The Washington herald., 1907-04-12
Big STRIKE
Telegraph Operators Prepare
to Enforce Demands.
COMPANIES TAKE FIRM STAND
Western Union and Postal said 40
Have Determined TO Fight EN-
pIOyes to Bitter End-Both sides
EndeayOring to Enlist Public
sympathy-LeaderS Consult.

There IS now said 70 be imminent dan
ger Of one of the most far-reaching labor
strikes ever brought about in the
United States being declared in the near
future. The Commercial Telegraphers'
Union Of america. comprising 25000 meri-
bers. out of a total of 40,O0G telegraphers
in the United States. are marshallng their
forces under the aid aud direction of the
American Federation of Labor TO meet
the Western Union and Postal Telegraph
companies. which are said to be equally
a aggressive. Such a strike, which would
be made effective in every city and town
| Of any consequence in the country, would
effectually tie up and cripple all business
interests until adjusted.
For the past year there has been an
almost continuous struggle between the
Western Union Company and the men,
with many miscellaneous strikes III big
cities throughout the country, and much
show of diplomacy ON both sides.
A local telegrapher who is in a position
TO know is authority for the statement
that the company gave out a story,
printed in the morning papers Wednesday
under New York date line, TO the effect
that the Western Union officials were
much worried over the possibility of a
strike by the operators, which could not
be ayerted by the company. The COM
pany, it is declared. will fight the men
TO the end. and on the ground that they
have no grievance that will gain for them
any public sympathy. The Western Union
never has recognized the union. but now
the men are all wearing union buttons
and asking what is going TO be done
about it.
This story, it is said by the telegraDher.
was given out with the intent Of obtaining
public sympathy and support. and to pre-
cipitate matters so as TO draw on the
strike now during the dull season. and
have it out of the way by the time The
rush comes in June.
GOmpers Goes to New York.
1t is known positively that President
Samuel a. Gompers. Of the American
Federation of Labor, left this city late
Wednesday night for New York TO be on
the ground and 10 aid s. J. Small, inter
national president of the Commercial
Telegraphers' Union. who has been in
New York for several days. This is taken
20 mean that the American Federation of
Labor will give the telegraphers its fun
support.
officials of the federation in this city,
members OF the local telegraphers' union,
and officials Of the telegraph companies
are silent when interviewed, the majority
OF them saying they know nothing except
what they have CLEANED from the news
paper reports.
In answer to the story that the opera
tors have no grievance that would en-
title them to public sympathy. il was set
forth yesterday that although the com
panies had granted an Increase OF 10 per
cent in wages TO all employees several
weeks ago, they had obtained more
than this amounts to not only from the
operators, but the public as we'll The
FIRST move on the part of the companies. 1t
was said. was to refuse the increase TO
all extra men. As a result there was a
strike in New Orleans. The extra men
were then given the 10 per cent An order
was then issued, effective on all lines,
that the day operators work until $50 in
the evening instead Of . o'clock and have
half an hour for lunch. Before, there
was no stated lunch time. the operators
lunching during hours, but they were al
ways allowed from twenty to twenty-five
minutes. Washington was the last place
IN which this order was put into effect,
and although there was remOnstrance, 5t
was set forth that it was in force every
where else The order does not apply TO
the early shift coming on at and 1880
o'clock.
Tolls Are Increased.
Following this, tolls were increased an
average Of 10 per cent, according to the
companies computation. These figures
were denied yesterday by employees of the
companies. and by taking the increase in
the rates to a dozen or more places from
Washington they say it can be shown that