Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-08-12
STRIKE IS TO SPREAD
Secretary Russell Says it Will Be Uni
verssl in Twenty-Four Hours.
NO WORK WITH NoNUNIoN MEN
officers Try to Hold Men in Check, but
Find it Impossible.
NO MORE EFFORT IN THIS LINE
Railway Telegraphers to Stand with
Commercial Brothers.
FINANCIAL Am IC pR0MISEn
NO MORE EFFORT IN THIS LINZ
FINANCIAL AID is PROMISED
Western cities Generally Out Now, but
Men In Eastern Places Decide to
Delay Matters for
Few Days.


CHICAGO, Aug. 1.-THE strike of the
Union Commercial telegraph operators
will be universal throughout the United
States and Canada within twenty
hours, according to National Secretary
Russell of the telegraphers organization.
This statement was made by Mr.. Rus
sell, after he had been informed of the
action taken by the men in New York.
who at a meeting there today decided
TO hold q walkout in allegiance until the
latter part of the week
This strike movement" said Russell,
has come to the point where there 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 an. my
self have been holding the telegraphers
back and have been advising Cancellation,
but they have taken matters in their own
hands and we are going to stand by
them. No union man will be allowed TO
work with anyone not belonging to our
organization, and this means that tomor-
row morning, when the business of the
week begins, that the strike will become
universal. We can't go half way In this
matter now. The strike has been pre-
cipitated by the men themselves without
the sanction of the national officers, but
we are now all working In unison and
anything that the officials of the various
unions throughout the county have done
in calling strikes meets with our hearty
cooperation"
This announcement was made by Mfr.
Russell at a mass meeting of the striking
telegraphers held in Brands hall this after
noon. The hall will seat 800 persons, and
so great was the demand for accommoda-
tions that several hundred Of the striking
operators were unable to gain admittance
to the building and remained on the streets
in the vicinity until some Of the early ar
rivals had left the hall.
o. II. T. with strikers.
The Order of Railway Telegraphers was
represented at the meeting by their ma
tional secretary. Quick. Mr.. Quick in
formed the strikers that his. organization
was at their disposal both morally and
| financially.
I'VE have 81 900, 900 in our treasury" said
he. 'and It is at your disposal. Your fight
Is ours and we will stand by you until
the end"
Before tn mass meeting q meeting of the
800 union telegraphers employed by com
panies using leased wires was held. At
this gathering brokers, news agencies and
commercial organizations. including the big
packing houses, were represented. A reso-
luton was adopted declaring that this class
! OF labor was underpaid and that the varl-
Gus firms would be asked to sign a wage
10 hut
telegraphers.
1t was decided to let the private wire men
prepare and present their own schedules
to their employees. The broker men will
present their schedules at 10 o'clock tomor-
row morning. The broker men will ask for
a minimum wage Of $50 week.
The men employed by the press associa-
tions presented their request at 7:SO o'clock
tonight and the employers will be given
twenty-four hours tc comply with It. The
schedule presented calls for $50 weekNfor
six nights a week and 70 cents an hour
overtime. eight hours to constitute days
work, with half an hour for lunch. The
operators employed by the news companies
and newspapers in the daytime will ask
! for $40 a week and 90 cents an hour over
time, eight hours to constitute days
work and the regular lunch hour. These
requests were presented to every news
gathering organization in the United States
! and Canada tonight and twenty-four hours
will be allowed for an answer. II at the
end of that time the demands have not
| met with favorable response the men will
report TO the union officials and they say
strike will be ordered.
Operators Formulate Demands.
! KANSAS CITY, Mo-. Aug n.-All the
striking telegraph operators OF both com
! panies in this city held Joint meeting
| today and decided upon a schedule OF de-
mands which will be presented to the local
managers OF the two companies tomorrow.
The demands to be presented to the two
companies are practically Identical. The
strikers demand of each company 3 Is
| per cent increase in wages and an eight
/ hour day.
! BY unanimous vote II was decided that
/ tha onaratora emuloVed nv news aRencAaa