The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-08
The Secretary of the Local
Union of Telegraphers
At Kansas City Believes End OF
Strike Is Near.
OCTOBER1 OR SOONER
He Declares That Negotiations
AIe in Progress.
He Looks for Some Concessions
on Both Sides.

Kansas City, Oct. s.-Settlement OF
the commercial telegraphers' strike is
expected by October Is at the latest
according to a statement made last
night by George w. Lambert, secre-
tary of the local union. The board of
directors of the Western Union meets
October 9, and the telegraphers expect
them to take some action leading to
settlement of the strike.
There is strong feeling among the
members of the union that it may not
be even so far away as the meeting OF
the Western Unions directors that our
differences will be adjusted, said Mr..
Lambert last night. Il was in Chicago
last week, and the representatives of
the union were treating with officials OF
the telegraph companies. No dennlte
agreement was reached so far as l
know but the negotiations progressed
far enough to assure us all that fnal
adjustment cannot be far off,
The operators do not expect that
they will get all that they have de-
manded.- but, they believe each side
will yield enough so that a settlement
satisfactory to both can be made. At
the regular meeting OF the striking op--
orators. held yesterday afternoon at
Twelfth and Central streets, the news
of the probabl end of the strike was
passed around. and put new enthusiasm
in the members of the union.
Three hundred and twelve of the
$50 operators who went out are still
with US. and ready to stick to the end,
Mr. Lambert. Several of the men
have found positions out of town, and
some Of them, notably Cal Ryle, presi-
dent of the strike committee, have
gone to work for brokers against whom
we have no grievance Practically all
of those who walked out in July have
remained loyal"
The strikers demand an eight-hour
day, no slit tricks the company to
furnish typewriters, the operators to be
paid according to the rating of the
wire they work, and recognition of the
union. Since the strike was called, Of
ficials of the telegraph companies have
declared that the unions leaders would
not be given back their old places. The
reinstatement of all the striking en-
ployes will probably be added to the
operators demands.
Small Will Go 1t Alone.
New York, Oct. S.-Percy Thomas,
deputy national president of the
Telegra pliers union. has resigned and
National President Small announced
that he would make his headquarters
here and conduct the strike of the
telegraphers from this city.
Mr.. Thomass resignation is report
ed to have resulted from the action of
President Small at the strikers meet
ing in declining to endorse the local
union in it's move to call out all leased
wire operators whether under con-
tract or not
Peace Looked for i'm Cleveland.
Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. S.-The Cleve-
land News says:
Upon what may be accepted as in
disputable authority the News is en-
abIed to say that the telegraphers'
strike will probably end, in Cleveland
at least, Thursday morning. A re-
quest was sent to J. E. Mattern, local
leader of the strike. for permission to
return to work on Thursday. 1t is
said by persons interested that if per-
mission is not given by the strike lead
ers the men will go back of their own
accord"
officials of both the Western Union
and the Postal Telegraph companies
stated today that any proposition
looking to reinstatement of all the
striking operators would not be ac-
corded. The officials declared that
their forces had gradually been in
creased during the past few days and
that practically all of the men en-
ployed to take the place of strikers
would be retained. 1t was added that
as a result probably not more than a
third of the strikers would be rein
stated.
Fined $50.
Denver, Colo. Oct. S.-Thomas A.
Banks, the striking telegrapher who
assaulted S. E. Leonard. superintend-
ent of the Western Union Telegraph
urday, was fined $50 and costs by
Police Judge Stapleton. An appeal
was filed.