The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1907-08-15
News Service Crippled IN All
Parts of the Country
TELEGRAPH BUSINESS HARD HIT
Three Spontaneous Walk-onts Fol
low In Rapid Succession. Directed
Against Western Union. Postal and
Associated Press Situation Un-
paraIleled Presented. Telegraph Be
in Seriously Handicapped. Though
By No Means Tied Up.

Company, gradually spread eastward
and Monday reached New York City,
where three spontaneous Haik-on1s
followed IN rapid succession These
were directed against the Western
Union, the Postal Telegraph Com
pany and the Associated Press Ia
the latter instance the strike was tue
first against the news organization
and was fairly general throughout
the country, excepting New England.
With the stopping of work by ma
lority of union operators here, q sI:-
uation unparalleled followed, the tel
egraph, though by no mans being
tied up, was seriously handicapped.
Unexpectedly, and when it had
been generally supposed that no ae-
ton would be taken locally, pending
a conference OF labor commissioner
Neill with influential labor represent
atives in Chicago, the union operat-
ors declared a strike II the office ot
the Western Union. In explanation
| it was stated that secret under
standing was reached Sunday, through
which authority was given to the To-
cal employees of the two telegraph
companies TO go out any time that
| their interests seemed to demand inn
mediate action. Just how effective
| the strike was was q matter OF dis
pute.
The Western Union people claimed
to be doing business as usual In this
city and to have all the help needed.
In fact they said that they could not
use all the men seeking employment.
On the other hand, the union men
claim that very few competent men
were working and that the company
was being tied up.
| The Postal people claim to have 50
out Of force of about 300 working,
and that they were doing business
without much delay. The strikers
replied that the Postal had not more
than II operators at work.
The strike against the Associated
Press began at 8 30 O'Clock eastern
time), Monday night. It was dis
tinct from the other strikes, as the
Associated Press controls its own
leased wires and the operators are IL
the direct employ Of the news organl-
cation.
Though no demands had been
made recently by the men, the strike
had been foreshadowed
General Manager Stone received
the first intimation early Sunday
night that the telegraphic force Of the
| Association was likely to formulate
demands These took shape that night
and were put into the form of a pc
tition, which reached Mr.. Stone Mon
day morning The petition was
signed by many of the telegraph oper-
ators Of the Associated Press though
out the country, and in brief request
cd reduction in the hours of service
and an increase of wages.
During the afternoon Mr. Stone
formulated his reply to the operators
which was as follows:
Statement to Operators.
Melville E. Stone, general manager
of the Associated Press, replied to
the requests of the telegrpahsrs en-
ployed by the Associated Press. The
| lCHuCStS HCIc
Day work-Six days, eight hours
daily, $50 per week and overtime and
extra at the rate Of 60 cents per hour
Night work-Six nights, eight
hours $35 per week, and overtime an;
extra at the rate of 20 cents per hour
The vacations to remain as at pres
ent.
A proportionate increase for chief.
and sub-chief operators.
The telegraphers requested a reply
by 1880 O'Clock Monday evening Mr.
Stones reply follows:
New York, Aug. II, 1907.
To Operators:
| received this morning com
munication from a large number o
, the operators in the service Of tn
Associated Press asking for a chang
ed scale Of wages and hours and re
questing a reply by 1880 o'clock Mon
day evening.
The changes involved are so redi
cal in their nature as to add owe
100000 year and probably NOR
to the expense Of this organization
The Associated Press is mutual in it
character, makes no profits and ha
no surplus fund out of which sue
: sum could be paid. Any such in
crease must of necessity be levie
back upon tie newspapers as a par
: of their weekly assessments. A
general manager | have no power t
q make such an increase either in sal
I aries or assessments without author
: ty from the board of directors an
V it is obviously impossible to call thi
Y board together within the time nan
4 ed. The board consists of fiftee
: members scattered throughout the er
o tire country.
At the same time acting under a,
! thority heretofore granted me
y the board of directors I shall be yer
glad at any time to meet commi
j tee OF our own operators and confe
! with them respecting hours of Sc
! wee and compensation with a vie
:, to making some recommendation |
n the next meeting Of the board of d
rectors which shall meet all fair {
just expectation Of those in OF
= operating service
e Even were I free to act I thin
D. You must agree with me that a que
r ton of this magnitude should not |
e pressed to a conclusion within ii
e limits of few hours and without ar
>, | opportunity for conculto+;on bo4,ro<