The San Francisco call., 1907-06-28
Telegraphers Believe That the Strike
Will Soon Be Brought to an End
Report From East Indicates That Roosevelt
May Take Hand in the Controversy

The belief that the strike of the
telegraphers would be of short dura-
tion was strengthened yesterday and a
spirit of optimism prevailed in the
ranks of the pickets stationed in the
nave of the ferry building and vicinity.
The prospect that President Roosevelt
might take hand in adjusting the diff
ferences tended to brighten the situa-
tion.
The appearance of the president
of the United States in the controversy
was suggested by telegram sent by
S. ]. Konenkamp, deputy president of
the c. T. Z. A. in New York, to Presi-
dent Small. The telegram stated that
Konenkamp had been invited by Labor
Commissioner Neill to visit him in
Washington to discuss the situation.
President Small says that he will well
come any oficiau investigation of the
strike.
Headquarters were opened at 1915
Seventh street by the strikers yester-
day. No new men were put to work
either by the Western Union or the
Postal company. General Superinten-
dent L. w. Storror of the Postal de-
clared that he did not need any more
men, although he admitted that the
force was NOT as large as before the
strike.
1--WE are working little harder and
putting in sovertime besides he ex-
planned. THE volume of our business
has not reached a normal level yet"
superintendent Miller spent much of
his time on this side of the bay ye5-
terday. He said that the Western
Union had about 20 men on the floor
of the Oakland Office against 80 or 100
before the strike.
Both officials declared that their COM
panies were handling all their business
without delay.
The strikers scoff at this statement
and declare it is a physical impossi-
bility for the companies to cope with
their work
SUPERINTENDENTS CONFER
superintendent Storror and Miller of
the two companies were closeted to-
gether in a conference for an hour yes
terday afternoon. Neither would say
what the discussion was about. Storror
said that he was without advices from
the east and thought that his superior
officers in New York were content with
the situation here. Il will not say
whether any nonunion operators are
on the way to this city or not" he
answered. IL any were COInluSs IL
would be indiscreet for me to say so,
but so far as 1 am concerned we do
not need any men at present"
The striking operators in Oakland
claim that stampede bluff'' was at
tempted yesterday by the management
of the Western Union company. J. H.
Hadley and C. w. Henry, two pickets
in the vicinity of the West Oakland
main office. were invited by Traffic
Chief II. B. Brown to inspect the offices.
The union men accepted the invitation
and entered the building. Almost all
of the chairs were occupied, they said,
but only, a few of the occupants were
telegraphers. L. Mesner, foreman of
construction; H. Nelson, forman of
construction gang; book keepers, check
clerks and other men who were not
operators sat at the idle keys.
I'VE were not fooled, however, and
the attempt to discourage us failed
lamentably," said the union men.
A report was received at headquar-
ters in Oakland from Los Angeles
stating that 500 messages were on hand
there for transmission over the wires
to Chicago. They were 10 hours old
The report stated that San Francisco
business was mailed from the east to
Oakland. Two thousand seven hun
dred messages for San Francisco from
Chicago are said to have been delayed.
SMALL'S STATEMENT
President Small said yesterday:
We claim that. the Western Union is tied up
tighter today than it was the day we called
the strike.
As for the Postal company. we have reliable
reports from our pickets that less than 400
messages were received June 26. The average
before the strike 2.200: only 495 messages
were received today from the east, against
1900 before the strike To handle this greatly
depleted business Superintendent Blake of San
Francisco, Manager Holt Of Los Angeles, Super
intendent Hearn, Chief Operator Durkee of
Portland, Claim Agent Berry, Night Chief
Woodward. Electrician Shaw and Traffic Chief
Swain have their coats of and work day and
night in the station in the nave of the ferry
building. They. with Miss Freeland. Miss
Emma Judge, Miss NJ. Worn, former employe
who has been conducting florist business, Miss
Mollie Burroughs and Manager Dunno from
Seattle complete the working force of an office
formerly employing than double that
number.
The telegraph business is one not easily un
derstood by nonoperators. and all sorts OF de-
ceptious can be successfully practiced on the
public. Statements from the managements