The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-11

complished by the steady work of Su perintendantJ. H. Phillips of the city schools
 The third floor of the South High lands school is being completed under the supervision of Miller & Martin. chitects.
 The class rooms in all of the build ings have been painted and kalsomined, and the grounds about many of the 
 the larger cities will be put to consider able inconvenience by tho strike.
 The Postal Telegraph company had at the instruments yesterday evening Man ager T. D. Jackson and four wire chiets, and at the Western Union, Manager Ed E. Williams, his wire chiefs and assist ants were holding down the business Of the office as well as possible.
 When asked to make a statement Ill reference to the strike yesterday after noon, Mir Williams of the Western UnlOn stated that he had hardly had time to take in the situation. but anticipated lit tle trouble at his office.
 Williams Makes Statement.
 "We have had about twelve or fifteen operators i'll the Birmingham office TOT some tir1e and have always treated them with the greatest consideration. l don't believe the men here know what they arc striking for. as we have tried to settle difficulties in the most pleasant manner heretofore and have succeeded. Last March the men demanded raise in sal ary and the employees of the Westei Union all over the country were raised 10 per cent. They also wanted the conl- pany to furnish them with typewriters, and this matter was amicably settled.
 "As far as 1 am informed of the mat ter I know of no grievance which the onerators may have 1 understand that they went out without orders from head quarters"
 When asked what the company would do in reference to the strike, MT. Williams stated
 "The wire chiefs and their assistants, together with myself, are receiving ana sending messages which this office is sup posed to handle On account of the trou- ble elsewhere the business is not very heavy. and this alleviates our situation considerably.
 'I am convinced that the men who were employed here have been treated falrly in fact I know we have paid them good deal more than number or them were really worth.
 "We have anticipated this trouble, al though it was not expected this afternoon Within the last three or four days l have had several men to come to me ana tell me that if the trouble came they would pull us over the trouble. Several busi- ness men have volunteered their services Consequently, it Is my opinion that we will have men enough within twenty-four hours to operate the office and handle all business without trouble
 "None of the men who left their nstru- ments this afternoon will be taken back.
 Jackson Is Confident.
 Manager T. D. Jackson of the Postal looks upon the situation in about the same light in which Manager Williams sees It. MT. Jackson stated yesterday that as far as he knew the men who left his company had no grievance. He said that he be- lieved that he could get operators enough by Monday or Tuesday to bridge over MT. Jackson and his four wire chiefs are handling the business at the Postal as rapidly as is possible.
 The strike of the men in the telegraph offices will not, 1t is believed, affect the private wires running into Birmingham or the railroad wires There has so far been no tendency for these men to leave their instruments and unless a sympa- thetic strike Is called by them no trouble will result from this source.
 News Wires Still Working.
 The Associated Press and other news wires are all working in good order and no trouble has come from this source so far Specials of news matter from the outside towns are few however, on ac- count of the strike. and news matter from the smaller points is scarce
 Both the operators and the managers of the companies here have expressed them selves as being confident of coming out on the top. The telegraph companies ex- pect to nose over on non-union men, and it is said that men to operate the instru- ments can be easily secured. The oper- ators, on the other hand believe that they will eventually win their fisNt, and are in good spirits over the prospect. No demonstrations of any sort have so far been made. Everybody seems to be qui- etly awaiting results.
 As a remedy for existing conditions, one of the most prominent telegraphers in Bir- mingham, in an interview last night, ex- pressed the hope that unless the United States government takes some action soon looking to the control of the lines of both companies that Governor Conner would seek to revoke their franchises in Ala bama unless immediate provision Is made for the handnng of the pubics business. The matter will probably be brought to the governors s attention next week. = n