The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-13

New York, Aug. 12.-At l o'clock this
afternoon many operators in the main
office OF the Western Union here went
out. There had been rumors that such
move was in contemplation, but up to
few minutes before the men quit work
there were no signs of the intended ac-
ton. AT exactly ] o'clock a shrill whiS-
tie was sounded through the big ope-
rating room and large part of the force
at work left their keys.
AS the men left the building they wee
cheered by other operators who had
gathered in the street. The cheers at
tTscted passersby on Broad street and
in a few minutes a large crowd had gath
cred.
No Sign of Disorder.
There was no disorder. however. and
the police of the traffic squad soon put
tl1e crowd in motion. One man disputed
7he right of the policeman to compel him
70 move on and he was arrested.
II was stated by a general officer Of
tine company that out of 400 on the day
force 20l refused to go out. The men,
he said, are now at their keys. and the
officers of the company said that by 5
o'clock this afternoon they would have
a full force at work.
Within a short time the strikers dis
persed to their homes and by half-past
I o'clock there was no sign of anything
unusual in the vicinity of the Western
Union building.
Shortly after ! O'Clock most of the
Western Uhion men working on the Pro-
duce Exchange went on strike. leaving
only a few nOn-uniOn men at work. The
operators employed by the Broad street
branch office belonging to the union also
left their keys.
Secretary Treasurer McIuerney of the
local telegraphers' union said that the
local men had walked out without any
order from the union officers and had
taken the matter in their own hands. He
said the officers of the union, though
would stand by the strikers in their &C
ton.
Could Not Control Men.
Secretary McInerney said that he real
lied that the feeling of the men was
strong against the company, but that the
local union officers had done all they
could to prevent the men going out. He
said:
The officers regret this action of the
men going out at this time We did all
we could to restrain them, but they were
simply gOaded into going out. The last
straw that broke the camefs back today
when three men. who had been discharged
last week for declining to work wires on
which strike breakers were employed,
went to the main office of the Western
Union 10 get their time They were told
by one Of the chief operators to get out
of the office. and the man accompanied
the ejectment with abusive language. The
fault is with the company, for we have
done all We could TO prevent this trou-
BILE The local union will stand by the
men,
Secretary McInerney said that the TO-
cal union was well provided with funds
and that the Order of Railway Telegra-
piers had today assured the local. men
that they would aid them in a financial
way
Statement of Western Union.
General Manager Barclay Of the West
ern Union said his company had, 400 Ops-
rators at work in the main office at 3
O'clock this afternoon. He said that ell
business was being handled as usual, and
that the company had not found il neces-
sary TO accept business with the delay
agreement
General Superintendent Brooks Of the
Western Union said:
Il understand that The action of the
operators in walking out from our offices
was not approved by the officials of the
local union. AS a matter of fact no one
knows who blew the whistle which caused
the men to leave their keys. We know
the man who was authorized TO do so in
case Of an authorized strike, but this