Evening star., 1907-08-18
TAKES NO STOCK IN STORY
President Grove of Local Union Ex-
presses His Views.
WOULD NOT SUBMIT TO AWARD
Leaders of Operators Say They Are
Poorly-Peid Servants-Other
Side Still Happy.

A statement to the effect that Labor Com
missioner Neill and President Samuel Com
pers of the American Federation of Labor
fastened to Washington yesterday from
Chicago for the purpose Of arbitrating the
telegraphers strike is not believed by per-
sons in this city who are in touch with the
situation and who are also very much inter-
ested in the outcome of the controversy.
They say it is true that Mr.. Gompers came
to this city yesterday afternoon, but 1t was
because he desires to meet the members Of
the executive council OF the federation, who
will begin their quarterly sessions at Typo
graphical Temple on G street tomorrow
morning. The members are expected to
begin arriving today.
Labor Commissions Nell, it was ex-
planned by officers OF mis- epartm 1nt, came
back when ne found his services were of
no avail an arbitrator 1T Chicago. and
because there were important matters
pending before his department which re-
uuired his attention.
Neither of the men in question would
talk about the arbitration matter when
seen last evening. They said there was
nothing to talk about SO far as they per-
sonally were concerned.
Assistant Manager James T. Bresnahan
of the Western Union company said he
did not believe the matter would be ar
DltrateQ. 1here are no signs OF arOltra-
ton yet, at any rate.
Il do not take any stock in the arbitra-
ton story President Grove of the local
telegraphers' union said. The big tele-
graph companies may be pushing that yarn
out for effect
Nothing to Arbitrate.
I'VE have nothing to arbitrate," National
Vice President Beattie declared. Our de-
mands are fair and reasonable and 1 feel
that the operators will not yield, nor will
they submit to the award of an arbitration
board. Many of the telegraphers threaten
to leave the business permanently before
they will go back to the old conditions or
those that may be brought about favorable
to the company by arbitrators.'
Other operators said that after the dec
laratiOn by President Roosevelt only a
few hours ago that he would keep hands off
the te!egraphers' strike they did not appre-
hend that any great contingency had arisen
to cause him to change his mind in such
a hurry and rush Messrs Neill and Comp
ers post haste from the storm center of
the strike to Washington for arbitration
purposes.
THE story sounds fishy." one operator
remarked. I'VE can account for Gompers'
hurry to get back to meet his executive
committee, and Commissioner Neill did
not come back on red-hot special at an
eighty mile-an-hour clip. but was a pas
senger on a regular train"
declared that If there was any arbitrating
to be done, and he would not admit there
was. that the union telegraphers would
insist that President Small, their own
champion and craftsman, who knows their
needs better than any one else, be one of
the arbitrators, instead Of Mr.. Gompers.
Matter of Wages.
Discussing the matter of wages received
by the telegraphers in Washington in par
orally, Vice President w. w. Beattie of
the national body declared that the aver
age pay of operators was about 500 per
month.
1T is true ne added. that there were
about twelve men in the Postal Office here
who received $3.50 per month, the maxi
mum, but even that is not much as the
wage received by many of the mechanical
trades. The average sum of $55 is much
lower than the salary paid even the most
unskilled trade of all. And when We con-
slider how the prices of foodstuffs house
scudding up the scale. is it any wonder the
tElegraphers have made the modest demand
gor general increase of 15 per cent?
The teiegraphers an intelligent and
palnStaklng body of men and they deserve
better of their employers. Many former
operators are now filling important posi-
tions in other walks of life. Some are In
the newspaper profession and others are
making coed in commercial life. Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General P. v De
Graw is an operator. and is Robert
Wynne, the consul general to London and
both worked in Washington, it is said after
making their marks as newspaper writer's
There are many others l could enumerate
who have won distinction after graduating
from the key and sounder."
Mr.. Beattie said the operators "haVe
their heart and soul set upon gaining the
eight-hour day, as well as the increase in
pay they ask at the hands Of the rich
corporations"
Alleged Coercive Measures.
Both President Grove of the local teleg-
raphers' union and Mr.. Beattie said 1t is
apparent that the management Of the two
telegraph companies were trying coercive
measures on the operators who are out on
strike. One of these plans is said to
threaten the telegraphers who are out with
permanent disbarment from employment
unless they return to their keys at once
In substantiation of this charge President
Grove displayed a telegram, dated Wash
lngton, D. c.. August IA, and addressed to
lady operator now at Rochester, N. Y,
where she went soon after the strike was
declared. 1t reads as follows:
Special delivery received. Appreciate
your position, but Postal company expects
every employe to do his or her duty, and
unless you can resume work here within
forty-eight hours after receipt of this tele-
gram your term of service will have eX-
pred" The signature to the dispatch is
IF. B. Travis, c. IT,
Announcement was made last night by
the executive strike committee of the teleg-
raphers thai an important session of the
committee wi. be held at 1 o'clock tomor-
row afternoon at Typographical Temple
An open meeting will be held at the same
Dact at 5 Geek at the conclusion of the
executive nee ting.
Public Is Invited.
"We vii: throw the doors wide open to
the Iublic," MI Beattie said, because we
have nothing to keep back, nor have we
ANYTHING 20 l.ide from the people Our fight
for Justice is a w:de-open one. We are only
asking for what is fair. and We want the
public with us
The pickets of the telegraphers were I'M
usually active last night at the depots and
in the vicinity of the telegraph offices, on
the lookout for strikebreakers. They re-
ported that few, if any, non-unionists were
coming ir.
The local managers of the telegraph COM
panies expressed themselves still happy
over the outlook and said business was
moving along with smoothness and dis
patch. At late hour last night Manager
Prosser of the Postal company said:
Nothing new. Everything Is running
smooth and business is being moved
promptly