Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-12

NEW YORK. August 12.-At O'Clock Inc
Western Union operators went out, and al
go O'Clock. while the wires were busy
CARRYING the story of their action over the
country. the Postal operators also struck
special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. August 12.-The telegra-
pliers strike ut this city at O'Clock this
afternoon At that hour two-thrds of the OPP
orators in the Western Tnon building at 191
broadway walked out at a pre-arranged
signal Word was sent out to the news
papers and other offices where telegraphers
were at their keys at 1856 o'clock to be
ready for the word -Four minutes later 1t
was impossible TO raise New York on the
call wires.
The signal agreed upon was given by
whistle. as was done the Western Union
banding at Chicago. The whistles were con-
cealed until the exact moment arrived.
Suddenly. while the big workrooms on
the seventh and eighth floors were fun of
men and women at work. and the click OF
the Instruments was deafenng, sharp
blasts from whistles were sounded at a
dozen different points. The clicking ceased
as if a cyclone had carried away the build
ing.
Operators who were receiving or sending
messages cut them of short in the middle
and rose to put on their coats. Before the
echoes of the whistles had died away
patches of men and women were trampins
down the stairways into Broadway and Dey
street Some who had entries to make In
their books fingered for a few moments
until they had completed this part of their
task and then followed their fellows.
General Superintendent Beividere Brooks.
In charge of the eastern division of the
Western Union Telegraph Company, was
sought for a statement. All he had to say
In the hurry was: We have 200 men at
work yet We will have a lot more be
fore long
President Clowry refused to make any
statement but a represen tative said that
there would be no official statement given
out In regard to the strike. He declared
that only the under class of men had left
their Instruments. When he was asked
what he meant by that he explained that he
meant the younger and indicated that the
with it,
The men in the newspa per Offices through
out the city received the order to strike
over the wire at l O'Clock, and waited just
long enough TO put on their street garments.
Cheers for the Strikers
Instantly confusion followed in the build
ing and turmoil in the streets. The men on
their way out We're received with enthusiasts
Of
corners discussing the situation, and these
We're soon surrounded by great crowds
Dey street was fun OF bowling strug-
Cling mob. The mounted police were called
upon to drive back Sympathi2ers With the
strikers and the curious who had gathered
TO await developments.
Secretary McInerney OF New York Local
No, IL. Commercial Photographers. said that
the men had not walked out the result
of the issuance Of ii strike order. but had
acted on thcir own initiative. At / o'clock
MIR. Acluerney and President Ahearn of
the union We're seen in the headquarters at
b6 Pine street. and the then declared that
nothing new had developed IN the strike sit
u1t4ou.
At ten minutes after l. when Mr. McIner-
hey called up on the telephone and in
formed that the Western Union men had
quit their jobs ne was dumfounded Some
OF the operators who were spoken TO out
side the Western Union building said that
Saturday three OF their number had re-
fused 10 take messages from unfair oper-
Rturs, or. In other words. non union oner-
Gturs They declare that CuleI Clerk Bren-
elected these men. aud actually used
force in the ease OF one Brennan is a man
against whom the operators have had u
Ions standing grUdge.
Cause of the Walkout.
The men went away Saturday without
raising any disturbance or objection. They
returned this morning and asked to be put
~ work. This was refused Then the walk
1ut occurred
The operators belonging To the union ar,
divided into numerous small groups know
chapters The heads of these chapter.
are called chapIaiHs. 1t was the chap
Iains who gave these signals by whist,
blasts.
The operators said that between goo an,
1909 men hS. gone out They asserte,
that between twenty five and forty wer,
all that remain behind.
The Western. Union men employed al
cable operators at 10 Broad street ais,
went out AS news OF the com
merciaI telegraphers' action was telephone,
10 them seventy-fve of them quit, leaving
three men on the job.
II was said at the union headquarters tina
The national organization had rcserv