The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-13
NEWS WIRES
 ARE WORKING Associated Press Re covers from Strike. SERVICE STILL IMPAIRED Commercial Operators Leave Many
 Offices. Western Union and Postaa Oficials De- ny Effectiveness of strike, But Disanected Men Claim To
 Be Satisfied.

telegraphers which originated last Fri day at Los Angeles. where it was d. rected against the Westsr Union Com pany. spread Eastward today and reached New York City, where three spontaneous walk outs" followed in against the Western Union, the Postai Telegraph Company and the Associateo Press.
 With the stopping of work by a ma jority of union operators here. sit- uation unparalleled was followed. the telegraph business though by no means being tied up. being seriously handt- capped.
 Unexpectedly and when 1t had been generally supposed that no action would be taken locally, pending q conference of Labor Commissioner Neill, with in- fiuential labor representatives in Chi cago on Thursday, the union operators declared a strike in the office of the Western Union. In expectation, IL was said by the strikers, that three discharged employees had called at the office for wages due, had been treated with scant courtesy. An hour or so later the men in the main office of the local telegraph company walked ou-. In this instance 1t was said that the union men had been asked to work a wire manned In another city by non- union operator.
 While these strikes appear to be fn violation of the understanding reached by the local executive officers of the unions Sunday. immediately following the walk outs. officers of the union de- clared that the strikers would receive the support of their organization. It was added that a secret understanding was reached Sunday. through which authority was given to the local ein- ployes of the two telegraph companies to go out any time that their interests seemed to demand immediate action.
 Effectiveness Disputed.
 Just how effective the strike was to- night was a matter of dispute. The Western Union people claimed to be doing business as usual Tn this city and to have all the help needed. In fact they said that they could not use all fhe men seeking employment On the other hand. the union men claim that very few competent men were working and that the company was being tied up.
 The Postal people ciaim to have eighty-five out of u force or about three hundred working tonight, and that they were doing business without se- rious delay. To this the strikers re- piled that the Postal had not more than twelve operators at work.
 The strike of the Associated Press began at S:30 o'clock (reastern time). tonight It was distinct from the other strikes as the Associated Press con- trols it's owne leased wires and the operator are in the direct employ of the news organization. Though no de- mands had been made recently by the men, the strike had been roreshadowed.
 General Manager Stone received the first intimation early Sunday night that the telegraphic force of the As- sociated Press was likely to formulate demands These took form later that night and were put in the form of petition which reached MT. Stone Mon day morning. The petition was signed by many telegraphers of the Assocf- ated Press throughout the country. and in the brief. requested reduction in the hours of servie and an increase of wages.
 Thus the situation stood at p. m. tonight when the day force went off duty, and the night force came on in all the great news centres of the coun- try. Operators were in an evident state of unrest and the transmission of news was frequently interrupted with messages from point to point, canvassing the attitude of the men. Secretary Russell of the Commercial Telegraphers Union advised the ope- rators to secure definite date for the consideration of their demands. In some localities disposition was shown to remain until 7:3O Thursday night in order that MT. Stone might have reasonable opportunity to com municate with the directors of the As sociated Press. On the other hand the operators at several Southern points indicated an intention not to wait beyond 7:30 o'clock tonight.
 This sentiment found general accept ance. and at 7:3O Chicago time. or S:SO New York time) there was gen. eral suspension of the service through out the country. In the New York of flee the suspension was not attended with any demonstration. The men at the keys left their work and quietly withdrew.
 News Service Impaired.
 The suspension was not complete, as suficient force remained loyal to send A partial news service in all directions, The same conditions prevailed at all the offices except those in New En- land. which were not afrected Tn Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington ana Pittsburg and intermediate points, a sufficient force remained loyal to hermit the main body of news to move.
 MT Stone at the general office or inc Associated Press throughout the night. receiving reports from various sections and arranging for uninterrupt- ed continuance of the news serNiec to the newspapers of the country. One of his first messages was one of recog- milton of the devotion of those who had remained loyal to the service and were carrying forward the work. An other message directed ~that all men who had struck be paid or and their services terminated as soon as possi- blA
 Tho reports toward midnight showed a fair volume or service to most of the great centres. Chicago reporting that at S:3O service had been resumed south of Louisville to Nashville, Chat tanooga. Montgomery. Memphis and Macon. Washington. which is the great news center for the south report ed that regular routes had been open cd to Richmond, Petersburg. Whining tor. Newport News. Raleigh, Columbia. Roanoke. Charlotte. Bristol. Danville and Ashville. Condensed reports were also moving to Greensboro. .KKnoxville. Norfolk. Augusta. Charleston. Atlanta, Savannah, Macon and Jacksonville
 In few minutes after the walkOut Xnrtg nN1pa OF tha