The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-19
SmalI's Statement.

Chicago, August 1S.- Special )-Pes- ident s. J. Small of the Telegra pa ers' union, today discussed the strike situa- ticn as follows
 T do not believe in strikes any more than l do in murder but l do believe in Justice and in the first great law of nature. which is elf-preserVation. and when justice cannot be had nor self preservation maintained without sort to either or both of these meas ures. then harsh measures will be jus tifed l have the right to kill you when. and only when you are about to kill me- in order that l may preserve my own life. This is the law, the eternal law, the first principle of hu- man existence. So, too. in times of great commercial or industrial strife when you have combined your power and your wealth to enslaVe and to wholly destroy us, have the right to combine my power and my wealth. (which Is my labor) to destroy you.
 ''The question that, therefore, presents itself when we come to consider the rights of the two contending forces in great conflict like that now waged, principally the Commercial Photographers Union of America and the Western Union Tele- graph company, is whether the company has employed means against the mem bers of the union in their nature unfair and in their operation unjust and destrnc- tive of that peace happiness and progress which every man has the right to expect and the privilege to enjoy in the course of a life spent in the holy cause Of honest labor
 Unjust Methods
 Tn the present great conflict it is con tended on the one hand, by the telesrd- phers that the telegraph companies havs employed against them methods so ln- just means so unworthy and general course so inconsistent with the known rules and simplest principles of natural justice that their position as employees Of that company have become actually un- bearaDle.
 While their prayers and petitions Tor redress of grievances have been reject ed with uniform inconsistency, ana In some instances conference has been de- nied altogether. This the companies deny, and in turn declare that they have not only treated their employees With every just and honorable consideration possible under existing conditions. but that they have actually exhausted their means try ing to do ample justice by them.
 "The issue is therefore squarely drawn, Has there been a miscarriage of justiceY Have the companies dealt justly wlta these employees or are the employees un- truthful in their charge. unjust In thelr demands and unreasonaple III theii course?
 The Only Way.
 ..rhls can only be determined by an ex- haustive and impartial investigation of the claims of both parties, which 1t seems should be undertaken by the national gov ernment or at least conducted under gov ernment supervision.
 But 1t may be asked what right tho government has to investigate the pri- vate affairs of the Western Union Tele- graph company or any other companies The answer to this question is two- fold
 q Because the Western Union and Postal Telegraph companies are both en- gagged in interstate commerce and the fed- eral government has power under the constitution to regulate interstate com merce.
 .2. Aside from this aspect of the case, although Congress has power under the constitution to take any step or enact any law which tends to promote general well fare of the people, and certainly nothing is quite so likely to retard or destroy the general welfare of a people as civil discord or industrial slavery.
 Causes of Trouble.
 .'rhe causes leading up to the present trouble are primarily these:
 T. The long continued and persistent efforts of the Western Union Telegraph company, notably, and the Postal Tele- graph company, incidentally, to reduce their operators to a state of servltude absolutely impossible of human endur- ance.
 "2 To the repeated violation of agree ments entered into by the Postal com pany with its telegraphers and the per- sisteut refusal Of the Western Union Tele- graph company to receive committees of t,s telegraphers for the purpose of dis cussing grievances.
 g. The utter disregard of the promises made by Colonel Clowry in his letter to Commissioner of Labor Nell, dated June 20 last followed by the direct and vol untary breaking of the written agreement ending the San Francisco strike July 19. 1901, which agreement with the original signature is now filed with the depart ment of commerce and labor at Wash fngton."