The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1907-08-16
SPREAD OF STRIKE
ORDER FOR GENERAL wALk-ouT
PROMULGATED.
Cain 20 ssauit" Incandes All cemmer-
ciaf TelegrapAer. In United states
and Canada Order, However,
Adds Few Heeruits to strikers.

and Canada order, However
Adds Few Heeruits 70 strikers.
The general strike order to all COM
mercial telegraphers not working under
union agreements, which was issued BY
President Sylvester ]. Small of the
Commercial Teiegraphers' Union of
America at l 80 o'clock Friday morn
ing, had produced almost no change In
the situation Saturday afternoon, twen-
ty-four hours after 1t had been promui-
gated.
In fact the general order. heralded
in advance as the browning feature OF
the strike. hardly created ripple in
Chicago, according to correspondent.
The force Of the Chicago and Milwau-
kee Telegraph Company. which oper-
'ates for public business between the
Chicago Board IF Trade and the Mil
waukee grain exchange, six men all
told. went out and FIVE men employed
on leased wires BY Hulburd Warren &
Chandler, a brokerage house, also left
their keys. The situation In the stock
yards and along tne LaSalle street dis
trict otherwise was undisturbed. and
there were no new developments In the
strife between the union and the two
big companies, the Western Union and
the Postal
All the reports which came in to
Chicago over the wires of the Associat-
ed Press and through other sources out
side of the union we're TO the effect that
there had been no change in the sltua-
ton. Nevertheless union members were
unanimous in declaring that the eoun-
try would feel the effect of Small's or
der
Advices from New York and Boston
said the order for general strike had
met with no response from the men ut
work In either the Western Union or
the Postal offices or those In the Associ-
ated Press. The officials of the two
big companies said they had failed to
discover that the strike order had had
any effect on the situation. The extern
sion of communication 10 the more re-
mote and smaller towns was proceed
ing rapidly and business was being
moved expeditiousiy.
1t is estimated that nearly 1900
men are on strike. The strike, 1t Ii
said, will be confined strictly to the
commercial telegraphers. The railroad
operators viii lend their moral and
financial support. There will be no
sympathetic strike Of railroad teleg-
raphers, who are working under con-
tract and will live up to their agree
ments.
Cause of the Mig strike.
Higher wages. an eight-hour day, more
comfortable working conditions and the
free use of typewriters these are the
essential demands of the striking teleg-
rapaers. Ever since the union was form
ed March Is. 1908, these have been Its
principal aims, and in both the matter Of
wages and working conditions substantial
progress has been made. Much remains
70 be accomplished, however, in the way
Of securing further concessions from both
the Western Union and Postal companies,
the strikers declare, before they win be
satisfied.
In n letter addressed to President
Clowry Of the Western Union company
last May, President S. j. Small Of The
union demanded for the operators:
That the standard OF wages be fixed and
that the increase OF 10 per cent granted
TO some OF the operators last March be
given TO all.
That clerks ard other employees be re
munerated more literally.
That eight hours constitute q daytime
trick"
That seven hours constitute split day
That seven hours constitute day for en-
ira work.
That no trick shall be divided into
| more than two parts.
That no telegrapher be compelled TO worn
| more than four and one-haif hours with
| out being allowed thirty minutes for lunch
That . reasonable time for extra reifefs
/ be allowed.
Thaf the companies furnish typewriting
machines to teiegraphers In the operating
THAT all sliding scales. so-called, be aeol.
| ished.
/ While the strike in Chicago was d.
| rectIy due to the refusal of the union
operators there TO work wires with nom
I union teiegraphers employed by the West
ern Union company in Los Angeles, the
basic and chief contributing element was
| the unrest caused by the above grieS-
ances. With the strike in full force the
tsiegraphers are now clamoring for an
additional increase Of Is per cent Ia pay.
Data furnished by international Secrc-
tary Wesley Russell OF the union shows
the following conditions among CONNER
cial telegraphers throughout the country !:
Number OF operators. ..........s. "a GOO
Number OF local unions .......... lSS
Numerical strength ........ % 600
Average pay ..............S 5o month
Maximum par ............. 4as month
Minimum pay .S2e month
Day trick In main oshees. Nine heurn
Workday In 6ranch ofhees. Mine 20 ~ hours
| Hplit sfricksss. Seven and one-han hourn
Nisht atriekss. Seven and enerhsif hours