The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-09
WIRES SILENT.
All Western Union Operators at
Helena Walk Out.
Refused to Do Business With
the Chicago Office.
DENVER MEN READY.
Will Quit as Soon as Asked to
Man Los Angeles Wire.
Seven Hundred Day Men in
Chicago Are Out.
II. C. Employees of Western
Union Join the Strikers.
DENVER MEN READY.

Helena, Mont Aug. 9.-The entire
force of the local Western Union office
went on strike today, with the excep-
tion of the chief operator and his assist
ant. The strike was due to the marking
off of an operator who declined to man
the Chicago wire at the request of the
traffic chief. Electrician McKissick of
the Chicago office called for receiver
and one of the regular men was direct
ed to the wire, which position he re-
fused to accept on the ground that Chi
cagO was nOnunion office.
Before the chief operator could request
any one else to man it, the entire force,
numbering about 40 men, Joined the dis
charged operator as he left the room,
and all wires are now silent.
Meeting Called at salt Lake.
Salt Lake City, Aug. "a meeting Of
the Salt Lake local of the Commercial
Telegraph Operators of America, viii be
held at p. m. today to decide whether
or not the men in the local offices of
the Western Union Telegraph company
shall go out in sympathy with Los An
geles.
When the regular day man who
sends on the Chicago wire was
asked to take charge of his wire today
ne refused, saying that the Chicago or
flee was unfair and that he would not
work that office. He was promptly
discharged. The other men did rot
leave their keys but sent at once for
L Z
local and he will determine what ac-
tion shall be taken.
After meeting with President Palm
q committee of operators waited upon
MI Long of the local Western Union |
office and told him that unless he re- |
instated the discharged man by 1870 |
p m. today the entire force would |
walk out
Denver Ready to Quit.
Denver. Aug. 9.-The Western Union
operators in this city are ready to go on
a strike as soon as they are asked to
use the wire to Los Angeles or Chicago.
1t is said 40 out of the rs day operators
Will walk out in case of a strike.
3fay Not Reach New York.
New York. Aug. 9.-The strike of the
telegraph operators in Chicago today is
regarded by the company as local in its
nature and not likely to cause a strike
mere; Inc walkout of the telegraphers
in Chicago has hampered the transmits
sion of business both here and at Chi J
cago, but wire chiefs and chief opera
tors are doing all they can to move the
business.
President Clowry and General Su-
perintendent Brooks held a conference
today to discuss the situation. Mr..
Brooks said:
There is no reason why the strike
In Chicago should bring about a
strike in New York. The trouble in :
Chicago is local in its nature and does ,
not affect the city. Only so per cent
of the operators in the eastern division
oelong to the union and in the event
OF a possible strike, we would be able
70 handle the business without delay.
The company is paying the teleg-
raphers the 10 per cent increase wages
as a~reed to in the settlement recently
and there is no reason for a strike"
1t was said at the local headquar-
-ers of the telegraphers union today !
the trouble in Chicago was very un-
likely.
Western business on the stock ex- /
change was affected by the Chicago
tations and reports from Chicago were $
delayed.
Day Men Go Out.
Chicago. Aug. 9.-Since last mid +
struck rather than work with strike !
breakers at Los Angeles. there has :
been little doing in the Chicago office :
OF the western Union Telegraph COM !
panv at Jackson boulevard and Clark e.
street or in the branch offices scatter
ed throughout the city
Only six wire chiefs and four vet
eran telegraph operators were left in !
he main Chicago office when the 3
lnion men. in answer to a whistle, l
'ushed from the keys on the ninth and V
he tenth floor and congregated in A
ront of the building.
The strike order Issued by the ex- a
ecutive board of the Chicago union to u
he night operators applies also to day p
operators. thus affecting some 700 men | c
employed liz the Chicago office during p
lay hours. h
No trouble was experienced today by L
me brokers and commission houses in d
their business None of their Y
operators had been called out and all Is
u theIn reported today as usual
At O'Clock in the morning about
twenty operators were at work in the
-oons Oh the Western Union and the
afflclaIs OF the company declared that
hey expected many more throughort IT
he day. L
Wesley Russell, the secretary, Of the
ocal union. said the company would NOT
De able to man its wires or handle its
business i'S
There were no signs of disorder V
around the Western Union building to- CT
lay Fifty policemen saw that No 81
rowds congregated around the hrild,-,c1 AT
" the board of trade. Early in the Do II
many operators were gathered Aroma =
he Western Union offices but tbaC- :"
we're ordered to keep moving bv tba NJ, te
Ice. po- be
Ar insane man rushed into the car+ro, ci
'oiee station today and inquired in an cl
xcited manner for President RooseveIt 70
aging that he wanted him to end the d
elegraphers' strike at once. He was ar ", "
estSd ol
The Western Union eickers were al oi oi
most entirely out of business earI1, In VI
he day and the men In charge of This -
experiment. declared that they had no - -
lea when conditions would imDrove | ~
his caused much Inconvenience To 20
rokers who were compelled to get their -
socs quotations over the telegraph n,