Bisbee daily review., 1917-11-03
MEDIATOR OF
Phone STRIKE
WOULD TAKE
OVER SYSTEM
Member of Labor Commission
: Urges That Secretary of La
Dor Recommend the Com
Wandering of Telephone
Plant.

Secretary of Labor W. B. Will
son last night refused to state
what recommendation, if any, he
had made to President Wilson in
regard to the Pacific coast tele-
phone employees strike. Secretary
Felix Frankfurter of the commits
sion said Mr.. Wilson had tele-
graphed to Werner z. Reed the
federal mediator, and to L. C.
Gasser, vice president of the In
ternational Brotherhood of Elec-
trical Workers. regarding the situ-
alton
1t is understood that the secre-
tary urged all parties to the con-
troversy to defer any contemplated
action until the arrival of the en-
tire commission. This includes the
Reed proposal of Communicating
the plant and employees of the Pa
cific Telephone & Telegraph Co.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2.-Govern
ment seizure and operation of the Pa
cific Telephone & Telegraph Co. wa:
recommended by Werner z. Reed il
a telegram sent to Secretary of Labol
Wilson today. VT Reed, fedora
mediator in the telephone strike, an
ticipated failure OF the Seattle contro
versy, which has partly disorganizet
service in the Pacific northwest ant
threatened to spread to California
Mr.. Reed asked Secretary Wilson
and the members of his commission t.
recommend communicating of the
plants of the company to Presiden
Wilson ''in the interest OF national de
fense." During the interim, Mr. Reef
said the government would expec
striking employees to return to theil
posts and others to remain there.
Company Refuses.
Mr.. Reeds action followed final re
fusal of the company to recognize thu
telephone operators union. demanded
by organized electrical workers, as thu
principal consideration in any nego
tiations looking to settlement of con
troversy, which involves approximate
ly 5000 unionized employees in Wash
ington. Oregon, California and Nevada
Mr.. Reed further recommended tina
officials, superintendents, foremen ant
employees of the company and its sub
salaries, whether on strike. be ccm
mandeered into the federal service.
The girl operators are asking recog
milton of their union as their principa
demand and the electrical workers ar,
seeking higher wage.
Would Commander All.
Mr.. Reed said in his telegram T.
Secretary Wilson he recommended
the communicating by the presiden
"of all the plants and properties o
the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph
Co. and its subsidiaries that may b,
needed for the nations defense, tina
he also commander into government
service the officials, superintendent
foremen and employees. whether a
work or on strike. to such an exten
as may be necessary to maintain full
efficiency of operation, such com
Wandering to be upon such condi
tions as he may determine, and to con
tinue during the period of the war.
Il expect" said Mr.. Reed, that ev
cry operator, as soon as he or sh'
receives this news, will continue a
work, or report for work until suci
time as the action of the president L
known"
Representatives of the organized EN-
ployes were in conference tonight Il
decide means of forcing return of thos,
already on strike. an action which wal
taken in defiance of officers of thu
International Brotherhood of Electri
cal Workers, who voted defermen
pending results of mediation.
ORDERED TO RETURN.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2.-Tele
pranhic ordare wara dianatchad IN