Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-09-05
ATTEMPT MADE TO
STAMPEDE STRIKERS
They We're Wise" However. and
Effort to End Struggle Failed
in Its InCipienCy--Rdilrodd
Operators Ready
With Aid.

Chicago. H.. Sept. 5.-George S.
BirdselL a member of the CONNER
cial Telegraphers' union, was arrest
ed today on a warrant charging him
with maliciously tampering with the
Western Union telegraph wires in the
suburb of Mayfair on August 22.
Birdsell admitted that he discon-
nected two Of the company's lines
but declared that he had instructions
10 do so from the wire chief of the
Western Union company.
Effort to Break Strike.
Efforts of the Western Union and
Postal Telegraph companies to break
the strike Of telegraDhers have been
discovered by leaders of the strikers.
Reports We're circulatd among the
strikers that there had been a stam-
pede back to work of every striker
in Louisville. Denver and Kansas
City. 1t was also said that forty men
had returned 10 work in Chicago and
that there was not citv in the coun-
try that had not been affected by the
stampede.
Operators are "Nise.'
When International Secretary Wes-
ley Russell learned of the rumors he
prepared a letter to be sent to all
strikers in the United States and Can
ada in which he denied that there
had been any stampede or that the
ranks of the strikers We're in any way
broken.
These tactics are the same that
were used to break the 1889 strike"
he said. There is no truth in the
reports and we have educated our
people to pay no attention to them.
But l will send out a circular and,
as far as possible, notify all unions
of telegraphers bY the underground
wires that the strikers are standing
firm"
Another sensational discovery of
the strikers was that the companies
were using every means to compel
railroad telegraphers 70 send com
mercial kilograms.
$4,000 Distributed.
The Chicago strikers were given
strike benefits yesterday. 1t was said
that $4,000 was distributed among
the married men and such of the un-
married strikers as asked for relief
The payment was made at Brands
hall
officials of the union have received
a copy of a telegram sent out to all
managers of telegraph on the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & st. Paul road by
Superintendent of Telegraph u. J.
Fry. 1t is as follows:
ITO All Managers-Send all gov
ernment telegrams by wire. In cases
where this cannot be done, notify
sender. Do not mail them"
Call for Aid
New York. Sept 5.-Carrying out
its plan to obtain temporary employ
ment for its members during the
strike, the local telegraphers' union
today enlisted the aid of the Order
of Railway Telegraphers to make the
employment bureau a success. The
leaders of the commercial operators
We're assured by officials Of the O.
r. T. that positions for 500 opera
tors were open with the railroads, |
and that the Q. r.. T. would do its
utmost to get work for the CONNER
cial men As soon as Thomas NJ. |
PiersOn. eastern vice president of the |
o. r. T., learned of the plan for an
bureau he called on |
Daniel Russell Of the local CONNER
cial telegraphers' union and promised |
his support. 1t was agreed that Pier |
son would act as an agent to bring |
the commercial men and the rail- !
roads needing operators together. |
Many strikers obtained railroad posi-
tiOnS at once.