Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-08-16
DIRECT WIRES
ARE OPENING
Companies Claim Distinct
Gains In TelegrapherS
Strike

SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 1s.-Be-
oause, of the conference to be held al
chicago by Labor Commissioner Neiil,
samuel Gompers Of the American Fed
sratiou of Labor and Samuel ]. Small,
sbe enational president Of the Teleg-
raphers' union, no action was taken By
peputy President A. w. Copps, OF the
western division today.
This morning the striking operators
held a.meeting at Sunset han in Oak
land. REPORTS Of committees were read
and resolution requesting the aid OF
theAaboF unions in the Western states
wss~adopted and a committee appoint
ed to carry out the provisions Of the
resolution.
Acting Superintendent Miller of the
western Union company states that
there are more operators at the keys
than necessary to handle the work. All
business is being taken subject to de-
lay and the wires are but little used.
There are now 115 nom union opera
tors employed by the Western Union
company at West Oakland according to
Miller.
Miller said that between Los Angeles
and Chicago there were three direct
wires open. From the Fillmore street
Office there are two wires to Chicago
being operated and one wire from West
Oakland to Chicago. From this city
to Los Angeles there Is one wire open
and one to Seattle. From Oakland
to Los Angeles two wires are being
operated, and one to New York, one to
Portland and one to Denver.
Before the strike seven wires to Los
Angeles from San Francisco and Oak
land were in operation and six to Chi
ago.
Eleven operators were at work at
the Fillmore street office today and
most Of the San Francisco business is
being handled from that ONCE direct
to all points to which there are direct
"res' 80 lS ~
The system in this state is paralyzed
and but little business is being done
with Offices outside Of the state
1T Is not q auuestion OF handling the
business, but It Is, a question of keep
: Ing the wires. clear, Our trouble now
is with the, railroad operators who are
failing to heed the order Of Secretary
Quick and men interfering with the
wires will be hailed into court and then
such business will STOP" said Miller.
In discussing the telegraphers' walk
out, Deputy National President Cops,
OF the union, said tonight:
We are getting down to business,
committees of all natures, being ap-
pointed to perform their certain duties
IN connection with the fight which is
new on. Our work will be business
IKE and peaceable and our side of the
'Oattie conducted in an orderly manner.
Our men and women ARE, rapidly Sc
curing positions in other lines, and the
raiiroads are already giving employ
ment to those who have left the West
sm Union and Postal eOmpanies."
several firms who employ teleg-
1aphsrs privately have communicated
with US, stating they desire their oper-
A'ors TO be union men, and also signify
Mer perfect Willingness to agree to
~e 9sppossa Rllle of wages and
.. We tr kg assurances from
ooi otsaniz1rUns of their full ,finan-
''al ana moral support, and are simply
seung down to routine work. Both
V'esraph companies are in a far worse
sO"ui''on taan they were during the
osn' uou3le and The mali - suit
ing.
a. ~ Storror, general superinten-
so,1 " uhe Postal telegraph company, !
,h,.' are working with about one ,
tn 'he force necessary, bur are do
hsns'- aoiness as best we can and are
paton messages with all the dis
MI possible. We are not filling the
tha u the strikers because we think
nlao1- 'n VIII be back looking for their
strike on as they were after the last
sub,aa. All business is being accepted
'eet to delay"
We.ta- may city superintendent of the
sos .efn Union, said:
hannss the strike has seriously
t'eu ton :, The company in the transac-
ing :. BUSINESS but we are not worry
file msssu ne public is quite satisfied to
av.. Sdses subject IN daIa,, r..
died nao,' eOast business is being ham
force ~ as well as when the fuil
euartsr - working. There are about q |
thslr ~. 0 number of men needed at
about ss. ~ and we are not wOrryinr
enough !. outcome. The men were eiad