New-York tribune., 1907-06-20
TELEGRAPH STRIKE DUE
WILL BE CALLED SOON.
Western Union Preparing for 1T,
Union Leaders SAY.

Strong action taken yesterday by the eNeCu-
tive committee of the Commercial Telegraphers
Union of America a result Of the persistent re-
fusal of the Western Union and Postal companies
TO reply to any communications The calling or
the strike which will be declared in week or ten
days has been left absolutely In the hands or D. j.
Small, president of the union. who was still out OF
yesterday. but keeping in touch with the
executive committee.
II was supposed that President Small at the
city where the strike Will first take place The
strike will be ordered I'm place at 4 time. so
that the men work can keep up the strike as
sessments In the strike does not bring the
company companies to terms il will be followed
by strikes in other centres. The executive commit
tee now believes that It Is waste OF ume 10 %alt @
longer for the companies. their manifest policy
appeared to be to ignore all communications OF
any kind made or sent on behalf or the operators
The following announcement was made by the
executive committee:
The general executive board Of the Commercial
Teegraphers' Union has approved strike against
either, both. the Postal and Western Union
Telegraph companies. and the matter Is in
the hands of President Small. When or where the
first strike is TO be declared will not be given out
this time. but 1t will take place In the next
week or days. The plans for the campaign
have been laid and the men are ready Tor the
struggle"
Deputy President Konenkamp said: We regret
that this step was made necessary by the attitude
of both companies in not only ignoring the me
MORALS presented by President Small. but by their
refusing deal with 4 committee OF their own
employees. That such large corporations these
two companies should maintain their present atti-
tude shows the lack of cooperation between en-
pIover and empoye that good business methods de-
mand The excuse given by the Western Union
company for not being willing to treat with the
executive committee of the union that no
member OF the committee is emplOye OF the
company. That is true. because II an employe of
the Western Union had been placed on that COM
Inittee he would have been promptly dismissed by
the company This is In no sense fight for recog-
milton OF the union. We want the demands which
the union Is making recognized ana the SHdIns
scale which has been used means Of getting
around the fulhment of the pledge of the COM
pany TO advance wages 10 per cent 10 be done
away with
Charles p NELL. United States Labor Commits
sioner. went 90 the Western Union Building yes
terday forenoon and had another conference with
President CIowry. Up 10 last evening Mr. Neill
had not conferred with any Of the representatives,
OF the telegraphers.
The officers ami their representatives who were
left In charge when President Small away
made Independent statements outside OF the official
statement OF Konenkamp. one was that though
"a strike might be ordered In one city at time il
would be extended To all ;he offices OF
both companies to the Offices Of the newspapers
and brokers and to every city. The author OF this
statement refused 10 be quoted and none OF the
committee would either confirm or deny anything
except tho official statement of konenkamp. The
officers Of the union say that about 10 per cent OF
tho Western Union and ~ per cent OF the Postal
operators organized The best organized place
is Chicago. where it is said practically every
operator is In the union. About twenty-three
thousand would be affected
Edward I.-Nally7- vice president of-the- Postal
Telegraph Company, said yesterday that the Postal
did not expect a strike.
We are confident" he said that our employees
this In fact that we have made preparation for
meeting strike. We have not vet been officially
notified that the Postal is included In the mani
festo that has been issued by the executive COM
mittee of the Teegraphers' Union. We anticipate
q trouble"
Colonel Michael J. Reagan. Industrial arbitrator
of the State Labor Department called at the head
quarters OF the telegraphers in the Astor House
yesterday afternoon TO offer his services an
termediary. The officers of the union were willing
for him to try his hand hut in the absence of
President Small he could not get all the informa-
ar pfFi.a of
President Clowry, and was told that Colonel CIowry
was out He saw Chairman Eckert of the
board of directors. who told him that the whole
matter in the hands of President Clowry.
1t reported last evening 10 the executive
board of the telegraphers by committee repre-
senting the operators at the main office the
pany, No. 1876 broadway, that each of the telegra-
piers employed there had to sign a statement that
he had received the 10 per cent in wages promised
March |. The committee also said that those
who had not received the advance got vouchers
emitting them to the advance when presented dat
ing from March l.
This report indicated. according the commit
tee. that the company getting ready for the
strike