The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-07-08
OPERATORS WIN WAGE
RAISE; FIELD LIMITED
Exchange to Be Closed
Shop Under Terms OF
Year Agreement.
TO MISSOULA ALONE
Compact Follows Meeting
Between McAfee and Nc
Nulty's Delegate.
TO MISSOULA ALONE
CONTINUED From Page Oneo

Continued From Page Oneo
ment was made ended a few minutes
after .:30. MIR. McAfee had informed
The Muscular of the settlement be-
fore the agreement was signed and
before the girls had returned to their
boards in the telephone company
building. This session, participated III
by Mr. McAfee and +. +. ogden, d.
vision traffic superintendent Tor the
company, Mr.. Drollette for MI. NC
Nulty and William Barrett, president,
and II. Vickrcn, secretary OF local AUS
of the electrical workers union. was
the third one held during the day. Al
its conclusion, the agreement was
signed by Messrs. MeAfee. Drollette,
Barrett and Vickren. 1t is dated july
Is, 1917, and is to run for year.
BUSINESS Men Withdraw.
There had been two conferences
earlier in the day. As soon as Mr..
Drollette reached Missoula from Butte
the officials of the company and the
executive committees of the Trades
and Labor council and the Business
Mems association met in the chamber
Of commerce building. At that SEES
sion the two executive committees
agreed to withdraw and to leave the
settlement of the strike to the COM
pany officials, the representatives of
the union and MIR. Drollette.
Mr.. McAfee offered, during the
morning conference, the suggestion
that the company appoint an arhi-
traitor, the union an arbitrator and
the two men selected lame third to
act rs umpire in the adjudication OF
the strike. Mr.. Drollette opposed the
suggestion as one which, if carried out
would not give a speedy settlement t6
the strike. lie said he believed the
conferees could reach an agreement il
the course Of a few hours, a belle
which proved well founded.
Afternoon Session Decisive.
The second session was begun at
p. m. and it was at this session tina
the situation was thoroughly gone in
to and discussed, thus paving the wa,
for the final arrangements which wer
made at the third session, beginnin
at Gas p. m. Mr.. Drollette was
leading figure in the second session.
He specifically told the representa-
tives of the striking girls that the
had not given the company sufficien
time to answer the demands they ha
made and he told them they wer
wrong in refusing to consider Mr.. Nc
Afees offer of Friday night of a seal
to apply for 80 days While the ques
ton of salaries was arbitrated
Girls Deserve More Pay.
On the other hand. he told the com
pany that he believed the young WON
en- should, in view of the presen
greatly increased cost of living b
given a material increase in salaries
A tentative scale was drawn up tn
company officials agreed not only tina
the girls should be recognized as unto
workers, but gave the further assur
ance that none but union operator
would be employed in the future
These agreements on the part of tn
company officials paved the way 70
the final settlement which required les
than an hour at the evening meeting.
As soon as the agreement had bee
reached and The Missoulian had bee
notified, an agreement was drawn u
and signed by Mr.. McAfee. Mr.. Drol
lette, Mr.. Barrett and Mr.. Nckerl
Ten minutes later the girls Went bacl
to their switchboards,
Operators Happy.
There was much rejoicing on tn
part of tn" young women that tn
whole disagrceable affair had been set
tied. They We're in Il distinctly joyous
mood as they climbed the stairway I,
the second floor of the telephon
building and took NJ the head harness
which had been laid down last Tues
day at noon. Laughing and iokin,
prevailed among them and they agree,
that they had received none the wors
of ii i'll the final adjustment.
T.. j.. 'ou2ens, the local manager
snlinsly greeted the first "runtin
gent eight young women. who cam,
10 take up the, Work of opening Of III,
board. The current was turned OF
aud automatically every telephone i.
the entire city gave a slight ring AS i
to speed the announcement of re
sumed service.
The eight girls continued at worl
until IL p. m. when the two night on
orators We're left to continue the op
Grafton of the board ninth this morn
ing.
And so ended the big strike
McAfee Praises Drollette.
In speaking of the conferences i
which Mr.. Drnl"ttc played Il part. Nh
McAfee told a Missuulian reporter:
Il think great credit is due to MI
Drollette for the calm and business
like manner in which he handled tn
situation. lie proved himself a wis
leader and one who is a credit I
nnionism in the country. 1t was
pleasure to deal with him."
Sentiment Mutual.
Mr.. Drollette was no less kind
his references to Mr.. McAfee follow