New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-26
CHEERS GREET SMALL.
COMPLIMENTS STRIKERS.
Tells Photographers He Is Ready Tor
"Right Kind of Arbltr0taOR.

National President sylvester ]. Small of the
+oIaoranbers when he appeared before mass
meeting Of the strikers in Everett Hall yester-
dav received an enthusiastic greeting Men
Jumped up on chairs and threw their mats IN
the air and the women waved their handker-
chiefs the demonstration lasting about fifteen
minutes.
When he arrived at the Grand Central station
from Chicago at 10 O'Clock special committee
Of five men and six women telegraphers were
on the platform and escorted him from the
building Outside a committee of about 100,
one-third of whom were women. was waiting
and received him with cheers He was at once
escorted to Everett Hall.
meeting of telegraph check boys and mes
senger boys was going on to agitate for a union
and President Small addressed them briefly, en-
couragng the boys when they had their union
completed to stand by it. Then he went down
TO the Aston House. where he held a conference
with the local officers.
The meeting of the strikers in Everett tali
began late in the afternoon and was in progress
when he came in accompanied by Chester l..
Hall chairman of the Wall Street chapel of the
photographers. Joseph +. Ahearn. the chairman.
repeatedly called for order before Mr. Small
could be heard above the din.
ENTHUSIASM PLEAsEs SMALL.
II am glad TO find such spirit here" he said.
land that you are thoroughly in harmony with
my ideas. you have shown by your applause.
In coming through the country to New YORK
have sometimes found it hard to realize that
from 10000 to 10000 telegraphers are on strike
and that the Western Union and Postal Tele-
graph companies are deprived of % per cent of
their best operators. This is an uprising,
revolution The reason for this strike is THAI
the Western Union and Postal companies perse-
cuted the teIegra pliers for many years that
they could stand it no longer. After the agree
ment was made it was broken by the companies
within three hours by the discharge of four or
five operators belonging to the union on the
saw so of an unfair woman We had been
thirty DAYS working with non-union operators,
and the discharge of our men was too nuch- we
took the case in our own hands. and our people
walked out It was the elimination Of twenty
four years of Indignation.
Not . per cent Of the % per cent who went
on strike would return except on their own
terms Some of the newspapers say that my
coming TO New York means arbitration in few
days. There may be arbitration. but 1t would
need 10 be of the right kind.
II have received a telegram from San Fran
cisco since came here stating that the teleg-
raphers wanted eight hours and more pay and
no arbitration. From the present outlook the
strike may last two or three weeks l want the
telegraphers to get out and hustle for money
and to realize that the fight IS not only for tho
Commercial Photographers Union. but for all
working people
Arbitration may come or II may not. ! am
sorry I cannot make any definite statement
10 any negotiations. but In a few days I may
have some more information 10 give.
The chairman introduced Mrs Rose Pastor
Stokes who was received as enthusiastically
yI.n do au-43u
of the telegraphers in detail. beginning with the
demand for Is per cent increase in wages. which
she said was too little ask AS to the eight hour
work day. employer who wanted 10 be rea-
sonabIe could object to it. and as for requiring
the operators to furnish their own typewrters,
she considered il absurd. She believed that the
strikers were bound to win. Then she said <hat
the real strike should be at the ballot box. and
made strong argument in favor of socialism.
STRIKERS SIDE OF CONTROVERSY.
Percy Thomas. national vice president of the
telegraphers. referred TO the strike of 1859. He
said that although it not followed by an
agreement II brought about certain advances in
wages to the teIegraphers. He believed that no
strike lost. Speeches were also made by
Joseph r. Ahearn. Charles P. McInerney, secre-
tary-treasurer of Local No Is: Daniel l. Rus
SELL chairman of the board of strategy. and 9TH
employing three thousand telegraphers through
out the country. had signed agreements with the
union.
President Small had a meeting with the local
executive committee OF the union in the Aston
House last night, after which he issued a state
ment. in which he said. in part
It looks to me, after attending the meeting at
Everett Hall this afternoon. that it will be all
over but the shouting within week The tele-
graph companies cannot possibly hold out much
longer, unless the business men of the country
can dispense with the telegraph entirely.
We have started to raise a large fund-two OF
them. in fact-one for the benefit of the strk-
and the other TO be expended in propa ganda
work in favor OF government control of the
telegraph. Although the call for funds had
been out only few days, many remittances
were received before left Chicago and strange
TO say, as much was received in the campaign
fund as for the benefit of the strikers. Iudg!na.
from the sentiments expressed In letters accom-
panying these remittances. government con-
troll" and not revision of the tariff will be The
issue OF the next Presidential campaign