The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-22
SMALL CALLS
 OUT KEY MEN FriscS Operators Leave ,'' the Wires. MKE IS NOT GENERAL Unien Leader Declares Trouble is
 Local. Commissioner NeiII Expresses Great Surprise as he Regarded Incident Closed and Mir. Konenkamp
 Not Advised.

San Francisco, June 21.--Strike- ridden San Francisco had another strike added to the list this afternoon when the telegraph operators employed by the Western Union and Postal Tele- graph Companies left their keys at 3:30 o'clock and walked out of the of- Aces. Three short blasts from a police whistle gave the signal and at the sound the operators arose from the tables, put on their coats and quit their jobs.
 Both the Postal and Western Union main San Francisco offices are located close together in the Ferry building. Since the fire the main relay office of the Western Union has been at West Oakland, where about 150 men and women are employed, and at outside branch offices about twenty more. @he Postal Company has sixty operators in its main San Francisco office. Elm ployes of both companies, with the ex- ception of one in each office. stopped work at the signal.
 The operators in San Francisco and Oakland were dissatisfied with the let ter from President Clowry of the Vest ern Union, published yesterday, and insisted that their demands for a 25 per cent increase in wages should be granted.
 Ordered by Small.
 President Small of the Commercial Telegraphers' Union arrived here yes terday, and after considering the situ- ation, ordered the strike unless the increase was granted Both the West ern Union and Postal officials declined to grant the increase or to consult with the union. They expressed their will ingness to consider and act on any advances presented by their employees as individuals but this has not satis- fled the men and the walk out resulted. The superfntendents of both companies have nothing to say about the strike. They state that the matter will have to be adjusted in New York and have simply issued notice to the public that messages will be accepted subject to indefinite delay. President Small of the nnion win remain here to advise the strikers. As long as an attempt is not made to bring in operators from outside points. the strike will be purely local from San Francisco and Oakland. If, however, the company attempts to bring in outside men, operators in other cities will be called out. In order that the strike may be confined to San Francisco and Oakland, 1t Is announced that operators in other cities will be allowed to work with so-called "un- fair" operators in San Francisco and Oakland who did not go out with the strikers.
 
 the strike depends on the treatment &C., corded to the union committee by the telegraph officials here. If tho coinpa- nies will give the men satisfactory statement or agree to arbitrator there will be no strike. If they decline to receive the committee the men will walk out. For the present only the San Fran cisco and Oakland offices of he Vest ern Union and Postal Telegraph com panies will be affected.
 Purely Local Trouble. President Small said the troubles here were purely local and would not affect Eastern offices at present. The settlement made in the East was un- satisfactory. but the situation in San Francisco would be dealt with. Twen- ty-five per cent. is demanded for San Francisco. It would have to be grant ed, as in his opinion. the cost of liv- ing is greater here than in other DOT tions of the United States.
 Letter to Superintendent.
 The following letter was sent to Su- perintendent Jaynes of the Western Union by a committee of telegraphers:
 Dear Sir-In the statement of Pres ident Clowry to MT. Neill, Commits sioner of Labor, defining the Western Union Company's position toward It's telegraphers, he stated that If any question arises that cannot be adJusted by the district superintendent, the com pany is willing to submit such ques- tions to arbitration. The embodied proposition in the schedule offered to but declined by Assistant Superintend- ent Miller. June 3. other than the 20 per cent increase in wages asked for your telegraphers employed In San Francisco and Oakland, having been adjusted in New York, we respectfully
 Arr1nV1 n aA n telegraphers employed in San Francisco and Oakland and hear their grievances in favor of the granting of 25 per cent increase in wages pending the resoration of normal conditions in this city.
 we are requested by those whom we represent to get your reply at once.
 Respectfully yours.
 David Allen,
 Arthur Wisher,