New-York tribune., 1918-06-19
Talk of a Strike
Now Appears in
Telegraph Fight
Operators Ready to Reply
Dehantly to Newcomb
Carlton
Especial Dispatch to The Tribunal

ST. PAUL, Mimi. June 18.-Del-
egates to the convention of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor began to
talk of strike here to-day for the
first time in connection with the West
ern Union Telegraph dispute. With
the recent acquisition of the Electrical
Workers Union to their forces, the
commercial telegraphers feel they are
in a position to reply defiantly to the
etter Of Newcomb Carlton, president
of the Western Union. to President
Wilson, definitely refusing to permit
the unionization of the company's
employees by outside organizers.
Mr.. Konenkamp, president Of the
Commercial Telegraphers' Union, said
to-day: "We can show Mr.. Carlton
that his concern can be tied up COM
pletely it we should be forced to strike
in order to Americanize this Prussian
institution"
The word "strike" has of course
been in the background Of the discus
sion ever since the controversy arose.
The union men. have carefully avoided
using. it. They preferred merely to
say they accepted the decision Of the
War Labor Board, which was commit
ted in advance to the principle of
+ runlonization. Thus they threw upon
the Western Union company the
onus Of refusing to abide by the de-
| clslon of governmental agency for
the preservation of industrial peace
The company having accepted the onus
OF refusal, the men now accept the
onus of strike.
For Test of Strength
The men confidently believe. how
ever, that the President will not permit
interruption of telegraphic communica-
tlon for even a single day, and will
be virtually obliged to take over the
lines.
1t is the view of many delegates
that both sides are gathering theil
forces for trial of strength, with
the War Labor Board as the critical
that the five members Of the board
representing the employers refused to
concur in the decision Of the majority
including former President Taft
Some believe the employers of the
country. having become aware of the
full potentialitics of the board as an
instrument for unionizing American
! industries. are virtually making this q
test case.
Mr.. Konenkamp ridicules Mr.. Carl.
tons statement that the Western Union
employees "have determined upon their
own association" upon their own "sug.
gestion."
How far Mr.. Konenkamp could
make good his threat of tying up The
Western Union system is a matter fo1
speculation. He will not reveal how
many Of the commercial telegraphers
are organized. 1t is certain thew form
small proportion Of the total mum.
Der.
Much comment was caused TODAY al
the convention by the unexpected news
| that the passports Of the fraterna]
delegates elected by the British Trade
Union Congress to the St. Paul con-
vention had been held up through the
government. Tho announcement was
! made by President Gompers in reply
to the query of u delegate asking why
tho English delegates had not arrived
! It was said tho American Embassy In
London refused to wise the passports
Gompers Scores Weeklies
II was pointed out that the delegates
elected to represent British labor, Miss
n
open opposition to the Lloyd George
government in many matters. Miss
Bondfield in particular is known to bt
persona non grata to official England
probably because Of her attitude OF
the "labor war aims" which call for {
conference between representatives o.
/ the German and Allied working classes
"The New Republic" weekly pub
lished In New York, came in for ,
iifteen-minute dcnunciation from Pres
ident Gompers this morning, alonf
with "The Survey" and "The Public.
These weeklies have opposed certain
of Mr.. Gompers's policies in the pas
and have been sympathetic to tn,
British labor war aims.
Mr.. Gompcrs took exception to a1
editorial in "rhe New Republic" urg
ing q more aggressive political polio,
on the part Of the federation ant
criticising it for having gone "cap ii
hand" to Congress In the past. awe
do not need the self-const!tuted cen
sorshtp and membership of these pub
locations" said Mr.. Gompers. aWe de-
cline to yield the leadership Of GU,
movement to those who do not work.
Mr.. Gompers, who spoke not as pres
ident OF the federation but as a dele
gate from the cigarmakers, also de,
i nounced that portion Of the press
which assumes and presumes to speal