The Irish standard., 1907-08-17
NEARLY 100 Cities
IN Strikes THR0ES
TEN THOUSAND MEN IDLE IN
WIRE STRUGGLE, WHICH
SPREADS RAPIDLY.
GREATER WAR AWAITS
SMALL'S ARRIVAL
Fear Railway Employees May Join
Commercial TeIegraphers-25 More
Cities in List-companies Send
Forces to Prevent Wire Cutting.

Chicago, Aug. 15.-Twenty-f1 strikes
which occurred late Tuesday and
Wednesday brought the total number
of cities affected by the telegraph
strike to So and the total number Of
operators out of work to 9,977, only a
few less than 10000. The strikes were
called in all parts of the country. New
England furnished many strikers and
Illinois towns contributed to swell the
ranks of the idle key men. Among the
larger cities which were affected are
Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville.
Norfolk, Va, where the Jamestown ex-
position is on, was also tied up.
Fate Rests with Small.
The fate of the telegraphers' strike
trembled in the balance while every
one connected with it awaited the ar
rival in Chicago of General President
s. ]. Small, who will cast the die for
peace or more widespread war.
A telegram reached union headquar-
tiers saying that President Small will
not reach Chicago until Thursday at
noon.
When he does come he will at once
60 into conference with. the other
members of the general executive
board of the union, where, according
to the decision reached at board
meeting, he will be told of the decision
of the board to recommend that he call
a general strike. Leaders say that he
has maintained an aggressive attitude
throughout and that there is no doubt
he will ignore the efforts of the peace
makers in Chicago and run the strike
to suit himself
$50 as Guard for Wires.
The Western Union and Postal Tele-
graph companies took warlike step
Wednesday. This was the sending
out of ESQ linemen to patrol the miles
and miles Of wires of those two COM
panies entering Chicago to protect
them from being tempered with by
strikers. 1t was said at the time these
men were sent out that an operator
with pair of pliers could do more to-
ward winning a strike than the pulling
out of all the union men in the coun-
try could accomplish.
All the Associated Press leased:wfre
circuits worked from the Chicago office
were restored to normal basis
Wednesday moring.
j. Armour Men May Strike.
It. was reported at union headquar-
tiers that Armour & Co. had refused to
sign the new union agreement with it's
operators. 1t was said that the men
would walk out and that a strike of
all the leased-wire operators employed
by the packers might follow.
Government Business o. X.
Following the deliberations of the
general executive board Of the union
General Secretary Wesley Russell sent
a message to President Roosevelt at
Oyster Bay assuring him that the bus
mess of the government would not be
interfered with because of the strike
He also sent telegram to the pres
ident of the International Typograph-
zeal union now in annual convention at
Hot Spring, Ark, asking for moral and,
If necessary later, financial support.
The local executive board of the
union circulated copies of a resolution
passed last night permitting brokers
who have signed the new union agree
ment to use the gold and stock" ticker
service for quotations on stocks and
cotton, pending the establishment in
Chicago OF fair SERVICE" says the
resolution.
Woman Strikers "Stand Pat"
One hundred young women strikers
held meeting before noon at Brands
hall at which they voted to "stand
pat" and not to call for strike benefit
funds unless absolutely in need. More
than half of the women present said
they were not in want and would not
apply for financial aid at any time dur
Ing the strike.
Miss Jane Adams. Mrs. Raymond
Robbins and other woman reformers
and students of Industrial p:oblems
were asked to address the strikers at
their afternoon mass meeting at
Brands hall.
Torpedo Causes Excitement.
The policemen who were stationed
around the Western Union building
early Wednesday thought for a time
that they were to witness the begin
ming of hostilities in the telegraphers'
strike. The cause was the explosion
of a torpedo on the streetcar track in
Clark street, near Jackson boulevard.
The police think that the torpedo was
placed on the track by striking mes
senger boys.
Roosevelt Asked to Intervene.
The board of directors of the Chi
cago board Of trade met and after dis
cussing the effect of the strike on
business instructed President Hiram
N. Sager to telegraph to President
Roosevelt at Oyster Bay, asking him
to aid in securing settlement The
board also voted to request other COM
mercial exchanges throughout the
country to take similar action. Fol
lowing is President Sager's telegram:
Theodore Roosevelt. President of