The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-06-21
Will ADJUST
THEIR TROUBLE
WESTERN UNION OPERATORS
LOOK FOR NO STRIKE. .
Cl 0WRY WRIT les LETTER

Cl OMRY WRIT TES LETTER
States That No Employees Have Been
Disseminated Against and That
Grievances Can Be Heard at Any
Time-Advanee to BE Granted.
New York, June 20-As the result
Of the visit of Mr.. Nei1l. commissioners
of labor and following suggestions
made by him, an adjustment Of the
differences between the Western
Union Telegraph company and its
operators is expected to be reached
and it is hoped there will be no
strike. This morning Col. Clowry.
president of the Western Union, ad-
dressed letter to Mr.. Neill, outlin-
ing the position Of his company.
Mr.. Clowry's letter te Mr.. Neill is
as follows:
Referring to the conferences held
between yourself and me and other
officers of the Western Union Tele-
graph compan, and having in view the
possible grave inconvenience to the
public following any general Inter
rGption of our business. am glad to
nrake clear to you the position occu-
vSyr
company in regard to this WhOte mat
ter.
"As to the statement made by per-
sons in no way connected with this
company that the 10 per cent increase
granted by the telegraph company on
March 1, last, has not been applied to
all salaried telegraphers. / desire to
say the telegraph company announced
this increase IN good faith and IS car
rying it out in good faith. and Il any
case can be found in which the in
crease was not granted It will be cor
rected at once.
teThe statement also being made
that the telegraph company IS endeav-
oring to neutralize the 10 per cent
advance by the application Of So
called sliding scale is without founda-
tion. There is no such practice In
effect nor is there any intention OF
putting it into effect by the manage
ment of this company.
taTshe standard salaries for regular
positions as established by the In
crease of March / will be maintained,
but the company will pay 20 any man
appointed or promoted to any position
| tihe salary attached to that position af-
ter tllat increase and will pay TO extra
men the salary.in erect for their work
] as Of March 1, inclusive OF the 10 per
cent increases.
"This company has not discrfmfnat-
ed against nor will It discriminate
against any employe of the company
because OF afflliation or non afiiiiatton
with any organization, ana II 1t can
be shown to me that any subordinate
has been dismissed or discrimina ated'
against, he shall be restored to hts
position without prejudice.
Gas evidence Of the absolute good
faith OF the Western Union Telegraph
4 company in its relations 20 Its en1-
ployes beg to say that II any tele-
graDher feels that he has any griev-
ahce under any of the foregoing con-
ditions and If he cannot secure q salts
Il factory settlement with the officers OF
the company. we Will submit the mat
II ter to tahe arbitration OF three parties,
Il one to be selected by the telegraphers,
j one by the telegraph company and the
n third to be selected by the TWO so-choS-
\ en-. and in the event that the two can
NOT agree upon third arbitrator with
II IN one week, we will be very glad to
n have such third arbitrator CHOSEN by
the chairman Of the interstate COM
u merce commission and the commls-
!. sioner Of labor acting jointly.
AS d further evidence OF our en-
/ tire willingness to deal fairly and
[ preserve amicable relations directly
], with our employees, any telegrapher
who at any time has a grievance can
take up with his superior, either IN
person. or If he wishes, Through any
committee he may select from the otll-
). er employees of the company in the
same district.
4 81 have outlined above in brief me
nosition the Western Union telegraph
! company holds in regard TO matters
we have discussed, and you are at
liberty to make any use OF this letter
: IHaC you see lAl. AouAo . zssS<AAS
.'R. C. CLOWRY, President
] The Postal Telegraph Gable COM
pany takes the position that IT was
; not directly involved in the contro-
versy. Edward ]. Nally, vice pressl-
, dent and general manager, gave oue
the following statement today as TO
his company's attitude:
II wish to say for the Postal Tele-
graph company that the statement
that the company refused to consider
complaints from its employees, either
:, individually or as committee, IS en-
tirely untrue We have always been
very glad to meet any Of our en-
ployes and to consider any matter
thew might care to present.
"For instance, our Chicago en-
ployes recently made an application
! for still further increase OF wages
4 Inasmuch as we increased the wages
Of operators, chief operators and
! managers 10 per cent on March ana
Z April / and gave the chief operators
I. an additional increase, and on the
same day be increased the salaries OF
our electrical force, we do not feeI
-l justified in making still further In
( creases and we explained to them the
reasons why
SHIP AND CARGO LOST.
/ 4 u ID j "a