The Washington herald., 1907-08-09

! Special to The Washington Herald
Chicago. Aug. 9.-Every operator on the
night force Of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, In Chicago. at 12:O1 this
morning. gave up his key and struck.
After the clocks OF the city had struck
the hour Of midnight not single wire
owned by the company was working. and
between the West and Chicago not sin
gle message was transmitted
Newspaper messages. with the excep-
ton Of those received over some leased
wires TO Chicago were tied up: private and
public kilograms remained in the Office
unsent and unreceived
AT the beginning OF the work OF the day
shift tomorrow morning, every operator
Will follow the precedent OF the night
men, and the system from this city 10 the
Pacific Coast may be at a standstil
Direct Cause OF Strike.
The direct cause Of the strike in Chicago
was the refusal Of operators working in
the overland, OF California division, to
work with the Los Angeles Office. where
strike is on which was brought about
by the dismissal Of Operator J. Z. Ryan.
Of that office, for an alleged abusive re-
mark. made over the wire, to Mrs. Sadie
Nicols. in an Oakland (Cal) Office. who
mad worked during the late strike in Oak
land and san Francisco.
Mr.. Ryan denied this and brought proof
that he was innocent Of the charge. Yet
Superintendent Lamb refused To rein
state him or 10 receive a committee from
the strikers. The strike followed
Each operator in Chicago who refused
to work with the Los Angeles Office was
suspended until the entire overland divi-
sion force was sent home at n:25 ?. m.
Company Refuses Request.
A committee was appointed by the
operators 10 wait upon Acting Night
Manager Harry Pryo, and gave him until
midnight 70 reinstate all the suspended
men The men waited until that hour.
and upon Mr.. Pryo's refusal TO comply
with their request. the entire force OF SO
men, including nearly all the chiefs
walked out.
The messenger boys quickly followed
leaving the Office completely tied up
The great sympathetic strike in Chicago
is only the forerunner Of a general strike.
Text of Resolutions.
The resolutions which caused the trouble
as adopted by the executive board Of the
local union at a meeting held last night
are as follows:
Whereas our Western Union brothers
in Los Angeles are out on strike for their
rights; therefore be it
Resolved by the executive board OF
Chicago Local. No. !. c. T. L. A. Cthe
Western Union grievance committee con-
curring). Thatit IS the sense Of these bodies
that no member Of this union, any friend
Of union labor, OF any self-respecting
telegrapher should work with an Office
where men are on strike: and be it fur
ther
Resolved, That the widest possible pub
Iicity be given these resolutions through
the press and by such other means as
may be available
It is believed by the men that the strike
viii rapidly become general The men
never have been satisfied with the settle
ment reached when trouble threatened a
few weeks ago. They felt that they got
the worst OF tho bargain at that time and
have been fretting at their keys ever
since
No Change at Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, Cal. Aug s.-There is no
change in the telegraphers' strike to-
night. Eighty men, comprising the en-
tire force. are on strike. Supt. Lamb
claimed to have seventeen recruits at
work at o'clock tonight. The officials
have offered to meet q committee OF en-
ployes II they would return TO work
The telegraphers assembled at their
headquarters, but refused to return unless
John Edgar Ryan, formerly OF New York
and Philadelphia, was reinstated. and all
chiefs and clerks put back In their old
positions, and at the old salary.
Assistant General Superintendent I. n.
Miller. OF San Francisco division Of the
Western Union, and Samuel ]. Small, of
the Commercial TeiegTaphers' Union. are
on their way here from the North, All
preparations are made for q long strug-
gle.