Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-08-22
BOTH REFUSE TO ARBITRATf
COMPANIES AND STRIKERS SAY
THEY HAVE NOTHING TO AR.
BlTRATE.

eiTRATE.
Chicago. Aug. 1.-THE operators in
the Office in this city and OH the South
and Western circuits of the Associ.
ated Press leased wires stopped work
last night at 1880 o'clock. The strike
was made against the wishes and adj.
vice OF Grand Secretary Russell Of the
| telegraphers' union. who tried to keep
them at work for another twenty-four
hours, or until satisfactory arrange
ments could be made for conference
between NJ. f. Stone, the general
manager of the Associated Press, and
committee of the operators.
Asked for Conference.
Following the delivery of Mr..
Stones reply TO the operators, in
| which he said he had no authority to
grant the demands and that the mat
ter would have to he decided by the
board OF directors, Secretary Russell
| sent message to the operators Of the
Associated Press, suggesting that Mr.
| Stone be asked to set a definite date
| on which lie could meet the operators,
the date to he announced by $50
Tuesday night. To a message asking
him to name a date of a meeting of
the directors. Mr.. Stone replied that
a meeting OF the directors would be
held on Sept IS. and he would he glad
| to lay the matter before them at that
| time.
Operators Walk Out.
This arrangement, was unsatisfac.
tory to many of the operators, partic-
ularly those ON the Southern circuit,
! and they sent message to Chicag go
announcing that they had quit. This
was quickly followed by a walkout of
the men in Chicago and New York.
One Associated Press wire was kept
going in st. Paul part of the night, re.
ceiving dispatches by way of Denver.
Strike Spreads Rapidly.
Chicago, Aug. la.-The strike of the
telegraphers spread rapidly yester-
day, the men walking out in many
cities in the East and West. The chief
strike of the day was in New York.
where the operators of both the West.
ern Union and Postal companies left
their keys. Other strikes during the
day were as follows:
Western l'nion-Montgomery. Ala:
Savannah, Ga; Augusta. Ga; Des
Moines, Iowa; Chattanooga, Tenn;
Cleveland, Buffalo. Baltimore. Toledo.
Columbia. S. c.; Pittsburg, Washing.
ton, ID. c.
Postal-Columbus. O.. Des Moines,
Iowa; Denver. Los Angeles, Salt Lake
City, Cleveland. Philadelphia, Buffalo,
Baltimore, Columbia, S. c.; Washing.
ton, d. c.; Minneapolis.
Some Brokers Sign Scale.
During the day two Of the largest
commission houses in this city signed
the scale presented by the operators
al also issued call for meeting of
representatives Of other commission
houses to discuss means of Wardine
off the strike.
Small Show for Peace.
Arbitration advocates, in the shape
of Secretary Easley of the National
Civic Federation and Labor Commits
sioner Neill, arrived in this city, but
their mission was made difficult be.
fore they arrived by the statements of
Superintendent Cook of the Western
Union and Capen of the Postal COM
pany, to the effect that they would
arbitrate nothing.
Operators Say Fight Is Won.
Secretary Russell said the operators
would not agree to arbitrate for the
reason that the fight was already won
and 1t would be foolish for the men
to throw away the advantage they
have gained. Mr.. Russell issued
bulletin to the operators yesterday, in
which he declared that the fight was
won and urged all members of the
union to stand firmly for a few days
longer He reported the strike in all
sections of the country as progressing
favorably for the men.
Vote on Genera! Strike.
The local unions Of the operators
throughout the United States and Can
ada were voting on the question of or
dering general strike If their de-.
mands We're not granted by the com.
panies within the next twelve hours,
but Secretary Russell said late yester-
day that the vote was practically
unanimous for strike If the demands
OF the operators were not granted.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor, ar.
rived in the city yesterday to take an
active part in the conduct of the
strike. He was in several conferences
during the day with the leaders of the
union but declared at night that the
situation had not materially changed
since his arrival.
Operators Pull "PIuas."
Both companies were troubled dur.
Ing the day by the pulling of plugs"
by operators at various points along
the line. Officials of both companies
declared that arrests would be made
for this offense whenever possible.
Prisoners Escape.