The San Francisco call., 1907-06-22

psnies make no effort to bring in out
side operators. Just as soon as they
DO, union operators in other cities viii
be called out
General superintendent Frank
Jsynes Of the Western Union said that
the company hoped to be running
fairly well in another week. when out
side operators were expected to ar
rive to I'll the places of the strikers.
He would not say where these men
would come from, but intimated that
the Western Union was prepared to
hold out against the strikers ire
spective OF the length Of the siege.
General Superintendent L. W. Storror
OF the Postal said he doubted If there
we've dozen nonunion operators avail
able in San Francisco. The company
had rot made any arrangements to get
outside operators. he said and the
outlook Of the strike appeared TO be
nebulous
President Small made a statement
Immediately after the strike was or
dered in which he said that the union
did not wish to have its members in
other cities join in the struggle until
requested. no matter if they had to
work wires with nonunion teiegrsphers
in San Francisco.
The increased cost Of living since the
fire is one of the things which the
operators point out as justifying their
demand for larger increase in wages
than the 10 per cent granted them by
the companies a few months ago. The
operators claim that they can hardly
live upon their present incomes.
Following a conference of the eX-
ecutive committee of the union yester-
day the following letter was sent to
superintendent Jaynes by special
committee:
San Francisco June o.
Mr.. Frank Jsynes. General Superintendent
Western Union Telegraph Company. City
Dear Sir: In the statement Of President Clowry
n Mr. Neill. comm issiOner Of labor. defining
The Western Union eompanys position toward
its telegraphers he states that II any question
arises that cannot be adjusted by the district
superintendent the company is willing sub
NIT such question 10 arbitration.
The embodied proposition Is the schedule
offered 10 but declined by Assistant General
superintendent Miller June other than the
p per cent increase in wages asked for your
relegraphcrs employed San Francisco sud
Oakland. Having been adjusted in New York
we respectfully request that you meet a com
nlttee OF your ls8egrsphers employed IN san
Francisco and Oakland and hear their argu-
ment in favor OF the granting of a - per cent
increase in wages pending the restoration Of
We requested by those whom repre-
sent to get your reply 81 once Respectfully
yours. DAVIS ALLEN;
ARTHUR wISHER,
Committee.
Superintendent Jaynes was out Of
sistant superintendent Miller received
the committee in his stead.
Miller told the committee formally
that the company would not consider
any complaint from its employees The
committee then Withdrew and notified
President Small that the company
would not treat with the union. The
walkout OF the men was then arran ged
for.
The ev+ansson Of .9a time Of tba
walkout TO $50 p. m. was a conven-
ience TO the San Francisco stock and
exchange board. A large share of the
orders to buy and sell comes from east
ern points. The difference in time be-
tween eastern cities and San Francisco
enabled the brokers to get in all east
ern orders and probably all that were
due from Tonopah and Goldfeld be-
fore the telegraphers left their switch
boards.
The brokers said that the effect OF
the strike on the mining stock business
would probably be the same as when
the wires failed last winter While the
wires remain imperative trading will
be purely local. This is, Of course. only
very small part Of the daily total
The strike promises to be further
compleNed by the messenger boys en-
pioyed by both the Western Union and
Postal companies. who declared last
night that they intended to walk ont
as soon as nonunion operators appeared
at the keys. Beds taken into the
ferry building last night were said TO
be intended for the fret batch of strike
breaking operators. expected within the
next few days.