Omaha daily bee., 1907-08-14

Omaha telegraphers claim the first VIC
tory in the west In their strike for better
salaries and wages Last night the Cudahy
Packing company granted a 10 per cent
advance to its telegraphers, twenty-four in
number, employed in South Omaha, Sioux
City, Kansas City and Wichita, to date
from August l. 1t raises the salaries of
hrst-class men to figures around the 500
mark with minimum of about $50.
Manager Ellis of the telegraph depart
ment of the Cudahy company said he
wished TO avert the possibility of a strike
and considered it a good time to raise sal
aries. The men had made no demand,
but most of them are members of the
telegrnphers' union, which has just threat
ened to call general strike OF all union
telegraphers not under contract. The ac-
tion of the company has thus averted the
probability of a strike at these four pack
ing houses.
Operators at other packing plants are
already being paid salaries which the union
considers standard.
Two more men walked out Tuesday even
ing, they being operators employed by
Blasingham s. Boyce. brokers in the New
York Life building. They demand that sal
aries be increased to SIS per week.
On henee0 "1rea.
Local interest in the strike now CEN
ters on the operators of the leased wires
in the Offices of the grain commission
houses. VIII they strike or not is the
question.
Monday night 1t looked as though they
\ would not go out. Tuesday noon 1T
seemed they would. In the afternoon.
however. there came a telegram from
Chicago which put new face on the
situation 1t was from Rod McKinnon,
a member Of the grain brokerage house
of Logan & Bryan, and II came over the
company's leased wire
Mr.. McKinnon said his firm had been
approached by committee from the
Telegraphers' union and he had sent six
of his own operators TO confer with them,
the result being 1t was agreed to taae
no action until the arrival of President
Small in Chicago, which will probably
be tonight Mr.. McKinnon said he had
promised the union that when Mr.. Small
arrived a conference with him would be
held and IAN arrangement made between
one Of the firm and Mr.. Small which will
be satisfactory to the operators In the
employ of Logan & Bryan"
A committee OF telegraphers, after this
message had been received. waited on
Nels Updiae of the Updike Grain COM
pany and asked him If he would sigh a
schedule, though no schedule was pre-
scented to him. He replied that his com
pany would be willing to comply with
any schedule accepted by Logan Bryan.
President ClOwry IL Hopeful.
Colonel Clowry. president of the Western
Union Telegraph company New York, today
wired General Superintendent T. r Cook.
Chicago. who in turn telegraphed the in
formation to Superintendent Nelson, Omaha.
The telegram is as follows
About 90 per cent of our force in New
went out and we have ample force today
TO move the business without delay. Less
than 25 per cent went out at Philadelphia,
Baltimore Washington, P1ttsburg and Buf-
falo. We are In good shape to those points.
New York Herald, Sun. Times and Tribune
have editorials critsizing action of strikers.
Railroads Are Keeping out.
Railroads are not taking sides In the
telegraphers' strike. one way or the other,
81 is stated. In fact. they are exercising
all possible diplomacy to keep as far away
from the danger line as they can 1t
leaked out yesterday that local railroad
headquarters instructed their operators 10
receive no Western Union or Postal bust
ness OF anything else that might possibly
tend TO involve them or their employers in
the present dlficulty.
p II. Hartman, on his way west Sun
day. told Omaha newspaper men he was
taking no special interest In the strike. as
up to that time It did not involve his in
terest. he said he was. like any business
man. interested in a general way, but
would not feel personally concerned unless
4 spread 20 the railroads. He seemed to
think such a thing not beyond the pale OF
possibility.