The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-07-15
TELEGRAP HERS
MAY WAGE soon
GENERAL STRIKE
Situation Grows More
Serious in San
Francisco
BREACH IN RANKS
Western Operators Are Not
Satisfied With Work
in the East
TIEUP THREATENED
Men May Be Called Out
in Chicago or New
York Today

A serious crisis has been reached
in the telegraphers' strike. The un-
dertow of discomfort has gathered
strength and yesterday broke the
banks of reserve It has been, deter
mined that unless settlement of the
strike is effected by tomorrow salts
factory to the members who are out
on strike the executive officers will
be asked to take drastic action. This
means that a general strike may be
declared. The request will be in the
nature of a demand. for the men feel
that they have the approval of Presi-
dent Small as well as the individual
the commercial telegraphers' union
throughout the country
The statement is made that IL the
national executive board should at
tempt to force a settlement displeasing
to the strikers. President Small will
call out the Chicago employees as the
first move In the extension of the
strike zone.
David Allen, chairman of the local
executive strike board announced to
the members yesterday that the local
board had ratified request addressed
to Small to call out brokers' operators
except those working on leased wires.
This move will be placed before the
local union today for further ratifica-
ton, which, If granted, will mean the
tying up of enormous business deals all
over the country and the paralyzing
of commerce.
The members of the local union feel
that the visitors from the east are TAX
ing their task too easily, and Deputy
President Konenkamp and Executive
Oficers M ]. Reidy and NJ. ]. Sullivan
have not impressed the strikers by the
vigor of their work.
Labor Commissioner NeilI is not ex-
pected to be able to accomplish much,
as he announced he had come to look
over the situation for himself and had
no definite ultimatum from President
Clowry of the Western Union to sub
nit.
President Small and the executive
officers held long conference last
night, but would not divulge the ma
ture of their discussion. Commissioner
Neill made no visits yesterday, but
said he thought settlement was yet
possible with concessions on both sides.
Small said the time for talking had
ended and would not discuss the situa-
peace had not been abandoned.
Adyices from Chicago, which, next to
this city, is vitality interested in the
strike. indicate that Labor Commits
sioner Neills has failed in reaching
settlement of the difficulties between
the strikers and the Western Union
and Postal companies A dispatch says
that strike is expected there or in
New York by Monday night. Further,
the dispatch says:
'It is known that nonunion operators
are being moved about the country
and that several hundred are located
in Chicago. The local union has a
searching committee in the field and
the location OF every one known to be
able to work wire is reported at head
quarters. The situation Is hourly grow
ing worse In Chicago. General Secretary
Wesley Russell of the International
union said this afternoon that he ex-
pected word tomorrow that all further
negotiations had been broken on and
that q general strike would result