The sun., 1908-02-16
NO UNION TELEGRAPHERS.
Postal Company Has Substituted Friendly
for q Hostile COOperatOr.

At the annual meeting Of the Mackay
Companies In Boston yesterday Clarence Fl.
Mackay, the president, said that notwith-
standing the financial troubles and business
depression the company and it's allied
companies had been and still are earning
more than the amount necessary TO pay the
dividends on the preferred and common
shares Of the dominant company. A report
submitted to the stockholders said that the
company has no debts.
The report goes on to say that the earn
ings from the new Commercial Cable Com
pany line to Cuba arc satisfactory and that
the entire cost Of the cable and terminals
has been paid out Of current profits. The
Mackay Companies, the report adds, still
owns the whole or part Of the capital stock
OF lO2 prosperous cable, telegraph and
telephone companies in this country, Canada
and Europe and remains the largest stock
holder in the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company. Holdings in that COM
pany were increased last year by the exercise
OF subscription rights for new stock
In referring TO the telegraphers' strike
President Mackay and his associate trustees
recount the organization of a new associa-
tion among employees and give the history
Of the strike, as far as their company was
concerned, as follows:
In August. 1907. In several cities part OF the
employees Of the Postal Telegraph Company
struck. They struck without warning
without grievance and without cause They
seem to have struck in sympathy with a
strike by the employees OF the Western Union
Telegraph Company. They did not even
formulate their demands until several weeks
later 1hereupon the officials OF the Postal
company. all Of whom came from the ranks
became telegraphers again. and with those
operators who remained loyal and with clerks
from other departments kept the business OF
the company and OF the country going The
trustees do not hesitate to say that A. more
devoted and expert stan is not to be found
anywhere in any line OF business
The strike lasted twelve weeks and then
the company took back only the efficient and
reliable men. The monetary loss to the
company due 70 the strike only served to
demonstrate the soundness Of the plan on
which the Mackay Companies In formed;
namely. so wide distribution Of its interests
as to minimize the effect Of any loss from one
particular source.
The Postal Telegraph Company realized,
however. that the telegraphers' union was a
menace. Telegraphy is a profession. and
Its MESA ges are so confidential that to divulge
them Ia a criminal offence. Telegraph em-
ployees cannot be allowed to give their allie
glance to a union in preference to their duty
10 their business. Accordingly. the COM
pany in October, 1907. organized the Postal
Telegraph Employees Association. to be
open to all its employees who would abiure
all unions, to be conducted without dues and
without debts and TO entitle its members
TO aid from the company during sickness or
disability. This association was enthusi-
astically received and joined by the employees
II is now thoroughly established. and rem
ders impossible another strike. and further,
it strengthens the bond Of loyalty and sym
pathy which always existed between the
Postal Telegraph Company and its em-
plOyees.