Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-03
NEXT STRIKE IS A SECRET
COMPANIES IGNORANT WHEN
BLOW MAY FALL.
Telegraphers' President Says He Has
the Weapon All Ready in
His Hands.

SAN fRANCISCO, July S-PreSident 8
j. Small of the Telegraphers' Union last
| night confirmed the report that he had
ordered out the operators in another city
Il have ordered the union operators in al
L will not, however. at this time divulge
the name of that city. but the telegraphers
have been notified and will be out in less
than week. When the whistle sounds in
the Office designated the key men will
leave their places. Until then, or until !
choose to make the place known. neither
the telegraph companies nor the public will
know where the bolt is to fall
Small had been out Of the city all day
and returned shortly before midnight. He
said he had been In Sacramento visiting
relatives Both telegraph companies are
now accepting business without the stipula-
ton of subject to delay"
According to the officials Of the local
union. there have been but four assertions
from their ranks
Manager OBrien Of the Western Union
said this morning that he knew nothing Of
a strike having been called In any other
city. Such statement had been made.
but no strike had occurred He added that
all but three of the branch offices in this
city were now open and there was an OPP
orator In each one. The situation con-
tinued to improve each day.
May Be Chicago.
CHICAGO. July 3-President Small of the
Photographers Union was authorized yes
terday to call a strike of operators in the
western Union telegraph Offices in this city
The strike order may be issued at any mo-
ment.
A strike In Chicago would paralyze tele-
graph business of the entire country. Dem
yer may be called out at the same time.
The executive board Of Commercial 'TeIeg-
raphers Union of America. Local No. /, in
a meeting in the Omaha building, gave the
authority and Immediately telegraphed
President Small in San Francisco that the
operators were ready to strike.
The reason given was that the company
ofhctals had refused to meet q committee
OF employees desiring to present a grievance.
The action of the executive board fol-
lowed news from Washington that Commits
sioner Of Labor Neill had given up hope of
doing anything further in the way Of con-
ciliation. He had had a long conference
with Deputy President Konenkamp of the
Telegraphers' Union. in New York. before
leaving for Washington. The commissioner
held out no hope.
The vote Of the executive board was
unanimous.
International Secretary-Treasurer Russell
was Immediately notified and he commu-
nicated with the members of the executive
board in New York and also President
Small. The board members in New York
voted to come to Chicago and are expected
to arrive here on Sunday. when a meeting
Of Commercial Telegraphers' Union, Local
No. 1. will be held.
1t is said there is only one way in which
strike can be avoided. This is that the
company officials must agree to meet q
committee Of employees and also to rescind
all alleged orders discriminating against
members Of the union.
Clowry Is Angered.
NEW YORK, July S.-President Clowry
OF the Western Union today sent the fol-
lowing message to the general superin-
tendents of the company at New York,
Chicago. Atlanta and San Francisco:
There Is no truth in the rumors being
circulated throughout the country that the
Western Union Telegraph Company has re-
coded from the position taken in my letter
of June 20 to Mr.. Charles P. Nefll COM
missioner OF labor. had another meeting
with Commissioner Neill last Monday aft
ernoon, and assured him that notwith-
standing the unwarranted action in calling
strike at San Francisco the company
would carry out the conditions set forth In
that statement in good faith"