The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-12
National President of Teleg-
raphers' Union Submits Terms
To the United States Commits
siOner of Labor.
RETURNTOWORK
Ii Government Will Secure Ar
bitratiOn of Dispute.
Civic Federation Has Taken Up
the Matter.

San Francisco, Aug. LIT was an
nounced today by s. J. Small. national
president of the Commercial Telegraph
ers' Union of America that if by Tues
day no way is found to bring about a
conciliation in the telegraphers' contro-
versy a genral strike will be called
by him. Mr.. Small further said that he
had advised Charles P. NeilI, U. s. com
missioner of labor, that he would agree
to an immediate resumption of work IL
the government would insist upon an in
vesugation of the telegraphers' griev-
ances.
President Small today gave out the
following correspondence between him
self and United States Commissioner OF
Labor Neill.
I'm reply to telegram from President
Small of the Commercial Telgraphers'
Union of America, sent last Friday, in
forming the commissioner of labor that
the telegraphers' strike had become a
serious matter the following was re-
ceiVed
Washington, Aug 10, 1907
S. J. Small, Oakland, Cal.
Telegram received, also telegram
from Stewart. 1t is useless for me to
attempt to do anything at this time as
do not understand precisely the issues
or the exact cause of the strike. I as
sumo the various strikes have been with
out your authority and therefore are
illegal. If locals have no respect for tho
constitution of the organization and the
national officers cannot control them.
what guaranty can you give me that
any judgment satisfactory to you will
be accepted by men on strike. / am
entirely at your service and willing to
do all in my power to assist you in
bringing about a fair settlement of this
controversy. Will you advise me def
nitely and precisely what is the demand
for which the strike has occurred and
upon what terms you would take the re-
sponsibility of ordering locals back.
.Signed), CHARLES P. NELL.
SmaIl's Reply.
"Charles p. Neill. Commissioners OF
Labor, Washington. d. c.
1.-The cause of the present trouble is
Reputation of San Francisco agree
|TFegsf which settled, strike. Local Man
ager O'Brien. Chief Operator Jeffs,
Superintendent May. have repeats tedly
Disseminated against strikers. Women
telegraphers after returning to work
humiliated to such extent resigned.
Western Union reinstated less than
cne hundred strikers, many still out of
employment, including married men.
Notwithstanding agreement provides
reinstatement strikers without preJu-
dice, outsiders given preference and
employed. Present strike illegal but
provocation great and resentment
against Western Union because of bad
faith so universal that general strike
be authorized Tuesday unless we can
find way to bring about conciliation.
Answering your last question, can
guarantee immediate resumption of
work if government will insist upon
investigation or arbitration of propo-
sitions embodied in memorial address,
ed to board of directors of Western
Union last June. Local management's
petty discrimination and favoritism
toward woman, Nicholson, Los An
geles circuit caused transfers and dis
missals of men long in company's
service and finally strike.
(Signed) IS. j. SMALL.
President Small also announced that
he had wired as follows to Wesley
Russell, his deputy, at Chicago:
Answering message from Neill,
wired him could guarantee Immediate
resumption of work if government will
insist upon investigation or arbitration
CT proposition embodied in memorial
addressed board of directors Western
Union last June. Get Gompers long
distance, urge him see Roosevelt in
form him Clowry and San Francisco
agreement not lived up to by Western
Union. Will be with you in few days"