The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1907-08-17
STRIKE MAY SPREAD.
II Operators Demands Are Refused
General Strike Will Follow.

General Strike Will Follow.
Chicago, Aug. 1.-THE strike of
the union commercial telegraph op-
orators will be universal throughout
the United States and Canada within
"a hours, according to National Sec
rotary Russell, of the telegraphers'
organization. This statement was
made by Mr.. Russell after he had
been Informed of the action taken
by the men in New York. who. al a
meeting there today, decided to hold
walkout in allegiance until the lat
ter part of the week.
Inls strike movement, said Mr..
russell, has come to a point where
tnere can be no backing down. The
telegraphers have been trodden on
long enough by the companies. and
now that we have the opportunity
we are going to use all our strength
to enforce our demands. For several
weeks President Small and myself
nave been holding the telegraphers
PACK, and have been advising concil-
lation; but they have taken matters
In their own hands and we are going
10 stand by them. No union man will
De allowed to work with anyone not
belonging to our organization, and
this means that tomorrow morning
when the business of the week be-
gins, the strike will become univer-
sal. We cannot go half way in this
matter now. The strike has been
preeipitated by the men themselves.
without the sanction of the national
ofncers, but we are now working in
unison and anything that the Off
Gals OF the various unions through
out the country have done in calling
strikes meets with our hearty CO.
operation"
This announcement was made by
MI. Russell at a mass meeting of the
striking telegraphers held in Brands
nall Sunday afternoon. The hall
seated 1900 persons, and so great
was the demand for accommodations
that several hundred of the striking
operators were unable to gain admit
lance to the building and remained
on the streets in the vicinity until
some of the early arrivals had left
the hall.
The Order of Railway Telegraph
ers was represented at the meeting
by National Secretary Quick. Mr..
Quick informed the strikers that his
organization was at their disposal
both morally and financially. owe
have 100000 in our own treas
ury," said he, "and it is at your dis
posal. Your fight is ours, and we
will stand with you until the end"
/ RQf0rn tho m n
union telegraphers employed by COM
panies using leased wires was held
At this gathering brokers, news
agencies and commercial organiza.
tions, including the big packing
houses, were represented. A resolu.
ton was adopted declaring that this
class of labor was underpaid and that
the various firms would be asked t.
sign a wage schedule and also t.
employ none but union telegraphers
1t was decided to let the private
wire men prepare and present theil
own schedules to their employers
The broker-men will present theil
schedule at 10 o'clock Monday morn
ing. The broker-men will ask for {
minimum of $50 week.
The men employed by the press as
sociations presented their request a
1880 o'clock Sunday night, and tn,
employers will be given "a hours t
comply with it. The schedule pre-
scented calls for $35 a week for 81,
nights work, and 20 cents an hou
overtime, eight hours to constitute ;
days work, with half an hour TO
lunch. The operators employed b.
the news companies and newspaper
in the day time will ask for $40
week and 60 cents an hour overtime
E eight hours to constitute a day
work, and the regular lunch. Thes
requests were presented to ever,
newsgathering organization in tn
United States and Canada Sunda
> evening, and "a hours will be al
lowed for an answer. II at the EN-
of the time the demands have no
met with a favorable response, tn
men will report to the union officials
and they say a strike will be ordered
In regard to the newspaper end o
the controversy Secretary Russell is
sued the following statement:
To all publishers, United State
and Canada: The Commercial Tele
graphers' Union does not desire i
any way whatever to hamper tn
newspapers of the country. We ar
fighting for our rights. however, an
believing that the telegraph opera
! tors employed in this service are un
| derpaid, we have authorized our me
to present a schedule to their EN-
ployers asking for what we conside
< reasonable recompense for thei
: labors. If these demands are nc
| met by the various news gatherin
e organizations within a specified tim
the men will be ordered to qui
work.