New-York tribune., 1907-10-13
SMALL GIVES UP
TELEGRAPH FIGHT.
RECOUIuENDS SURRENDER
TO LOCAL UNIONS.
Directs Them to VOte on CalIing
off Str1ke-ActiOn Attacked
by Leaders.

| Cial TeegTaphers' Onion took decisive stems yes-
terday to end the general strike of the teleg-
| raphers, which has lasted eight weeks He in
structed all the locals TO vote on the question of
calling the strike off The notice is in the form
of the following telegram, which he sent to every
! local throughout the country:
New York. Oct. 70, 1eO7-Prominent New
| Workers have appealed to me to call the strike
| off All efforts at negotiations are exhausted
| ana the companies officials say they will fight
| 10 finish. The treasury is depleted and no
| more funds are available. Requests for relief
| from all sides are heavy and urgent The gem
erdl assembly cannot meet them
| Ihe strike having been ordered without the
| president s sanction, recommend that the locals
| vote on the proposition
The sending of the telegram by President
Small follows the arrival of United States Labor
Commissioner Nen in this city and his failure
to induce the companies to corsent to any com
| promise Mr. Nefn, it was learned had q con-
ference with the officials of the Western Union
| company early in the day. and made an urgent
| plea to them to make some concession by way
| of letting the strikers down easily The COM
| panies. however, held TO the stand they took at
| the first and would yield nothing
1t was learned also that Mr. Nein had been
more than once in communication with the Off
| cials Of the companies since the strike began.
| MIR. Small, when last night. first evaded
| the question when he was asked about sending
| the message. Then he admitted sending it. but
| said it did not mean that he called the strike
| off. 1t was for the locals to call 1t Off. he said
| The New York local officers were angry last
| evening at the leaking out of Smalrs telegram
! Daniel L. Russell. chairman OF the board Of
strategy. talked as II he had not known that
! the order was sent out.
Previous to Mr.. Smalrs action Mr.. Russell
| and Vice-President Thomas of the Commercial
| Telegraphers' Union gave out a statement that
| for the first time since the strike began specific
! demands would be sent this week 10 the off,
! caIs Of both companies These demands were
! to be the eight hour workday. equal pay for
| equal work, free typewriters and classification
| Of wires.
| Mr.. Russell said that the strikers would be
willing to so back If the eight hour demand
| were conceded and the companies agreed 10
arbitrate the other demands He also said that
| the demands would be sent 10 each director of
! the Western Union Company before Wednesday,
| when the board OF directors would meet.
In anticipation Of his action in sending the
| telegram 20 all the locals. which are 132 in
! number. Hr. Small called special meeting of
| Local No. 16. of New York, for this afternoon
| In Clinton Hail. where he said he would ad-
| dress the strikers
In his call he urged that every member be
| present. It is expected that he will at once
| direct that a vote on the proposition TO end
| the strike be taken. This will be the first time
| for him to address the strikers since last Sun
| day
| Chairman Russell of the strikers board of
strategy said that he had conferred with Com
missioner NELL within the last day two.
| There was a bigger crowd of strikers than
usual at the strike headquarters in the Astor
| House last evening. They wanted 10 get all
the news they could as to their chances for
| nyipD Irpov hat
| order had gone forth TO vote the question
| of ending the strike.
Eastern Superintendent Belvedere Brooks of
! the Western Union Company when told of the
| order of Small last night said: mo matter
| what action the locals may take, the fact that
| such order sent out and the wide pub
| licity It will necessarily have will, l believe,
! cause a stampede of tho strikers. In the pres
| ent stage Of the strike this would be inevitable
! Asked what proportion of the men would be
| reinstated In case Of a stampede. he said:
| MANY places have been permanently filled. but
we could take good many back. No disturb
| ers agitators, however. will be e-employed
on any terms"
A statement was given out last night after a
meeting of the executive committee of the New
| York local at the Astor House by Percy Thomas
chairman Of the finance committee of the Com
| mercial Telegraphers Union. He said in part:
In regard to the funds of the organization I
can say that we have $4,000 in the treasury of
| the general assembly. and also that l am aware
OF the fact that great numbers of business men
have protested to the telegraph companies
against the delays to their business 1t is un-
usual, to say the least that responsible busi-
ness have suddenly brought pressure to
bear on Small. Certainly by his present ac-
| ton they should have appealed TO him nine
weeks ago, for he is their friend and evidently
| the telegraph companies also.
I believe If you in a labor union that YOU
should be labor unionist, and if you are an Of
fetal of a telegraph company act in accord with
the duties of your position resign il.
The companies are in exceedingly poor shape
| for the proper handling of business; in fact no
better than six weeks ago.
I am advising all locals not to declare the
strike off. but continue the fight with greater
energy than heretofore. If we were right on the
| first day of the strike we are right now 1t is
better to starve than surrender
Daniel L. Russell chairman of the Board OF
Strikers. said, after reading the statement u
protested against the strike in the beginning
and had caused a motion to be passed TO prevent
it, l explained that If 1t called would re-
sign my position and go to victory or defeat
| and have kept my word 1 shall never ask the
strikers to go TO work unless they get material
concessions. We a unit to stay out two
weeks longer"
Mr.. Russell said that President Small had said
| nothing to the committee either before or after
sending out his statement.