Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-17
SMALL SPEAKS OUT
STRIKE DRAGS ON
Little Gaiety About the Union
Headquarters.
BOTH SIDES ARE SULLEN
Statement in Detail of the Mems
Grievances.
ARBITRATION IS FORGOTTEN
Preparations Being Made for a Long
Struggle-The Situation
in New York.
BOTH SIDES ARE SULLEN
Statement in Detail of the Mems
Grievances.
ARBITRATION IS FORGOTTEN
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, August 11.-With both sides ST.
lent and sullen the strike of the commercial
telegraphers is dragging out its ninth day
today There are practically no develop
ments since the issuance of the general
strike order, and with the peace negotators
gone all hope of a settlement in Chicago
seems to have been forgotten. The strikers
ere now concerning themselves with prepa-
rations to hold out. making assessments
for the strike fund and trying to involve
and secure walkouts of other trades af-
flliated with the Associated Building Trades
Council. Tho Chicago Federation of Labor
also will take action.
One hundred electricians employed at the
drainage canal in the main power house at
Lockport have threatened to go out be-
cause the Western Union and Postal COM
panies were said to be negotiating a con-
tract for power with the drainage trustees
through the General Electric Company.
Two million dollars, President Small says,
will be laid away in the union treasury
within two months. Even the suggestion
idea of the length of the struggle to come
Mr.. Small addressed a mass meeting yes
terday afternoon, but confined himself prin-
cipaly to words of encouragement for his
followers
Last night he issued the following state
ment outlining the grievances of the teleg-
raphers. He did not refer to the effect of
the general order Perhaps the most s'g-
Eifcant statement is in regard TO the neces-
sly of an exhaustive investigation of af-
+ Q under government supervision
In the present great conflict" says Small
In his statement, lit is contended by the
telegraphers that The companies have en-
ployed against them methods so unjust
means SO unworthy and a general course
so inconsistent with the principles of JUS
uce that their position employees have
become actually unbearable. Their prayers
and petitions for a redress of grievances
have been uniformly rejected and in some
Instances conference has been denied
them altogether.
This the companies deny and in turn de-
clare that they have not only treated their
employees justly and CONSIDERABLY but they
have actually exhausted their means trying
to do ample justice by them. The issue is
therefore squarely drawn. These claims can
De determined only by an exhaustive and
impartial investigation of the claims of
both parties, which ii seems should be un-
dertaken by the national government or at
least conducted under government super-
vision"
Why They Struck.
The statement then goes on 10 saw that
the government has the authority to con-
duct such an investigation because the
telegraph companies are engaged in in
terstate commerce. The reasons for the
present strike are given by President Small
as follows:
Flrst, the long continued and persistent
enorts OF the Western Union telegram
Company notably, and the Postal telegram
company incidentally, TO reduce their
operators to state of servitude absolutely
impossible of human endurance
Second. the repeated violation of aere.-
ments entered into by the Postal company
with It's teiegraphers and the persistent re-
fusal of the Western Union company IN
receive committees Of its photographers for
the purpose of discussing grievances
Third, the utter disregard of the promises
made by Col CIowry in his letter to Com
missioner of Labor Nell. dated June 20
last, followed by The direct and voluntary
breaking of the written agreement ending
the San Francisco strike july 10 1907
which agreement. with the original sigma
lures thereto attached, is now filed with the.
department of Commerce and Labor at
Washington
The statement continues that after the
settlement Of the San Francisco strike the
women operators after their return to places
were put On night tricks and compelled to
go through the negro quarter of West Oak
land. where the main offices are located
after dark, and that many of them re-
signed rather than endure tn treatment.
Also the companies are charged by the
strike leader with having instituted sys-
TEN o. espionage ON the strikers after they
returned 10 work. which is largely respoa-
stole for the present trouble
This is not question" Concludad the
on the part OF tn officers of III. orcan MIA
the commercial te.cgI aphcrs have q real
grievance. II they have then in the name
OF justice and in the interests Of the couu-
try, let US get together and adjust those
grievances. but not in the manner in which
the San Francisco strike was settled
new note Of aggressiveness was appar-
ent at the headquarters Of the striking
teleEraphers this afternoon. when a state
ment was issued by President Small in
which he sharply defined the issue in the
matter OF the leased wires employed by
brokers He declared positively that by /
O'clock on Monday afternoon every broker
operator in Chicago either would be work
ing under a union contract or out on strike
While majority Of the brokers have ac-
coded 10 the union demands. oilers have
delayed in the matter.