The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-14

There was little change In the strike
situation in this city today though the
absence of an Associated Press operator
was felt more than yesterday. the strike
not having tied up that service until yes
terday at noon.
At the offices of the Western Union and
the Postal Telegraph companies In this
city Manager Carey and Manager Mills
were in perfect agreement that the strike
had not yet caused them much trouble.
Manager Mills said that so far as local
business was concerned IL was being about
as well takeh care OF usual as prao-
tically all the lines were fully manned
for the normal business.
Manager Carey, who has returned from
his vacation. was In jovtal mood. 30 far
ne said the strike had not affected his
force In this city. There was same de-
lay on some OF the business, particularly
that going to some Western points. but
none OF the men in the local office had
gone out and no strike on their part was
anticipated.
There was evident. however. throughout
the day. n feeling OF uncertainty. Mo one
seemed TO know what the day might bring
forth.
ASSOCIATED PRESS TIED UP.
| AS an illustration OF the striffe's effect
on the newspapers might be cited the fact
that the Associated Press report. which
up TO noon should have made about 5000
| words had been confined to four type
written pages taken by the manager OF
the local office by long distance phone
and transcribed for the benefit OF the
three newspapers here which subscribe Ia
\ that service.
The union men in this city. about a
score OF whom are out at the West
ern Union, Postal and Associated Press
offices, declare that their late en-
ployers are hard hit while the cor
porations deny that business Is being
very seriously affected.
The manager OF the Postal company
here is said 10 be taking trick at the
key, while the clerical force is also
obliged to take hand In the dis
patching of business. The broker
operators are busy In the preparation
OF demands. so that, if they strike,
the decentralization of telegraphic COM
munication. so far as the Commercial
Telegraphers' Union is able to effect
such n condition, will be complete.
Satisfaction with the situation was
expressed last night at the meeting Of
Providence Local No 1873. held at Room
A, Narragansett hotel, at which about
80 members OF the union. including
those employed in this city and Fall
River, were In attendance. Resolu-
tions were adopted upholding the ac-
in their methods OF enforcing the de-
mands of the union, and every sort OF
support which would tend to aid In
the general movement against the
telegraph companies and the Asso-
ciated Press was assured.
The strike in Providence. according
to the union officials. has resulted In
the withdrawal OF all but one OF the
regular union men at the Postal. The
belief was expressed that accsssions to
the ranks OF the strikers from the
women employed as operators would
be noted within a day or so. The two
companies, IL was declared, have been
obliged TO depend upon the managers
and clerical help OF those who are tele-
graphers, to man the keys in Provi-
denoe and to take care Of the busi-
ness which might present itself. Ac-
cording to the union men, the local
offices OF the two companies are badly
crippled on account of the detection OF
the more expert operators.
In Pawtucket the situation was
summarized thus: Western Union and
Associated Press operators. non union:
Postal operators. union, but had re-
ceived no orders to go OUT nobody
.on strike In Woonsocket the West
ern Union business In handled by the
railroad. and neither the railroad
operator who manages the Western
Union office. nor the Postal manager
operator, nor the Associated Press
operator belongs to the union. Con-
sqeuently no strike.
Those of the members employed In
local brokerage nrms say they will get
| together in an effort to present de-
mands TO their employers which would
| entail monetary advance over the
wages at present paid by the brokerage
firms. 1t is probable. II was declared,
| that some sort OF action TO this end
will be forthcoming in a very few days.
II the demands are granted. or II the
operators remain at their places of en-
ployment, there will be an assessment OF
one days pay each week on their wages.
The campaign OF securing additional
members, IL possible, for the local union
is also to be pushed, and the officials or
/ the union believe that several broker
operators will become members within a
day or so.
The reports presented to the union by
the visiting operators were sxcellent from
the standpoint OF the union.
The belief seemed 10 be general among
the operators that. no matter whether the
corporations acquiesced TO their demands
they would receive ample support from
the union, the order of Railroad Tslsgra-
pliers and lastly from the American Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor, with which the c. r.
u A. Is affiliated. There are 1000 men
I'm the union throughout the country, II
was declared, while the percentage OF
union men who remain at work In said To
be very small indeed, particularly In the
West and South.
| Yesterdays order for a strike was re-
coived hera nv Secretarv NJ q Hackin At