The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-11

NuIllltteu IIlAL L0tTo Wkh ITO DtluUA VIVA
might happen in an hour. but he said that
the officers Of the local union were doing
all they could 10 induce the men to bide
the calling Of the meeting Of the teleg-
raplcrs union to-day.
President Small to-day appointed Percy
Thomas, the superintendent Of the tele-
graph room Of a morning paper In New
York, deputy president TO represent tho
officers ~ the national body in New York.
said Ahearn yesterday afternoon, You
may draw the inference that the national
executive COMMITTEES feels hat IL IL neoes-
sary 10 be represented here in the near
future. Thomas will nave this power TO
speak for the president OF the union In any
negotiations that may be forthcoming"
Thomas was once president OF the national
body Of the ~telegraphers. later the president
81 the local union and has been for many
years one OF the leaders Of he photographers
in New York. He said yesterday that he
had no statement 10 make relative TO his
powers or the plans he would make in case
OF q strike here.
Al the union headquarters, 60 Pine street.
II was given out authoritatively that one Of
the first steps taken by the union here will
be TO reopen. IL possible, the question Of
the demands made by the union against
the Western Union Company arising out
OF what the union calls the failure Of Presi-
Dent Clowry of that company 10 adhere to
the stipulations Of the agreement entered
into between him and Labor commissioner
Neill In June. Tn t~elegraphers will again
demand a 10 per cent. raise in pay, an eight
hour day and the furnishing of typewriters
10 all employees needing them.
The I5 per rent. raise had been granted
only in SOM individual cases. said President
Ahearn yesterday, and President Clowry
had made no move toward granting the eight
hour day and the typewriter concession.
The executive committee of the local
union met yesterday afternoon, but no
report of its action was given out.
The local union would not give out yester-
day any facts concerning its numerical
strength or the resources it might draw
upon in case OF a walkout. It's officers
say that No per cent. of the men in both the
Western Union and the Postal are members
Of the union. This the Postal company
admits, butJ q. Barclay, assistant general
manager Of the Western Union, reiterated
yesterday his company's statement that
only so per cent. Of their New York Office
wss uniOni2ed.
MOVE FOE DER INQUIRY?
Some Of the telegraphers yesterday
allowed the report TO become current that
the sudden strike wave Of the last forty
eight hours was in a measure preineditated
and that one object of the demonstration
was 10 bring about a Federal investig cation
into the relations of the two companies.
buch investigation would reveal the fact.
H. Was declared, that the Western Union
and the Postal had entered into a secret
rate agreement contrary to the interstate
laws Officers of the telegraph
companies ridiculed the te~legraphers' con-
tention.
Officials Of the telegraph companies said
yesterday that though there had been no
effort on their part to invite a strike one
coming ut the present time would be more
easily handled than at any other period in
the year. Because Of the fact that many
Of the smaller country Offices could be
closed and the operators brought TO fill the
places Of strikers here the managers OF the
companies gave it out as their belief that
they would not be seriously crippled by a
strike here lon ger than two days.
POSTAL LOOKS FOR A GENERAL
Vioe-president Charles Adams of the
Postal company gave this statement:
All indications point to a general strike
on both telegraph companies. Many OF
the large relay offices East and West are re-
fusing TO work with the offices already af-
fected wherein non-union men have been in
stalled. This morning the Birmingham, Ala,
local voted unanimously to refuse to work on
the same wire with non-union men and the
same action was taken by the unions at Mem
phis. Cleveland. Denver and Kansas City.
AZ Memphis and Kansas City all union opera
tors left their keys Immediately. and we ex-
pect to hear at any. time that those in the
other cities mentioned are also out.
We will have no difficulty in filing the strik-
ems places. We have received offers of aid
from many OF our former employees now
engaged in other businesses and We have
also many applications from all parts Of the
country from operators wanting to I'LL the
strikers positions. These men are being
engaged and many are now en- route to Chi
cago and the other points affected.
There will be decidedly no compromise
with the unions. They brought on the strike
and they can settle it by going back to work
whenever they please.
To-day we have had six circuits operating
between New York and Chicago: the normal
number IL ten or twelve. We are taking
messages subject to delay to points affected
by the strike only all other business is going
normally.
None Of the union men on our New York
force has attempted to obstruct business or
refused to work with any of the Offices at
iectsd by the strike.
We do not know what may happen in New
York, though the New York operators may
AOsAOW u " ~ hhN W ~ StAtNoko
and other places. We have had absolutely
no indication OF Dissatisfaction among the
men employed by the Postal: on the con-
trary It Is admitted by representative men
II the New York union that they have no
grievance. Manager Morton Of the central
operating room asked an operator by the
name OF Sullivan. one OF the executive com-
mittee OF New York Local No. 10. this morn
ing to name any reasonable grievance or
cause for dissatisfaction on the part OF tho
union men against the Postal Telegraph
Company. and this official frankly admitted
that he knew OF no grievance and Of no
grounds upon which . grievance could be
Justly founded.
Every one OF the strikes called so far In
the various cities has been illegal and con-
trsry 10 the rules OF the union. That Ia an
evidence that this wholesale walkout move
ment has not been prsarranged. Ir svery
instance the union men have ignored the
officers OF the national organi iarioh. the
president Of which. while deplo. iIg their
hasty action. has done nothing elEe rLt seud
messa yes that he was behind the strikers.
PREPARATIONS TO PIoHT.
Mr.. Adams intimated strongly that his