Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-08-10
All Telegraphers with Union Cards to
Quit Work Today.
STRIKES AT OTHER POINTS
Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City
Refuse to Work.
STATEMENT BY COLONEL CLowRY
President of Western Union says Case
of Man Discharged at Los Angeles
Was Carefully InvestI-
gated.

/
struck tonight at a few minutes after
o'clock. This. with the LOO men out from
the offices OF the Western Union through
out the city. makes LOO men now on
strike in this city.
At a meeting of the operators held this
afternoon a resolution was unanimously
passed declaring that every operator in
! the city having a union card should be
called out. The debate on this motion oc-
cupied the entire time of the meeting and
an adjournment was taken the
move was decided upon.
! a short time after the meeting had dis
| solved. demands were presented to tie
officials OF the Postal company. asking for
an increase OF 25 per cent in wages. an
! eight-hour day and recognition of the
union. II these were not passed upon the
strike was to follow. 1t was the general
! understanding among the operators that
the demands could not be granted at once
and the move was evidently intended to
bring about the strike at the present time
in order TO aid the Western Union men II
! the demands were not granted. Under the
wording OF the order all the operators
working for brokers and commission houses
will be called out in the morning and
business generally will be badly hands
capped.
VIII Try TO stop All Wires.
! 1t was said tonight By some OF the op-
orators who were present at the meeting
that the intention OF the union was TO
cripple the telegraph facilities Of the city
in every direction. and to do 1t SO COM
pletely that public sentiment would he
brought TO bear heavily upon the two tele
graph companies, and in this manner force
settlement between them and the op-
/ orators
The general situation throughout the
/ west was becoming more serious as the
day heightened. In addition to the strikes
reported during the forenoon, it was said
that the men at FL Paso. Tex, were out.
and 1t was declared that those in Spokane,
Wash were on the verge of strike.
The strike at the ofi1ce OF the Postal
, company in this city was attended by no
sign Of disorder. When the whistle was
{ blown calling the men out the operators
rose from their seats with a cheer and
! walked out. There was not the slightest
evidence OF III feeling on either side. Tho
men after reaching the street gave re-
peated chers and TIM dispersed.
The strike throughout the day has not
been marked by trouble OF any kind. Chief
Of Police shippy informed the leaders OF
the strike this afternoon that he would not
allow any picketing or any violence and
he was informed that none was intended
and that every effort would be made to
keep the mean peaceable.
Few Men working a. Chicago.
Since midnight, when about 200 operators
struck rather than work with the strike
breakers at Los Angeles, there has
been little doing in the Chicago office of
the Western Union telegraph of1ce at
jackson boulevard and Clark street or in
the branch offices scattered throughout the
city.
Only six wire chiefs and four veteran
telegraph operators were left in the main
Chicago Office when the union men, in
answer to a whistle. rushed from the keys
on the ninth and tenth floors and con-
gregated In front OF the building.
At O'Clock in the morning about twenty
operators were at work in the rooms Of the
Western Union and the officials Of the
company declared that they expected many
more throughout the day. Wesley Russell,
the secretary of the local union, said the
company would not be able to man its
wires OF handle its business.
There were no signs Of disorder around
around the building or the BssEd OF Trade.
the Western Union building today Fifty
policemen saw that no crowds congregated
Early in the day many operators were
gathered around the Western Union Of
fees, but they were ordered 10 keep moY-
ing by the police.
The Western Union tickers were almo IT
entirely out OF business early IN the day
and the men in charge Of these departments
declared that they had no idea when cs11i,
tions would be improved. This caused nsuoA
Inconvenience 70 brokers, who were CO. n
PEELED to get their stock quotations over the
telegraph wire, which caused considerable
delay.
KANSAS CITY. Aug. s-The entire force
OF the Western Union here. except tHe
chief operators numbering about 80 s9a-
ployes went out shortly after O'Clock I'll
afternoon.
The strike resulted from the refusal OF
George W. Brownson, the local manager,
70 remove Miss Ida Miller from a Chicago
wire which she was working. Shortly be-
fore the men went out a petition was
gotten up. requesting Manager Brownson
10 take Miss Miller from the Chicago wire.
as the Chicago once. they asserted, was
nonunion and giving him until o'clock to
comply. When, at that hour. Mr.. Brownson
had not acceded TO their demand. the op-
orators rose in a body in response to
shout from one OF their number and i'm
mediately the entire force left their keys.
Only the chief operators and their as
sistants remained a. work. The strike
spread and included the operators employed
at the Board OF Trade and the branch Of
hces.
one woman. a regular operator at the
main Office, remained loyal and continued
at work with the chiefs who As soon as
the strike was on. began 10 work the most
important wires.
Up TO 2 o'clock this afternoon the Postal
-.
no Indications that the men IN that Office
would go out. In fact. a member OF the
itelegra piers union employed by tho Postal
said that the employees OF the latter COM
pany would strike only a. a last resort
Practically the night force Of operators
LIN the Western Unt0n struck pASa the