The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-03
HERVEY'S ABSENCE
CREATES SURPRISE
Coming Back Friday, However,
With Some Important
Strike News.
SILENT AS TO HIS MISSION
Strike Ended So Far as Local
Telegraph Offices Are
Concerned.
SILENT AS TO HIS MISSION

c. S. Hervey, president of the Local
Photographers Union, and for the past
two weeks manager of the strike, left
Richmond yesterday for New York on
a mission which is not explained. but
which. it is claimed. will have some
bearing on the situation here.
AT Mr.. Hervey's clearinghouse it
was said last night that he would re-
turn on Friday. one of the former
operators, now on a strike, said that
Mr.. Hervey had been called to New
York.
II am not at liberty to speak of the
matter" he said. "Mr. Hervey, as
understand 1T, viii return here Thurs
day There may he some information
which we can give out to-day"
Just why Mr.. Hervey should be sum
moned" to New York is not altogether
clear. SO far as the local telegraph
offices arc concerned, the strike is
ended, and all the business filed is
being handled promptly. The volume,
moreover. according TO Western Union
and Postal officials, has about reach
ed normal proportions again In MANY
cities the strikers are returning to
work. one man who walked out here
said last night that he would go
back to his former job today. He
that he is obliged TO support his fam
fly. regardless of what the union might
think of It,
Barbecue Strike Fund.
The strikers on Saturday gave a
barbecue which was in the nature of
benent. Several men who helped to
make II success have declined to state
how much cash was realized or how
IL had been distributed.
From the manner IN which the de.
parture OF pfesident Hervey was dis
cussed i'm sohle quarters the impress
sion was left that he held the KEY to
the situation. and that one word from
him would force the telegraph com
panies to sign the scale, which they
have refused to do. and which they
say they will not do under any cir.
cumstances.
There have been conflicting state.
mentS about the reserve fund TO be
distributed among the strikers, and
though il has been said locally that
the men now idle are being cared for
number of operators have declarcc
that they have never seen the color OF
the money. The opinion was expressed
last night by an operator somewhat
familiar with the actual conditions thai
Mr.. HerVey had gone voluntarily t,
see President Small TO demand that tn,
former employees of the two companie!
here receive share of the fund. They
will insist upon it. he said, and If there
is nothing forthcoming they may seel
employment
What an Operator Says.
The local union, at its first publ
meeting, voted against strike unies
1t was ordered by the national asso
ciation," said the operator, and MI
IIervey was responsible for this action
He showed in unmistakahle words tina
the Richmond men had no local griev
ances. 1t was purely a sympatheti
strike. When they walked out, there
fore, they naturally expected protec
ton in a financial way, and they d
not seem to be getting IT, In view o
the stand taken by the union. Mr.. Her
vey Will put the matter right up I
Mr.. Small and mis- talkative associates
The telegraph companies are shown
no disposition to compromise or arbi
trate. and they are rapidly filling tn
places of the strikers. This is dis
couraging to the unions, and they ar
afraid that If they fail to get in o
the ground floor it will be all owe
with them"