The Washington herald., 1907-08-12
Local Telegraphers Hold An
Enthusiastic Meeting.
MANY WOMEN AT THE SESSION
Future Action Depends on Whether
the Members Are Requested by the
Companies TO Work with Operators
Not Carrying Cards-CoOIness Is
CounseIed at Session nt Temple.

I
mereial Telegraphers' local union. will go
out on strike to-day, If the movement in
other cities continues.
This action was taken prior TO the an
nouncement OF the conference to be
held in Chicago on Thursday. which viii
postpone further action by the national
officers.
| A special meeting Of the union was held
in typographical Temple yesterday aft
ernoon, and each man pledged himself
not to work on any line with nonunion
men. This pledge may provoke a strike.
despite lack OF orders TO go out from
headquarters. There are but few non
union men IN the local offices. ii Is said
and II any union man is put on a West
! ern wire. with a strikebreaker working
on the other end, he will Immediately
quit work
No vote was taken on rhe strike prop
Osition. as the orders must come from
national headquarters or President Small
The union. however. repeated It's pledge
Of unanimous and unqualified support to
the national organization and the locals
out on strike
/ The younger members of the union are
enthusiastic. and anxious 10 go out. The
| fight yesterday afternoon between these
members and the opposing faction, COM
posed OF the more conservative element,
was hard one. Many eloquent speeches
were made on both sides, and the issue
hung in the balance for a long time.
/ The older and more conservative MEM
/ bers pointed out that there was a possi-
/ bility OF being ordered out. and that they
should not usurp the prerogative OF the
/ international officers. but act in an or
/ derly and dignihed manner. It was also
| pointed out that they should not upset
any calculations OF those directing the
strike; that they were in the better posi-
| tiOn TO judge. and through a false move
the local might upset well-laid plans
These arguments were strongly combat
ed by the other element that wanted 10
take radical action.
When the issue arose as to the pledging
not 70 work with nonunion men. this was
also combated. but to no avail, and II
was carried by a two-thirds vote
Now Up to Companies.
This action, It was stated. will place
the issue up 10 the companies In case
a man is discharged for refusing 10 work
with nonunion man, II will be up to the
union 10 stand by him, and the strike
will be declared. This makes the local
situation a precarious one, as the com
panies. in the promotion Of their business.
will be compelled to make the endeavor
20 keep up communication with cities
where a strike has been declared, and.
as the union men have all made the
pledge and will evidently keep It, the
companies viii be compelled 10 lay of
any man who refuses 10 obey orders for
the sake of discipline In this event. II
viii be up to the union to stand by its
member, or members. and. in their sup
port. Will have 10 declare the strike.
There We're several woman members
present az the meeting. They took active
part and were among the most interested
participants. Scarcely man left the hall
until the meeting was adjourned after a
three-hour session. Never before has q
meeting been so largely attended or has
there been such enthusiasm.
President Groves, when seen after the
meeting, said that there was 20 change
in the situation from Saturday, and the
Whether or not these instructions will
be N the shape OF an order to strike. he
said he did not know, but did not change
his expression OF Saturday evening, when
he gave the opinion that orders 10 strike
would be received before noon to-day.
Translate Code Message.
An important feature OF the meeting
it is said, was the passing around Of the
translation Of the secret code strike mes
sage that will be sent over the wires 20
every local operator Immediately orders
are received.
The demands OF the operators. in type
written form. are already in the hands Of
both companies. and have been forwarded
to headquarters.
After the meeting. there were many
conferences among the men, and during
the evening, when the men on the night
trick came on, excitement ran high.
President Groves. of the local union. and
First International Vice President Beat
tie. who is also secretary OF the local,
were kept busy. In the early evening
Mr.. Beattie was called up over the long
distance telephone by General Secretary
treasurer Wesley Russell, who is direct
ius bAG Slithts dlu lUlu llldL lne reports
which were reaching headquarters were
decidedly grave. and that President Small
had been summoned from the Pacific
Coast 10 Chicago.
Request TO Beattie.
He also requested Mr.. Beattie to ascer-
tain II Commissioner Of Labor Charles P.
Nell was in Washington, and If he was
to advise him that Mr.. Russell and the
other officials Of the union in Chicago de-
sired to get into communication with him
at once. He did not state for what pur-
pose communication was desired with
Commissioner Nell, but il is surmised
that Mr. Russell desired to inform the
Commissioner that the situation had be
come too serious. and that the govern
ment's business might be seriously inter |
fered with II the strike progressed.
The union claims that the Western |
Union has not kept faith with the senti- |
ment contained in the recent communica- /
ton of President Clowry to Commissioner
Neill Offering 10 arbitrate, and instead |
OF accepting the advances of the Com 1
mercial Telegraphers Union to arbitrate, /
have resorted 70 oppressive methods in
different offices throughout the country. /
and upon the slightest pretext dis |
eliminating against union men.
As the evening progressed President |
Groves was in frequent communication /
with New York City and other points By /
long-distance telephone The nature of \
the conference he would not make public. l
Vice President Beattie was also frequent /
" called At one time. when on his way /
home as II drew late, he was hastily sum /
moned TO the operating room at the 1
Postal, and the waiting crowd followed /
his movements tensely. expecting trouble /
Even the messenger boys have been 1
seized with the strike spirit. and they |
talked over what news they could CLEAN /