The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-26
THE TELEGRAPH STRIKE.
Associated Press Has More Applicants
Than Needed.
New York Fourth Estate, August
"a 1901

New York Fourth Estate, August
"a. 1901
Apparently the striking Telegram ph
operators expect a long fight, for they
have arranged to publish a weekly or
gan named Fair Play.
There is little change in the situa-
ton as far as news service is concern
ed. The Associated Press reports that
1t is sending out the usual volume of
news and has no trouble in getting all
the operators it needs. The 9th
news gathering organizations say that
they are practically unaffected by the
strike.
Melville E. Stone, general manager
of the Associated Press. said to a rep
resentative of the Fourth Estate:
The telegraph conditions of the
doubt if there are four points in our
vast system that are experiencing any
difficulty, and they are troubled by
local conditions only.
'It is true that we were somewhat
badly handicapped the first day or so,
when the men walked out without any
previous warning, but we very quickly
go the situation in hand. Today 1
can say our service is as good, in fact
better. than it ever was. for the rea-
son that we have been enabled to Sc
cure the best of telegraphers to fill the
places of the men who struck.
1.-The applications we are receiving
are many more than we could ever
use, and though we are not going to
discriminate against the strikers we
are going to select from the applicants
only the very best men.
1.-The report that a directors meet
ing was to be held Wednesday was
absolutely without foundation. There
was never a time that it was even
thought nevessary to call one; and as
we were able to cope with the matter
right at the beginning, it can be seen
how unwise it would have been to call
the directors together from the four
points of the compass.
This is not said to discourage the
telegraphers. l believe the Associated
Press has ever been fair in its treat
ment of its employees. and if the men
have grievances we will be only too
pleased and ready to look into them,
before the next regular meeting of the
directors, which is to be held Septem-
ber IT."
Stories are told of operators who
went out against their will at the or
der OF the union and returned to their
keys in spite of pressure brought to
bear on them.
The transmission of special dis
patches over the Western Union and
Postal wires is still delayed. Repor-
ters use the long distance telephone
freely, but as the wires are busy with
commercial messages, it is hard to
transmit news reports promptly.
There are many rumors of attempts
them is denied almost as soon as it is
made. The telegraph companies say
that many of the men who went out
are returnin gto work. The strikers
emphatically contradict this state
ment.
Associated Press papers on the Kan
sas City-Denver circuit have suffered
severely from the strike of the tele-
graph operators of that company. A
number of the operators, who for
years had had no direct connection
with the telegraphers' union. did not
o11it their keys Others who were
closely in touch with the union did go
out and are still away. Their absence
has been a great hardship to the news
napers. Telegraph editors have been
at their wits ends more than ever be-
fore to get stuff. and especially to get
it for the early mail editions.
The Associated Press in the west is
inclined to deal justly with the strik-
ers Six old men who had been out at
Chicago were put to work again last
week. One or two at Salt Lake City
returned to their places.