The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-09
Western Union Telegraph Oper-
atOrs at Chicago Go Out.
Refuse to Work With NOnuniOn
Men on the Wire.
IGNORE THE OFFICERS
Pay No Attention to Counsel of
Constituted Authority.
New York and Denver Are Ex-
pected to Follow.

| Chicago, Aug e.-The telegraph oper-
ators employed by the Western Union
| in Chicago went on strike last night at
u o'clock The trouble was preeipita-
ted by the Los Angeles strike which was
begun two days ago.
The local executive board Of the
Commercial Photographers union met
and passed resolutions requesting the
men to refuse to work with the nom
union operators employed in Los An
geIes, When the men were notified OF
this step all operators employed in the
overland division of the local ONCE re-
fused to work any longer with the nom
union men on the other end OF the Wire
When this announcement was maze
Night Chief Harry Price ordered all
who refused to work to leave the Of
fee He then went into other avis
ions and requested the men 10 90 INTO
the overland division. In every case
he was met with refusal until over
20 men had been sent home. Inc EIleN-
ance committee of the union called on
Price and notified him that unless ev-
ery man was reinstated by mldnlgnt
every union man in the once ~oulo De
called out. This demand was rsAusen
and promptly at midnight, by a pre-
arranged plan a whistle was olo~h ana
every operator employed in the main
office with the exception OF SIX ~lIe
and loop chiefs, including Night Man
ager Price and his two assistants. le1l
their KEYS and with a round of cheers
filed out of the office. The men en-
ployed by the company at tne Sat,nS
morning newspapers had been notLLeu
Of the contemplated strike anu lhes
also quit work
The local officials of the union stated
the day force employed by the COM
pany, most of whom belong to the un-
ion would refuse to go to work TINS
branch offices in the city.
Officers Are Ignored.
The National officials of the union
spent all day in an effort to prevent
from taking matters in their own hands
and calling a strike. The men Tor
weeks have maintained a sullen atti-
tude toward the company. The chi
cago force was dissatisfied with me
basis of the settlement reached at the
time the strike in San Francisco was
called off. Ever since then they have
been visiting the office of National
Secretary Russell seeking information;
Yesterday his Office was crowded al,
day long with operators looking for
news regarding the progress of the
peace negotiations in the west but We're,
given little satisfaction.
Il am waiting to hear from resi-
dent Small. Until hear further can
say nothing" he said.
Such replies. together with the fact
that the men believe according to their
own statements that Small submitted
to defeat at San Francisco was what
prompted the executive board OF the To-
cal union to take action.
1t was under these conditions that
the strike was called without the sane
ton of the national officers.
After the men had quit work Secre-
tary Russell refused to talk about the
controversy except to say that the men
had taken matters in their own hands
and undoubtedly felt that they were
capable of handling their own affairs
Tired of the Situation.
Secretary UIrich of the local union
said:
1.-The men were utterly tired of the
conditions under which they were
working and could not stand it any
longer. When the additional insult of
asking them to work with nonunion
men in Los Angeles was put upon
them, they refused to stand 1t and
quit work. We could get no informa-
ton of the situation on the Pacific
coast from our national officials, so
we decided that it was up to us to
take care of ourselves"
When General Superintendent Cook |
of the Western Union was informed of
the strike he declared that he was
unable to say anything that would be
outline the action the company would
take. Fearing that trouble might
arise following the walkout of the
men an official of the company a few
minutes before midnight telephoned
to the central station and requested
that several policemen be sent to the
main office of the company to pre-
serve order.
One lieutenant and five policemen
were ordered to report at the teie-
graph office. After the 200 men and
women quit work they gathered in
front of the building and for half an
hour filled the air with cheers and
whistles, but the police were given no
thority.
Tho Effect i'm New York.
New York, Aug. As soon as the
Western Union Telegraph company |
went out the company trunk lines di- |
rectly connecting Chicago and this !
city were ordered closed for the night. |
None of the officers Of the company
would discuss the situation.
: The move at Chicago was not |
wholly surprise to the members of |
the telegraphers' union here. They |
had received an intimation that the |
trouble at Los Angeles was likely to |
involve men working in the offices of |
the company in other cities, and de- |
of the last two days had |
not appeared to be favorable to a |
friendly settlement of the dispute on !
|hO SOe'9e- ~ OAAiOldi SIdbSn1chl was
made by representatives of the union. |
Whether the New York offices will be |
drawn into a strike as was the Chi |
cago Office no one will hazard a pre- |
diction. 1t was, however. pointed out |
that the same point raised in Chicago |
would naturally arise here.
1t was said to be possible that the |
men here would refuse to work New |
Y ork-Chicago wires If nonunion men |
worked in Chicago. Word from |
President Small of the operators |
pected.
Denver Ready to Follow.
Denver. Aug. 9.-As soon as word |
came from Chicago that the operators |
In the Western Union Office there had |