The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-10
WAITING FOR THE
WORD IN THE EAST
New York Operators, Is Per
Cent Union, will Leave Their
Keys if Ordered Out.
COMPANY BOWS ITS BACK
WILL FIGHT THE STRIKERS AT
ALL POINTS.

New York. Aug 9.-The Western Union
Telegraph company Will fight the strike
Of their operators in the west east or
wherever the men may strike They eX-
pect to win, as they claim to have won
in 1888. A strike among the 5000 opera
tors of Greater New York city is immi-
nent, though the sentiment among the
employees is said to be divided.
The foregoing is not an official an
nouncement but is an expression of opin-
ion cOncurred III both by men associated
with the executive affairs of the Western
Union and representatives of the COM
mercial TelegrapheTS' union and made to-
night The position taken by the COM
pany is that the men have no substantial
grievance BIZ are in some instances the
willing and in other instances the unw1l-
ling victims of the prevailing social I'M
rest
Have the Strike Fever.
A man who enjoys the confidence Of
high officials OF the Western Union said
tonight:
The men have no grievance. They
have the strike fever, and the younger
element which appears to be in control
in the west, and to which a period of
idleness would work no particular hard
ship, is anxious for a showdown winch
will test the strength of the organIza-
pany will fight, for a surrender would be
suicidal. If the strike becomes general,
as II was IN 1885, business for a time VIII
be hampered, il was then, but even
tually the men viii be beaten. A strike
in New York will prove different prop
Osition fror7 contest in the west. There
the men are generally younger than those
employed here. In this city are many
operators who have reached the age
where then greatest efficiency is d thing
of the past. Nevertheless they are still
taken care Of by the company. These men
DO not ana probably would not go out.
They realize that should the strike Tan
and they be obliged to return to work on
their merits as operators without regard
10 their previous faithful service they
would be at a serious disadvantage"
Grievance of the Men.
on the other hand. it was pointed out
in union circles tonight that the original
grievance against the company was in
this city and that 20 per cent of the op-
orators employed here are union men and
prepared to leave their keys the moment
the strike is ordered by the executive
officials of the union. A union man said
tonight:
The nine operators discharged from
the local office last spring have not yet
been reinstated as we have demanded.
We purpose to see that the company does
as il has agreed to do. We are prepared
to quit work here upon instructions from
west have, We understood. been the re-
suit of directions from the local unions
of those cities. This VIII not be the case
here where orders from the chief exec
utive will be awaited We will not man
wires operated at western ends by nom
union men. which include company chiefs
and clerks"
mo Comment to Make
None of the high Western Union Off
cials could be quoted tonight. In reply
10 all inquiries the reply was no COM
ment TO make"
Although the Postal Telegraph & Cable
cOmpany's men are out at chicago, the
company does not consider that it is in
VOlved. except incidentally, in the pres
ent trouble. Before the postal men went
out in Chicago tonight Vice President
Charles .. Adams said:
so far as our company is concerned,
there was no present or impending ,trOu-
bic. Whatever trouble may be pending
between the Western Union Telegraph
company and its employees has not at
fccted tie Postal Telegraph company, and
1 do not anticipate any immediate diff
Culties. for the reason that no grievances
had been presented and the men are
working as usual and business is going on
as ordinarily
subsequently the Postal people added
that the business with Chicago was going
on as formerly.
Special Meeting Sunday.
\ special meeting of the local union had
been called for Sunday to consider the
failure of the two big telegraph COM
panies TO live up to the agreement with
United States Commissioner of Labor
Neill.
Tonight President Ahern of the local
union said,
I'VE have tried for the past three weeks
10 secure the reinstatement of nine per-
sons. five men and four women. who were
gTICnrnnpn a
some months ago. Under the agreement
made by President ClOwry of the West
ern Union Telegraph company and Labor
Commissioner Neill these members were
TO have been reinsJated.
The Western Union officials have re-
fused TO reinstate these persons. Our
members il the main office and in the
several branch offices throughout the
city have grown restless under this shah
by treatment. We have done everything
in our power to prevent a telegraphers'
strike in this city. The Western Union
officials have used every method at their
command 10 bring about strike. and il
one occurs in the city they viii be held
directly responsible for it
Officials Of the Western Union were in
conference as were officers Of the Postal
Nothing of their conclusions was made
public.
Strike of 1888.
The last general strike of the Western
Union men was called I'm july twenty
four years ago. and lasted exactly one
month. Business for a time was de-
moralized. Eventually the company
claims TO have won out the men return
ing to work Internationally. The strike
was for shorter hours, and after the
trouble was past the new conditions
sought by the men were put in effect bv
the company
1t is figured that there are 5000 teIe-
graph operators employed in Greater New
York by the two companies, the tele-
phone companies and the brokers. What
proportion of these would be involved in
a strike directly or through sympathy is
prObiematical
An effort to maintain connections with
the west will be continued today by both
companies.