The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-11


 Chicago August 10.-Encouraged by their success in hampering the facilities of both commercial telegraph companies in Chicago the striking operators are now planning to carry the warfare to all parts of the United States and Canada. h. structions were today telegraphed by Ma ton Secretary Russell to the men in New York and other cities where they are still at work ito save their money and await orders"
 Another telegram was sent to President Small of the Photographers Union, who is in San Francisco, urging him to take the first train to Chicago to look after the situation as it is the announced inten- tion to engineer the fight from Chicago. The telegraph officials are preparing to meet the issue and declare they will t fight to a finish. They declare they have been tenporzing with tha union for months and that they will hold no further negotiations with the representatives of the men on strike. Cots have been in- stalled in the buildings of both companies in Chicago for the accommodation of strike breakers and other preparations for a bitter struggle are being perfected. Approximately there are 1000 operators now on strike who were employed by both companies in thirty-nine cities throughout the country, and the list is being added to every few minutes. The points already affected and the total of strikers are as follows:
 List of Cities.
 Western Union-Chicago 150 Houston, 30; Kansas City, 330: Topeka, 8; oklahoma City, 10; Pueblo, s; New Orleans, 100; Nashville, 75 Columbus 70; Memphis. 60; Dallas. 105; Meridian, Miss, 10; Jackson, Miss, 15; Minneapolis, 60; Milwaukee, 30: St. Louis, 225; Helena, Mont, 45 Salt Lake City, 36; Colorado Springs, 10; Den yer, 75; Tort Worth. 40; Fl Paso, 30; St. Paul, 100; Los Angeles, 30; Fargo, 10; Omaha, 60; Sioux City, 9; Knoxville, 15. lOthers not tnbulated at this hour)
 Posta-Chicago, 300; Kansas City 70 Topeka. 59; Oklahoma City, 10; New Or leans 50; Dallas, 40; Memphis, 50; Jack son, Tenn, 5 augusta, 90; St. Louis, 80; Milwaukee, 15; Birmingham, S3; Omaha, 25. A consignment of strike breakers from the east arrived here today and were immediately placed at work. The new rivals were evenly distributed between the two companies.
 We are filing positions as rapidly as possible said T. P. Cook, general sup erintendent of the Western Union to- night. We are in better position than We expected We will not deal with any representatives of the strikers, as the company only treats with it's own em- ployes. When the men quit work they ceased to be employees of the Western Union and relations with them are at an end. There was no union recogni- tion in this controversy"
 Will you meet President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor should he come to Chicago and offer his serv- ices?" Mir Cook was asked
 We will not" was the answer
 Gompers Is expected 10 reach Chicago Monday morning.
 Making Progress.
 w I. Capen, superintendent of the Postal Telegraph company, said his com pany was making better, progress than anticipated.
 "A number of our old employees nave returned to work he declared, and others have slgnified their intention of d.. ing SOL
 National Secretary Russell of the telcs- raphers said
 we are highly pleased witt, the silua- fion, and matter what sort of claims the telegraph officials may make the fact remains they are not doing any business They have few chiefs and inexperienced students at work. but far as the co1i- panies being able to handle public busi- ness is concerned, they are merely trying to mislead the public. We know for an actual fact that in Chicago there are not fifty operators working for the com mercal companies tonight where under normal conditions the number amounts to 1900. We are in this fight to stay, and we must have recognition or our union might n n h1iSiDags
 Preparing Demands.
 All today a committee preparing demands which will be submitted td the telegraph companies Monday as a prelil- mary to ordering a general strike. The demands in substance are equal pay for equal work and eight hours. the abolition of the sliding scale now in force. the companies to furnish typewriters and to cease discriminating against the union. If the companies refuse to accede to these demands the men in New York and all other cities where they still at work. it is declared tonight. will be ordered lo refuse to work with non-union men. This state of affairs would indicate that it would be only a matter of few hours Anow before the strike will be general both hs the United States and Canada.
 line strikers, it was said tonight. were plahnlng to cripple the long distance teie pho\ne service. There are thirty telegraph opehators employed in this branch of the service in Chicago. These men are ex- pert wire men. and are used in making ID