Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-13
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MIXED.UP
Great Newsgaherng Organizations Operators Desert Their
Positions After Making Sudden Demands for Higher Wages
and an Eight Hour Day Companies Say They
Are Doing Business ;stikers Claim
They Are TiedUp.
lny AssocIalcd Press.l

CBy Associated Press.)
NEW YORK, August 1.-THE strike
of tclcgraphcrs which. originating last
Friday in Los Angeles, where it was
directed against the Western Union
Company, gradually spread eastward
and today reached New York cit".
where three spontaneous walk outs
followed in rapid succession. These
were directed against the Western
Union the Postal Telegraph Com
panics and the Associated Press. In
the latter instance the strike WAS the
first against the news organization
and WAS fairly general throughout the
country excepting New England With
the stopping of work by a majority
of union operators here. a situation
unparalleled followed. The telegraph
officers though by no means being
tied up, were seriously handicapped.
Unexpectedly. ana when it had been
generally supposed that no action
would he taken pending conference
of Labor Commissioner Nell with in
fluential labor representatives In CHI
cagO, the union operators declared n
strike in the office of the Western
Union. In explanation IL was stated
that secret understanding was
reached Sunday, through which au-
thority was given to the local en-
ployos of the two telegraph compan-
les to so out anytime that their in
tcrcsts seemed to demand Immediate
action. Just how effective the strike
was tonight was a matter of dis.
putc.
Claims of Both Sides.
The Western Union people claimed
to be doing business us usual in this
city and to have all the help needed
In fact they said that they would
not use all the men seeking employ
ment. On the other hand. the union
men claim that very few competent
men were working and that the com.
pnny was being tied mp. The Postal
people claim TO have 50 out OF a
force OF about 800 working tonight
and that they were doing business
without serious delay. TO this the
strikers replied that the Postal had
more than IL operators at work
The strike against the Associated
Press began at $50 O'Clock eastern
timc) tonight. 1t was distinct from
the other strikes as the Associated
Press controls its own leased wires
and the operators are in the direct
employ OF the news organizations
Though no demands had been made
recently by the men, the strike had
been forcshadowcd.
General Manager Stone received The
first intmation early Sunday night
that the Geographic force OF The AS.
ISOLATION was likely To formulate de.
mands. These took shape later that
night and were put into the form of
Il petition which reached Mr.. Stone
Monday morning. The petition was
signed by many of the tccgraphers
of the Associated Press throughout
the country, and in brief requested Il
reduction in the hours of service and
an increase of wages.
Melville Stones Statement.
During this afternoon Mr.. Stone
formulated his reply to the operators
which was as follows:
Associated Press Operators Demands
NEW YORK, Aug. 12.-Melviile -.
Stone general manager of the AS
soc!atcd Press replied today TO the
request of the telegraph operators
employed by the Associated Press.
These requests were: Day work-siX
days. eight hours-1aily $50 per
week and overtime and extra at the
rate of sixty cents per hour
Night work-six nights eight
hours, $50 per week and overtime and
extra at the rate of 40 cents per
hour
The vacations to remain as at
present.
a proportionatc increase for chiefs
and sub-chicf operators. The tcleg-
raphers requested reply by 1880
o'clock this Monday evening.
Mr.. Stones reply follows: New
York. Aug IL, 19o7-To operators: /
received this morning communica-
ton from large number of opcrat-
ors in the service of the Associated
Press asking changed scale Of
wages and hours and requesting II