The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-12
ALL TELEGRAPHERS WILL QUIT
 WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURs
WANTS ARBITRATION
GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION MAY
 BE INVITED.
Head of Telegraphers' Union Says He Could Agree to an Immediate
 Resumption of Work

San Francisco Aug 11-It was an- | nounced by s. J. Small, National Pres- | ident of the Commercial Telegraphers' Union of America. if. by Tuesday next,
 no way is found to bring about con ciltation in the telegraphers contro- versy, general strike will be called by him. Mir. Small further said that | he had advised Charles P. Neill, United States Commissioner of Labor, that he could agree to an immediate resurap- tion of work If the Government would insist upon. an investigation or arbi- tration of the telegraphers' grievances. President Small today gave out tie following correspondence between l himself and United States Commission CT of Labor Neill
 Tn reply to telegram from Presi- dent Small sent last Friday informtag
 the Commissioner of Labor that the telegraphers' strike had become se- | rious matter, the following was re- ceived.
 Washington, Aug. 10. s. J. Small. Oakland, Cal:
 Telegram received, also telegram from Stuart. It Is useless for lie to attempt to do anything at this time, as
 do not understand the issues or the exact cause of the strike. I assume the various strikes have been without your authority, and therefore, age H.
 legal. If local have no respect fer tho constitutions of the organization and the national officers cannot con
 trOi tkcni, what guarantee can you
 give ne that any adjustment satisfac-
 .ory to you will be accepted by the men on strike? I am entirely at your service. ant willing to do all in my power to assist you in bringing about a fair settlement of this controversy. Will you advise me definitely and spe- cIfcclly wha; ia the demand for which the strike has occurred. and upon whLt terms you would take he Sle- sponsibility of ordering locals back?
 (s gned) Charles P. Neill.
 Charles P. Neill. Commissioner of La bor.
 Washington.
 Cause of present trouble is repud- iation of San Francisco agreement which settled strike. Local manager OBrien, Chief Operator Jeffs and Su- perintendent May have repeatedly dis criminated against strikers. Women telegraphers after returning to work humiliated to such extent resigned. Western Union reinstated less than 100 strikers. many still out of employ ment, including married men. Notwith- standing agreement provides reinstate- ment strikers without prejudice. out siders given preference and employed. Present strike Illegal. but provocation
 
 Union officials because of bad faith so universal that general strike be au- thorized Tuesday unless we can find way to bring about conciliation. Ans wering your last question can guar antee imnediate resumption of work If government will insist upon investi- gation or arbitration of propositions embodied in memorial addressed to board of directors of Western Union last June. Local arrangements, pet ty discriminations. and favoritism to- ward William N. 4Sichols. Los Angeles circuit. caused transfers and dismis- sals of men long in company's service and finally strike.
 (Signedl S. J. Small.
 President Small also announced that he had wired national secretary Rus sell. his deputy at Chicago:
 Answering messages from Neill wired him could guarantee immediate resumption of work if government will insist invitation or arbitration of embodied in memorial ad. dressed board of directors Western Un- ion last June. Get Gompers long dis tance urge him see Roosevelt. inform him Clowlry and San Francisco agree ment not lived up to by Western Un- ion. Will be with you in few days