The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-02
PROPAGANDA AGAINST
]. 5. CONTROL OF WIRE
Nest Active Effort Against Govern
mcnt L. Attempt to Force cues"
ton OF unionisHn.
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP LEADER
Il Trying TO Force Hands Of POST
mas,er General As Regards FIRST
Dcdnite Steps--Continue Along same
Ltncs Until Notice

washington. August 1.-The hrst
A~Nr1,xa y+ens In government control OF
sth~ tale graphs and telephones VIII pe
known in two weeks unless the pro-
4 - randa of private ownership ana
control, now under way, FORCES the
governments hand before that urne.
Reports OF this active propssanoa
reached the postofice depar MEM W
day from several sources, The most
nrftv. effort directed against success
81 government control, appears 10 De
an attempt to force the question or
untonis,n among the teleEraphefs as
an Immediate issue and TO STIR UP ais
scnsion among the men. .
Postmaster General Burleson, In
formally taking over the telegraph ana
telephone lines last midnight, issued
instructions that the individual com
panies should continue their business
along the same lines as under private
control until further instructions. Re-
ports that came to the postoftlce de-
rartment today were that the West
ern Union company had taken ad-
vantage of the leeway, thus afforded
20 DISCHARGE a number of the tele-
graphers on the sole ground that they
wore union men. MIR. Burleson was
ont O fthe city today. but Will return
tomorrow and the matter Will be iaia
before him. 1t is expected that ne
win Immediately deal with this phase
OF the propaganda against govern
ment control with n firm hand. ana
order a change in the policy of the
MANAGEMENT of the Western Union,
which permits the discharge of the
telegraphers who become members OF
q union. 4
Another attempt 70 influence pub
lie sentiment against government con-
troll, reported 20 the postoffice depart
meut today. was the refusal or the
American Telephone and Telegraph
company to renew leases Of wires Tor
telegraphing news reports ana othef
purposes on the ground that the gov
1rnment might need the wires and
would not approve of leases.
The suggestion that there would be
no wire leases under government
6vnershtp and that individuals or
1orrorations whose business is solely
dependent upon leased wires would be
Il the mercy of government official
Ia continuing business, was calculated
% destroy faith in government control
And start a movement TO have the
wires restored to private control
No word has come out from Wash
hgton that would indicate that such
i policy is in mind and II is not be-
&eved that the government VIII deny
leases of wires for legitimate purposes.
il was stated at the postofhce de-
oartment today. that this matter also
Mould be laid before Postmaster-Gen
ereal Buyieson on his return tomor-
u and that a definite announcement
~ policy might be expected to follow
a few days.
The first effort OF the telegraph and
telephone administration Will be
directed towards a Capitalization of
management with a fuller utilization
Of equipment in order to affect great
economy and furnish cheaper service
to the public.
This effort is certain 70 result in
the cutting off from the pay roll of
the various companies Of a large num-
Der of high salaried officials, and as in
the case Of the railroad administration,
will include lawyers and others who
were carried on the rolls at high
salaries without contributing useful
service TO the work.
Manv % these high salarled officials
were fearful ct losing Their jobs and
are htiretrg every influence possible
to hear with Tho administration TO Sc
cure then s@tves ln their pobs before
the tig shake-gn comes Senators and
cor Egesgu sen 3re being urged to fix
the status Of hose men under govern
ment cuuto So they viii not be
affectea ny any general order that
may he }ssJe9 In every ease these
men have been fo'd to write in a
letter. setting forth their qualifications
and the nature IF rhe service they
are performing. and have been told
that such letters would receive due
consideration at the proper time
This lack OF reinsurance has had a