The Washington herald., 1907-06-20

Chicago. June 19-"Ground" ''saS
when" now" When these three
phrases fash over the wires Of the West
ern Union and the Postal Telegraph com
panies Z0000 union operators viii close
their keys and walk out
Il is the intention Of the union officials
10 call the strike in some second-class
city first, and from that point spread out
as fast as union operators come in con-
tact with nonunion men employed in the
struck city. The strike call is in a term
familiar TO all telegraph employees, and IS
\ chosen because Of its familiarity.
National President sam J. Small Is now
in the city, where the strike will be call
ed, and the executive board Of the union
/ is in New York directing his movements.
| Should the management Of the companies
maintain their present attitude toward
/ the men and not enable Commissioner
/ NELL TO perfect plans Of mediation. the
strike will be called within a few days
week being the limit set by the executive
board Of the union.
/ The National Civic Federation viii be
.
/ boards Cf arbitration, in such States
where they exist, viii be asked TO CO.
! operate with the national body in an ef-
/ fort 10 have the question settled without
/ resort TO strike measures.
Approves Calling strike.
/ New York. June 1s-The executive COM
mittee Of the Commercial Telegraphers
/ brought the dispute between the tele-
/ graphers and the Western and Potal Tele-
/ graph companies TO a crisis to-day by
passing a resolution approving the calling
of a strike against one or both Of the
/ companies.
The matter of ordering the strike has
been left absolutely I'm the hands of Presi-
dent Small, 0f the union. The strike VIII
be called IN a week OF ten days but the
/ committee does not want at present 10
Indicate where il will be lest the COM
pany or companies would be foreWarned
and be prepared for f.
The strike viii be ordered fin one town
at time. so that the rest of the teieg-
raphers can pay the strike assessment
regularly. In case the strike has not the
desired effect. 30 is % be extended to
other cities 10 was stated also that the
executive committee took this action be-
cause the companies had evidently de-
cided TO pay no attention 10 any appeals
or communications. and it was a question
Of strike or back down
ORciaI announcement Made.
The teleEraphers viii now go on with
the strike programme. The official an
rouncement Of the action Of the execu-
tive committee. which was given out to-
day was as follows.
THE general executive board Of the
Commercial Telegraphers' Union has ap-
3 proved a strike against either or both the
Postal and Western Union Telegraph
, companies. and the matter IS now in the
, hands Of President Small When or
where the first strike will be declared,
will not be given out al this time. But
il will take place IN the next week or
ten days The plans for the campaign
have been laid and the men are ready
, for the struggle
NeiII to Investigate.
2 Charles P. Nell. United States labor
J commissioner. who came here at the re-
b. quest of President Roosevelt. to inyesti-
! gate the merits Of the fight, paid another
S visit 20 the main office Of the Western
p Union Company this afternoon and had
, a conference with Col Clowry, president
. and general manager
e He had not NJ 10 this evening COM
e. municatsd with the teloEra pliers. When
= he will communicate with them could not
S be learned. but their leaders said this
b evening they expected a visit from him.
I Edward J. Naliy. vice president and
general manager Of the Postal Company,
said this evening that the company had
mot been officially notified that it was in
cIuded in the manifesto issued by the
, union. He added. "We are sure there
will be no strike Of our employees, rs We
are confident that they have no grievances
i against us We are so satisfied Of this
S that We have made no preparation for a
strike"