The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-08-15
WIRE STRIKE TO Be
MADE UNIVERSAL
COMPANIES GIVEN TWENTY-FoUR
HOURS TO COMPLY WITH DE.
MANDs OF MEN.
SEEK TO ADJUST THE TROUBLE
LABOR COMMISSIONER NEIL AND
OTHERS TO HOLD CONFER
ENcE IN CHICAGO.

Chicago, Aug 13.-The strike of the
union commercial telegraph operators
will be universal throughout the
United States and Canada within
twenty-four hours, according to Ma
tional Secretary Russell of the teleg.
raphers' organization. This state
ment was made by Mr.. Russell after
he had been informed of the action
taken by the men in New York, who
at a meeting there yesterday decided
to hold a walkout in allegiance until
the la .er part of the week,
Pending a Conference
in Chicago early this week in which
United States Labor Commissioner
Charles p. Neill, Samuel ]. Small.
president of the telegraphers' union;
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, and
Ralph NJ. Easley, chairman of the ex'
ecutive committee of the National
Civic Federation, will endeavor to eff
feet an adjustment Of the trouble.
About 500 men were added to the
ranks of the strikers yesterday. The
new recruits come from various SEE
tons throughout the country, in each
case the strikes being precipitated by
the men refusing to work with non
union men in other cities.
Approximately $500 t~elegraphers
are now on strike, divided among
thirty.eight of the larger cities of the
country, including Chicago, st. Louis,
st. Paul, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and
Fargo.
Can Be No Backing Down.
"This strike movement" said Secre-
tary Russell, has come to the point
where there can be no backing down.
The telegraphers have been trodden
on long enough by the companies, and
now that we have the opportunity we
are going TO use all our strength to en-.
force our demands. For several weeks
President Small and myself have been
holding the te~legraphers back and
have been advising Cancellation, but
they have taken matters in their own
hands, and we are going to stand by
them"
This announcement was made by
Mr.. Russell at a mass meeting of the
striking telegraphers in Brands hall
yesterday afternoon.
Leased Wire Men, Also.
Before the mass meeting a meeting
of the union telegraphers employed
by companies using leased wires was
held. At this gathering employees of
brokers, news agencies and CONNER
cial organizations, including the big
packing houses, were represented. A
resolution was adopted declaring that
this class of labor was underpaid and
that the various firms would be asked
to sign a wage schedule and also to
employ none but union t~elegraphers.
1t was decided to let the private wire
men prepare and present their own
schedules to their employers.
Press Operators Submit Scale.
The men employed by the press as
sociations presented their request at
1880 o'clock last night. The schedule
will call for $35 a week for six nights
a week and 70 cents an hour over.
time, eight hours to constitute a DAYS
work, with half an hour for lunch
The operators employed in the day
time will ask for $50 a week and 60
cents an hour overtime, eight hours To
constitute a days work and the regu.
lar lunch hour. This schedule will be
presented to every news gathering or.
ganization in the United States and
Canada, and twenty-four hours will be
allowed for an answer.
In Chicago yesterday the officials Of
both companies declared that thew
had more men working than they
needed.
Twin Cities Join Fight.
st. Paul. Aug. IL. - St. Paul and
Minneapolis union telegraph operators
employed by the Western Union went
on a strike Saturday. About 100
walked out of the main Office in st.
Paul and about sixty quit work in
Minneapolis. The action was taken
without instruction from the national
officers.
Western Union Win Fight.
New York. Aug. 10.-The Western
Union Telegraph company will fight
the strike of their operators in the
western cities, in the East or wher.
ever the men may go out. A strike
among the 5000 operators of Greater
New York city is imminent, though
sentiment among the employees is said
to be divided.
III Postal people will also fight, II
was officially announced.