New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-16
MEN LICKED"-CLOWRY
Telegraph Companies Viii Not Take
Back Striking Operators.

The Commercial Telegraphers' Union, after
four days fighting against the powerful West
ern Union and Postal Telegraph companies ap-
peared last night to be disorganized ard spar
ring for wind After failing to drag the Order
of Railway Telegraphers into the fight, they
appealed. yesterday. TO Attorney General Jack
SON He received the memorandum submitted
by the local union officials, refused to make
any statement regarding 1t. Should he decide
to take up and press the unions charges that
the companies not fulfilling their obligations
as public service corporations. it would mean
delay of months in the courts before anything
could be done. The strikers seemed confident
that Mr. Jackson would. at least, make a DEM
onstration.
The union men made much of the fact that
the service of the companies was not up to the
standard The companies. however, were stead
lily improving, and at a late hour last night an
nounced that they We're handling all messages
turned in To them Whatever criterion nigh.
be applied TO the service it evident that the
employers would not consider arbitration in
the face of this. Daniel Russell chairman of
the board of strategy of Local No. 10. an
nounced yesterday afternoon that the local had
$4,000 in its treasury. This. he said. would
support the strikers for month without asking
for aid from the national organization
Following this intimation of a long and hard
fought strike there came a meeting in Everett
Hall. No 81 East 4th street. last night. when
the lack of organization and the strong factiOnal
feeling displayed in dispute as to whether
all operators-including those employed by
brokers under satisfactory COntractS-shOuld bs
called out. The radicals wanted everybody to
Join them. even though forty brokerage firms
had signed contracts giving the $50 minimum
wage 10 their operators. So serious was the
outlook at one time that members of the union
predicted the deadlock would last until O'Clock
this morning But after four hours wranglins
the meeting ended. with the conservative mem
bers victorious. at O'Clock
The strike last night had become general.
and according to union members 23.CsD men
and women were out in this country and can
ada OF the 45OO operators on strike III this
city it was reported that not one had deserted
To go back to work A few men who applied for
membership. saving they had been strike break
ers but had repented. were greeted with sus-
picion They were picked out by some as
--Pinkerton spies' term that in union circles
has gained special prominence since the Meyer
Haywood case.
HEADS OF. COMPANIES CONFIDENT.
The attitude of the heads OF the telegraph
companies are confident. and they had evidently
abandoned their spirit OF antagOnism against
the railroad companies The statements made
on Wednesday that they would insist on the
railroad companies living up IN every sense 10
their contracts for the carrying Of commercial
messages over their wires was changed TO more
conciliatory explanations AS The Tribune
ponted out on the best of authority yesterday
the railroad companies were prepared to stand
between their operators and any possible i'm
positions by the telegraph companies This re-
moved the last chance OF a synPathetie strike
BY the railway operators, although the strikers
were still trying to- give the impression that
they could count their assistance The grand
master workman of the railway operators had
instructed them at the beginning of the present
strike to live up their contracts with the
roads Since the railroads have asked for moth
ing beyond this. official of the striking COM
merciaI telegraphers seemed TO think 1t neceS-
sary to explain
There is an agreement between the Order OF
Railway TeIegraphers and our union'' he said
"Of course there's an agreement between the
railway operators and the railroads But if it
comes 20 a final showdown which one do YOU
think the railway operators will favOr-their
brother worxingmen or the corporations that
only pay them their wages?
The official Gid not want his name used. and
s.. .erstI railway teIegraphers who heard OF TINS
explanation were anxious TO know where he
obtained his information. Members OF the Rail-
ton yesterday expressed themselves as satisfied
they would not strike They seemed much
pIeased with the firm stand the railroads had
taken tn avoid any trouble by encroachmeEtS
of the telegraph companies
Perhaps the strongest opinion expressed yes
terday by any company official was given by
Colonel Robert C. ClOwry, president OF the
Western Union who issued the following state
ment:
The strike is they are licked 70 a finish
We arc having applications from the strikers TINS
morning but We turning them down we are
ali dTsd no and cannot place them There's notn-
ing doing .r.- e. -. =. -
beginning There has been no system There nave
beeT diSaereements between the national offeers
and the executive board and the vaTl-
o,Is locals have ignored both. with the result as
shown in their action that fout OF tHeir e1O1'S
over Sunday. Lake George, Saratoga, Troy. Al
bany Sharon Springs. Peoples Line stea'4ieF~--
AdVt-