The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-13
QUICK STRIKE OF OPERATORS
Continued from First Page.)

at the rate of seventy cents per hour. The vacations to remain as at pres ent.
 A proposition to increase for chiefs and sub-chief operators.
 The telegraphers requested a reply by 7:3O o'clock this (Monday) evening. .Ir. Stones reply follows:
 | New York, Aug. 12.-To Operators: l received this morning a communication from large number of the operators in the service of the Associated Press asking for a changed scale of wages and hours, and requesting a reply by 7:3O o'clock this evening.
 The changes involved are so radical in their nature as to add over two hundred thousand dollars a year, and probably more to the expenses of this organization. The Associated Press is mutual in its character, makes no profits and has no surplus fund out of which such sum could. be paid Any such increase must of necessity be levied back upon the newspapers as a part of their weekly assessments. As general manager I have no power to make such an increase either in sal | aries or assessments without authority from the board of directors, and 1t is | obviously impossible to call this board together within the time named. The board consists of fifteen members scattered throughout the entire coun- try.
 At the same time acting under au- thorlty heretofore granted me by the board of directors 1 shall be very glad at any time to meet a committee of them respecting hours of service and compensation with view to making some recommendation to the next meeting of the board of directors which shall meet aut fair or just ex- pectations of those In our operating service.
 Even were I free to act, think you must agree with me that question of this magnitude should not be pressed to a conclusion within the limits of few hours and without any opportun- ity for consultation between myself and representatives of our operating force, (Signed)
 Melville F, Stone.
 General Manager.
 The cities where the operators last evening followed the example of the New York operators and left the key- boards are Philadelphia, Baltimore, Buffalo Washington, Pittsburg, Min neapolis Charleston, N. C.; Jackson vile, Albany, Schenectady and Troy.
 Thus the situation stood at 6 o'clock tonight when the day force went off duty, and the night force came on in all the great news centers of the coun try. Operators were in an evident state of unrest, and the transmission of news was frequently interrupted with messages from point to point canvassing the attitude of the men. Secretary Russell of the Commercial Photographers union, advised the oper- ators to secure definite date for the consideration of their demands In some localities disposition was shown to remain at work until 7:30 Tuesday night, in order that Mir. Stone might have reasonable opportunity to communicate with the directors of the Associated Press. On the other hand the operators at several southern points indicated an intention not to wait beyond 7:3O o'clock tonight, This sentiment found general accept ance and at 7:30 Chicago time) or S;30 (New York time) there was general suspension of the service throughout the country
 No Demonstration.
 IT,. V 4I, l sion was not attended with any dem onstration. The men at the keys left their work and quietly withdrew. The suspension was not complete, as suffl- cient force remained loyal to send a partial news service in all directions. The same conditions prevail at all the 9 large offices except those in New Eng land, which were not affected, In Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington @ and Pittsburg and intermediate points n sufficient force remained loyal to permit the main body of news to l move. In the smaller cities where the r Associated Press operators are the medium by which the news Is trans e mitted to the newspapers, there was a . similar cessation of work Many of - these points received their news ser by telephone and other emergen- 6 cy methods, but in some instances, the A operator remained loyal and contin- ued to serve the local papers.
 Stone on Deck All Night. MT. Stone remained at the general of
 fees of The Associated Press through
 out the night, receiving reports from
 various sections, and arranging for the . uninterrupted continuance of the news l service to the newspapers of the coun- 7 try. One of his first messages was one - of recognition for the devotion of those n who had remained loyal to the service r and were carrying forward the work e Another message directed that all men l who had struck be paid off and their e services terminated as soon as possible l The reports toward midnight showed a q fair volume of service to most of the l great centers. Chicago reported that al 0 8:30 service had been resumed south of e Louisville to Nashville, Chattanooga. : Montgomery, Memphis and Macon a Washington, which is the great news q center for rhe south, reported that reg I ular routes had been opened to Rich = mond, Petersburg, Wilmington, New
 port News, Raleigh, Columbia, Roan. oke, Charlotte Bristol Danvllle and - Asheville. Condensed reports were also > moving to Knoxville. Norfolk, Augusta . Charleston, Greensboro, Atlanta, Sa. . vannah, Macon and Jacksonville.
 | New Eneland onera tors of The ASsO.