The Washington herald., 1907-08-20

Resolutions were adopted at last nights
meeting of the Central Labor Union, re-
questing President Roosevelt and the
Congress TO declare for government
ownership Of the telegraph.
W w Beattie. international first vice
president of the Commercial Telegra-
piers Union. made a forceful report of
the local strike situation. and arraigned
the companies. declaring that with the
full support Of organized labor they
would squeeze the water from the stock
OF the two companies, and reduce the
price Of messages, and at the same time
Increase the wages paid to operators.
Both the resolution and the speech We're
applGuied 10 the echo
The resolution asking for government
ownership was introduced by Delegate p.
J. Ryan, of the Plate Printers Union.
and until recently editor Of the Plate
Printer, q weekly paper of the trade It
is identical with that already adopted by
the American Federation OF Labor and
the International Typographical Union.
Delegate Beattie reported that the teleg-
raphers were maintaining their own in
the strike, Notwithstanding the reports to
the contrary disseminated by the COM
panies. and that both local Offices were
completely tied up
The telegraphers know that the tie-up
Is complete, even if the outside world
does not, said Beattie. "and from pres
ent indications there is not the least doubt
that the union, with the assistance Of
organized labor generally. will force upon
the companies the closed shop. The Amer
lean public is realizing how dangerous It
IS TO leave the telegraph in the hands OF
stock manipulatOrs. II organized labor
will only cooperate with the telegraphers
the water viii be squeezed from the stock
OF the companies. and tolls viii be de
creased and the wages Of operators in
creased.
Fighting Fair Battle.
So far, the striking operators have
fought fair fight, and the companies have
not had the opportunity Of pointing the
finger Of criticism at their method OF
conducting the strike This is more than
can be said Of the companies. The com
panies say that they can handle all the
business that is brought in 10 them. The
American public should file all the mes
sages that it is necessary for them to
send during the day with the two com
panies, and 1t viii then be seen that their
representations are false and misleading. q"
Despite the announcement by President
GompeFs yesterday afternoon that he and
two other members Of the executive coun-
oil nj rho American T7ala-stg1-, - Z ~
had been selected as an arbitration com
mittee 10 secure a settlement Of the strike
by arbitration, should an opportunity pre-
sent itself from present indications there
IS but little hope Of a settlement by ar
bitration. International Vice President
Beattie and President Groves. Of the local
union. while refusing 10 make any direct
statement whatsoever, gave this as their
belief
Not All Harmony.
It was said last night that in view of
the fact that practically all the present
strikes in various cities were called over
the head Of President Small. he had
sought this means OF striking back. This
was denied by the two officers mentioned.
however, both saying that they did not
believe it. but reafirming that they did
not tnlnA shere would be any arbitration
1t is freely admitted that President Small
and various OF his subordinates have MT
been on the most cordial terms. and it
was insisted by many that the arbitration
scheme, which they say was hatched by
President Small, would not be tolerated
President Small has been severely criti-
cised in many quarters. but it is main
tatned by 4 number OF the local men that
he would not dare take such a step In bad
faith If he 50 desired, and that President
Gompers and the other men at the helm
Of the American Federation of Labor
most certainly would not be parties tC
anything that was not absolutely straight
forvr-o