The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-29


Raid the Onice.
Yesterday more than hundred of
the strikers went TO the office and
after Laux's statement that he would
send messages for them If possible.
general rush was made into the room
Shouts OF "Scabi Seab!" were inter
spersed with stronger language, and
some Of the intruders began TO knock
pencils, paper, and other writing ma
terials from the tables, while others
kicked over chairs.
The boy operator had backed into q
corner at the first sign Of violence,
and as the mems anger rose he made
dash for the back door. After making
his escape he hid IN a harm until the
Pere Marquette had left the docks. He
returned TO his office to find that no
serious damage had been done, but
did not work during the evening, as
has been his custom.
Walking down the street the crowd
! of strikers passed the Western Union
door and, seeing a man in the room,
entered and prepared for a demonstra-
ton similar to that they had just COM
pleted. With some difficulty the op-
orator, Joseph Kasperi. convinced them
that he was one OF their number, and,
in fact, had been one Of the excursion
lists. He stated that he was relieving
the regular local operator when the
walkout order came and had not en-
tered the office again until yesterday,
when he wished to see that its con-
tents were safe.
Peace Mission Supposed Failure.
The peace mission of President 5. ].
Small who went to New York on Sat
urday with the purpose of securing
conference with the telegraph COM
pany heads. is now believed to have
been a failure Small sent word TO
the Chicago leaders yesterday that
he probably would return home in a
few days. His early departure from
New York is taken to mean that the
strike chief has failed to move the
Western Union and Postal officials,
and that the struggle must be con-
tinued.
Secretary Wesley Russell admitted
that he had received a long letter from
Small regarding his efforts The local
leaders believe that If the president
has been unsuccessful it viii mean re-
newed aggressiveness in the wire
strike The operators all over the
country are going ahead with their
selection of representatives for the
peace" committee of fifteen, but the
union officials say the chances are
the committee will have to be held in
reserve for while longer. They de-
clare that the strike board now will
devote it's entire attention to prose-
cutting the fight against the telegraph
companies
Chairman Frank Likes of the local
strike committee predicted six weeks
more of the trouble. He said the
union will be able to support the strik-
ers for that length of time, and longer,
if necessary.
Make Threats of Legal Action.
1t is possible that the next aggres-
sive move may emanate from the tele-
graph officials Yelled threats were
made by Supt. IT, p. Cook of the West
1 ern Union and Supt w. I. Capen Of
the Postal that the courts may be re-
sorted to in order to prevent interior
ence with the telegraph wires.
! These officials admitted that they
had detected one or two cases of wire
grounding" 1t was charged that the
railroad operators were responsible for
these acts.
Mr.. Cook said that nearly every
state has a statute making interfer
!
ioffense. In Illinois the law is strong
er than in other states. It provides
/ for a fine ranging from 500 to $500
or Imprisonment in the county jail
for a term not exceeding one year, or
both punishments. No federal law was
found to cover the cases.
! at am positive that our members are
not tampering with the wires" declar
ed Mr.. Russell. Our officials win not
stand for that kind of work in the
strike"
Key Men Seek Presidents Aid.
New York, Aug. 28.-An appeal is to
be made to President Roosevelt by the
leaders of the telegraphers union to
take some action looking to a termina
ton of the present telegraph strike.
It is the plan, according to an an
Inouncement made today, to first have
the appeal signed by representative
business men, and then forward it with
the signatures to the president.
There was a little change in the
general situation today. At the offices
Of the western Union and Postal it
was said that everything is gDing
along in a satisfactory manner
General superintendent McCrea of
the Long Island railroad received a
committee of telegraph operators today
to discuss the request of the men for
an increase of pay. The men, who
now receive from $50 to $50 per month,
ask for an advance ranging from 10 to
lis per cent, according to the services
performed.
Fire Destroys Telegraph Building.
| Arkansas City, Kas., Aug. 28.-The
,IlocaI office of the Western Union Tele-
graph company, together with all in
struments, office records, and furni-
ture, was destroyed by fire early today.
The fire is believed to have been Of in
cendiary origin.