not go out with
the strikers.
President Small. after a meeting of the local
union last night, said
our plans fully prepared. and we will
carry the fight to the halls of Congress before
we are through. We do not intend TO declare a
general strike throughout the country. but We
will carry on a guerilla warfare which Will
continue until get justice and consideration.
We will call series of local strikes in the
various cities of the country which will parayze
traffic. We intend TO continue this fight until
Congress meets when we propose 10 place the
whole matter in the hands of the lawmakers"
President Small said to-day that the trouble
here was purely local and would not affect East
ern Offices at present The settlement made in
the East was unsatisfactory, but the situation
i'm San Francisco would be dealt with first The
IS per cent incrcase demanded for San Francisco
operators would have to be granted, as. in his
opinion the cost of living here is greater than
In othcr portions OF lHe CiHtSu StdtSs-
The following letter was sent 10 Superintend-
ent Jaynes Of the Western Union by a commit
tee of The telegraphers' union:
Dear SIR: In the statement of President Clowry
10 Mr.. Neili. Commissioner OF Labor defining the
Western Union company's position toward the te-
legraphers. he stated that II any question arises
that cannot be adjusted by the district superin-
tcndent the company is willing To submit such
questions to arbitration The embodied PROPOSE
tious in the schedule offered TO but declined by
Assistant General Superintendent Miller on June
3. other than tho 25 per cent Increase In wages
asked for your teegraphers employed in San Fran
cisco and Oakland. having been adjusted in New
York respectfully request that you meet a
committe OF teegraphers employed In San Fran
cisco and Oakland and hear their arguments in
favor Of granting a % per cent increase in wages
pending the restoration of normal conditions in
this city
We are requested BY those whom we represent to
get rcplN a