Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-14
OPERA TORS
STAND FIRM;
GUST SMALL
TELEGRAPHEES TO CONTINUE
STRIKE
LOCAL UNIONS THROW DOWN
GAGE OF BATTLE
President of Wire Mems Organization
Suspended by Executive Board.
Stirring Meeting Held in
New York
Ry Associated press.

BY Associated Press
NEW YORK, Oct 13.-The New York
local of the telegraph union toda,f voted
unanimously to continue the strike
against the Western Union and the Postal
Telegraph companies.
The vote was taken upon the suggestion
of President Small. who in messages to
subordinate officers yesterday pointed out
the inability of the general assembly to
finance the strike and requested the locals
to vote upon the advisability of the men
returning to work.
Later word was received from Chicago
that Small had been suspended.
The meeting today was characterized by
bitter exchanges between President Small
and the other speakers. The latter charged
the national leader with inconsistency in
first prCclaiming that the strike would be
successfully financed, and yesterday adj
mitting that the general assembly was
without funds and with having conducted
the fight in half-hearted dilatory way.
Small replied, trying to explain his po-
sition, but was interrupted by Kisses.
When he suddenly left the hall in the
| midst of the speech-making, cries Of re
| sign" followed him.
! Tonight Small issued statement in
which he said he was willing to continue
| the strike If the men insisted.
| When the meeting opened President
| Small was given the floor and said: II
am not here to make an argument for or
| against continuing the strike, but merely
| to explain why called for vote of the
locals on the proposition.
Saturday tCommissioner Nell inform
ed me that President Clowry had told him
| that further negotiations were futile
| believe what they say. Our funds are
quite exhausted as you know when we
were unable to make payment to you
yesterday. There are no more in sight
| These are the facts. You can do as you
will.'
| Percy Thomas. ex-national depusS
president, followed Small, saying that the
latter had said when the strike began
! that he could raise $2 900, 900 to support Il.
Small, he said, had asked him thirty
days ago to send out word mo funds"
but the speaker refused He continued:
| president Small has utterly neglected
| to properly approach the subject of rais-
| ing money, and now he comes before you
and tells you that we have no more
money. This strike cannot be lost il we
| have a leader. national president with
airy ability"
Shouts of "Resign"
There were cheers for Thomas, and as
| Small arose to reply snouts of Resign"
| greeted him.
II have no intention of resigning,' he
| said when he could be heard. ITO resign
| is the last thing that will do, and want
| to tell you that personal attacks on me
won't buy you bread and butter.
LAS for the assessments of other labor
! organizations, want to tell you what
they amount to. The Order of Railroad
TeleIraphers, with a membership of 1900,
assessed about two dollars. then one dol
| lar, has turned in about 1900. From the
| %, 900 locals of the American Federation of
Labor we have received about $4,000. /
have come here to state facts and to tell
| you of your position. Do what you will
| AS Small sat down Daniel Russell. chair
man of the local board of strategy sprang
| to his feet
rUp to last night" he said. this was
Smalrs strike and UP to last night he did
everything he could to lose. Today 1t is
your strike. Keep it up and we will win.
He alone brought on the strike, and now
| he is trying to repudiate it.
| Other speakers followed in similar
vein. after which the resolution was sec
onded declaring that the strike be con-
tinued and calling on the national execu-
| tive committee to remit at once $1,000, the
locals share in the general treasury, and
requesting the appropriation OF the in
surance fund for strike purposes, was
adopted.
In his statement tOnlBnL tTeSiucut oihaii
says that in his recent telegram he merely
wished the locals to act intelligently.
SHOULD the locals throughout the coun-
try, or a bare majority of them, vote to
continue the strike it will be pushed with
greater vigor than ever. and the member
shin being in possession of the facts re-
garding negotiations and finances no
doubt will work with greater determine
tion.'
Small Repudiated
CHICAGO, Oct. 1S-National PresidenS
Small OF the Commercial photographers
union and his suggestion that vote be
taken on the question of calling Off the
strike were repudiated by members of the
Chicago local union at a meeting this aft
ernoon.
A resolution that the strike be continued
was unanimously adopted. The meeting
was followed by demonstration of
strength by the striking operators before
the offices of the telegraph companies.
The men marched in double file in the
streets, shouting. stick, stick" and
otherwise voiced their opposition to the
surrender suggestion.
At a meeting of the executive COMMITTEES
Small was suspended. The following
message was sent to President Small by
the executive committees:
''Under article 10, section z, of the con-
stitution of the Commercial Photographers
union of America you are hereby sus-
pended from the office of president. TO
take effect Immediately.
rs. ]. KONENKAMP,