Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-26
Small Writes TO Mackay
By Associated Press.


OAKLAND, June 25.-In a letter
written to Clarence Mackay, president
of the Postal Telegraph company,
President Small of the Commercial
Telegraphers' union of America out
lined the grievances of the striking
operators.
The purport of Small's letter is as
follows:
For many years the telegraphers
witnessed the continued repression of
their craft. They saw their expenses
increase and the purchasing power of
their wages decrease, while the wages
and conditions of workers in other
spheres of employment were improv-
ing. Telegraphers' rate of pay was
continually gravitating toward :. lower
level. Wages of our associates out
side of the main departments also suf-
fered reduction, and at the same
time their hours of employment length
ened.
I'm many places the operating rooms
were oVercrowded and badly ventilat-
ed and the necessary relief convent
ences delayed. Juniors, lacking suffi-
cient education and wire experience,
were assigned to first class circuits at
a compensation lower than that paid
to men who carried the burden of
telegrapher always suffered from the
competition of the junior, whose labor
was for the most part unskilled.
Mine to twelve hours of service was
required from telegrapher anxious
to work during the hours of daylight,
and it appeared to be the policy of the
company to profit through the desire
of the men to work the day tricks.
The tyranny of the under officials had
to be endured. Complaint to the Off
cials in charge of district brought
no redress, and petitions for improve
ments were especially frowned upon.
The harsh conditions then prevailing
conditions practically prevailing at this
time-evoked a spirit of unrest. In
the telegraph offices of the country
operators had virtually lost their in
dividuality and independence.
'Realizing by experience that indi-
Vidual effort was powerless to improve
the existing order of things and that
the future offered nothing in the way
of advancement to encourage them,
conferences of telegraphers were ar
ranged and held in different cities.
The general situation was reviewed
and as a result of their deliberations
the Commercial Telegraphers' union of
America was organized to advance,
protect and maintain the interests of
all engaged in the occupation of teleg-
raphy. Capable intellects and efficient
workmen vying with each other for the
prosperity of the interests affected,
through harmony and accord, will as
sure the success of all concerned.
Therefore we have decided to submit
for your due and kind consideration
a number of statements and grievances
from your brethren which, when prop
a,,I- holt rrttn ~ to-
mediately remedied.
ION September 26 last certain set
of rules and regulations were agreed
to by the general superintendent Of
your company at Chicago, after several
conferences with the committees of our
telegraphers, who represented by proxy
95 per cent of all the telegraphers en-
ployed by your company in Chicago.
The purpose of the rules referred to
was to improve the working conditions
and stop petty determinations against
the employees of your company.
From the very day the rules and
have been persistently evaded, violated
and broken by the company's repre-
sentatives in Chicago"
A bulletin issued by the press COM
mittee from the telegraphers' head
quarters tonight said:
"As an evidence of the inability of the
Western Union to handle the business
offered by the public they have notified
customers to use the telephone wher-
ever possible.
"a report reached headquarters to-
day that 1000 kilograms had 'disap-
peared' from the overland division of
the operating room of the Western
Union office in Chicago. This would
Indicate that business was being mailed
from Chicago The strikers discovered
today that public business was being
handled over private wires. President
Small notified the brokerage firms who
have permitted outsiders to use their
wires for public business that unless
the practice was stopped at once their
operators would become involved in the
strike
The Southern Pacific officials have
discharged several operators at out
side points on complaint from Chief
Operator Jeffs of the West Oakland
office of the Western Union that they
had interfered with the working of
Western Union wires. The Commercial
Telegraphers union of America and the
Order of Railroad Telegrapherc have
a working agreement. Should the dis
elimination against the railroad oper-
ators on complaint of the Western
Union continue there is grave danger
of the Southern Pacific operators be-
coming involved"
NEW YORK, June 25.-The executive
committee of the Commercial Teleg-
raphers' union today offered to submit
their grievances to the Postal Tele-
graph company. Complaint was also
made that the company had not full
filled its agreement with the men in