Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-08-09
NATIONAL TELEGRAPH
Strike Threatened
OPERATORS OF ENTIRE COUN.
TRY AROUSED OVER LOS AN
GELES SITUATION.
CHICAGO MEN RESENT
CHARGE OF SUPT. LAMB
Walkout Following Discharge of
Unionist in California Raises
Fresh Tempest and Reopens Wire
War-Unions Defied by Company.

Chicago, Aug. BY branding state
ments issued by the striking teleg,
raphers in Los Angeles as a tissue of
lies" Superintendent Lamb of the Los
Angeles Western Union office Thurs
day added fuel to the wrath of union
operators all over the country.
1t is admitted on all sides that a
national strike is imminent. Chicago
operators, who since the settlement
of the last strike have been restless,
are up in arms and demanding that
union officers take drastic action.
Discharge Causes Strike.
The reopening of the wire war on
the coast followed the discharge of
Paddy" Ryan, union operator in
Los Angeles, who Is accused by the
company of deliberately delaying mes
sages. Ryan and his associates de-
clare, however, the delay was due to
the incompetency of woman non
union operator in San Francisco, who
handled a bonus wire.
Ryan worked at the southern end,
and the union claims he had trouble
with her sending. The union opera
tors drew up complaint against the
woman and presented it to the district
superintendent.
Ryan was discharged. International
Secretary Wesley Russell said in Chi
cago he would not be surprised if op-
orators in other cities were ordered
out at once.
Refuses to Negotiate.
Superintendent Lamb declares he
will not receive a committee of any
body representing the union and says
the company will not reemploy strikers
unless they return to their work at
once.
Ryan was discharged" said Mr..
Lamb in Los Angeles, for deliberate
ly delaying messages. He was watch
ed by two division chiefs. The state
ment that the union has given out IS
a tissue of les
The particulars of the strike have
been reported to National President
Small, and all negotiations are now in
his hands. All the operators in Los
Angeles with the exception of five
went out when Ryan was discharged.
Twenty men, including the manager,
assistant manager and two railroad
officials are at the keys, attempting to
keep messages from being blocked.
Western Union Strike Continues.
Los Angeles, Aug. 9.-The strike
of the Western Union telegraph opera
tors in this city, which was called fol-
lowing the discharge of John Ryan, a
union operator, on the ground of de-
liberately delaying business, contin-
ues. According to the men about IS
out of total of rs are out. The COM
pany, however, is fairly well supplied
with operators and is taking care of
all business offered
Sixteen Coal Mines Close.
Trinidad, Col, Aug. 9.-Being un-
able to secure cars on account of the
trainmen's strike on the Colorado e
Southern railroad, 16 coal mines in
this vicinity closed down, throwing
out of work more than $500 men.
Miners Grievances Settled.
Pittsburg, Pa, Aug. AT a confer
ence of officials of district No. 5,
United Mine Workers of America, and
officers of the Pittsburg Coal company,
all grievances that threatened to bring
on a strike of $4,000 men were ami
cably adjusted, and danger of strike
averted.