The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-07
STRIKING OPERATORS
BACK TO THEIR KEYS
After Fruitless Struggle of
Thirteen Weeks Vote to
Give up Effort.
CHICAGO BALLOT 23l TO So
Similar Action is Taken in New York
and Formal Word to Return to
Work VIII Come Soon.

Chicago. Nov. THE telegraph
strike is ended. After thirteen weeks
or labor struggle which has involved
nearly $4,000 commercial telegraphers
throughout the country. the final action
toward terminating the strike was la
ken yesterday afternoon, when Chicago
local union. the largest local in the
country, voted to call off the strike
and return to work unconditionany
Similar action was taken at a meet
ing of the New York local in the
evening. operators there being directed
to return to work today
The vote was 231 affirmative to SIS
negative. The resolution in the Chi
cage meeting requesting the national
executive board 10 end the strike
which was presented on Tuesday and
lacked two votes of securing the ne
cessary two-thirds majority. was re
considered and passed almost unani-
mously.
The action of Chicago local, although
only expressed in resolution. is recog-
nized by the national officers and ex-
ecutive board as semi offciaL The de-
sire of the Chicago strikers to call off
the strike and return TO work was
forecast by the executive board in the
morning. The officers and members of
the board and of the conference com
mittee which had returned from New
York went into executive session in
the headquarters in the Monon build
ing and considered official steps.
Urge End of Struggle.
Committeeman Brand of Chicago, and
Clamage of Denver were sent to re-
port to the massmeeting and were adj
vised to urge upon the strikers the
necessity of calling off the fight A
circular letter was prepared for issu-
ance to all local unions asking them
to vote upon granting the executive
board authority to act. The latter
will be sent out to the locals today or
tomorrow, and the official order end
ing the strike will be issued as soon as
two-thirds of the locals have signifed
their Willingness to end the fight.
Assurances were made by the Off
GERS that after the return to work the
companies would grant the union de-
mands for an eight hour day and free
typewriters. The passage Of the reso-
luton caused a distinct feeling of re-
lief. 1t was voted to give up Uhlich's
hall, the stronghold of the strikers
since the first days of the strike. and
to hold no more massmeetings.
Although the official order calling
off the strike may not be issued for
several days, members of the union are
assured that they are free to return
to work today without being stigma
! tized as deserters.
Cause of the Struggle.
| The strike began on Aug. in the
Western union offices in Los Angeles
Cal At midnight of the following day
! Chicago joined the strike by a walk
out of the Western Union night force
The day operators and the Postal men
followed next day and in the follow
ing week city after city throughout
the United States and Canada Joined
the strike.
President Sylvester ]. Small issued q
general strike order on August 16, anc
the telegraph tieup throughout tht
country was almost complete. The
fight dragged on with no hope of set
| Element for a month