Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-09
PRESIDENT SMALL is
EXPECTED HERE TODAY

National President Samuel ]. Small of
the Commercial Telegraphers' Union of
America will probably arrive in Los Ange-
les today.
1. n Miller, assistant general superin-
tendent of the Western Union Telegraph
company is also on his way to Los An
geles.
A prolonged struggle between the West
ern Union striking telegraphers and the
company is expected
The operators say they are well organ
lied and well prepared to fight the battle
to the end.
Wednesday night the telegraphers
walked out of the main Office operating
room in the Wilson block. They gave as
their reason the summary discharge OF
John Edgar Ryan, on what they call
trumped up charge of delaying business
and quarreling with a woman strike
breaker.
Organize for Struggle
Yesterday headquarters were established
in a hall in Mercantile place. All day
long telegraphers were in session there
The first action taken yesterday morn
ing was to call out all the branch ONCE
men and women. From the hotels and
stock exchange the workers went to the
Mercantile place. Every arrival was
greeted with cheers.
i
that a letter awaited ]. E. Ryan at the
Western Union main office. In half an
hour Ryan delivered the letter unopened
to the chairman of the strike committee
The communication was from Superin-
tendent f. H. Lamb. After stating that
Ryan's action in neglecting to submit
further statement after his discharge Mr..
Lamb invited the strikers to return 10
work promising to confer with commit
tee of telegraphers on Ryan's case.
The operators refused absolutely to re-
turn on any other condition than hte re-
instatement of Ryan and all other en-
ployes in the old positions at the sala-
ries formerly drawn. The strikers at
tached to their communication the third
written statement of the trouble with the
Nichols woman.
Offer to Return
Following is the reply of the strikers to
Mr.. Lambs letter:
F H. Lamb, Supt. W. U. Tel. Co.:
we, the committee representing the
Western Union operators of Los An
geles office, respectfully refer the at
tached statement of Opr. j. e. Ryan,
which he claims, and We believe to be
true and which reiterates his preVi-
Gus statements and conversations with
YOU relative to his trouble and dis
miesal from the service OF your COM
pany.
we again respectfully ask that Ope-
rator ]. E. Ryan be reinstated at once,
at which time all other operators who
went out will return to work, If by so
doing they receive assurance in writ
ing that they may do so without preju-
dice or discrimination and at the same
salary as they received when they
auit We demand also the reinstate-
ment of Night Chief Operator E. Z.
Nye and Night Traffic Chief II. j.
Thompson to their former positions at
the respective salaries in vogue August
1 without discrimination, with the
further understanding that V. R.
Rrogdon or any and all branch office
operators, or any and all other en-
pIoyes who went out, be fully REIN
stated to the positions which they left,
without prejudice and at the rate of
nav they were receiving when they left
the service.
We respectfully request that you use
your good offices to cause the removal
Of Operator "EN," known as Mrs.
Sadie Nichols, from all Los Angeles
wires. to prevent future similar trou-
BILE and for the good of the service.
Respectfully
J. F. LYON,
j. " FORD,
]. d. KENNEDY,
H. G. HOWE,
E. SUMMERL,
Committee.
No reply was received from Mr. Lam
last night.
II was thought yesterday morning tn
strike would be settled without delay
superintendent Lambs letter containe
provisions unacceptable to the telegraph
rNr,