The Washington herald., 1918-07-08
TELEGRAPHERS ACT
TO POSTPONE STRIKE
on WILSON'S APPEAL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

orally held to be most unjustihable.
and perhaps defeat its very object.
You. as well as the telegraphers.
know how thoroughly I am in accord
with you ard them in the proven and
admitted wrongs the telegraphers
have endured, and my earnest desire
to have the wrongs rectified and to
avoid any hindrance to our govern
ment's war program even in the
slightest degree Is my warrant to
urge you at once to exercise your
every power to postpone the strike
fer a time and give every agency
the opportunity Of making good and
doing Justice"
A few minutes later came the for
NAL announcement from Konenkamp
at Chicago that the strike would be
postponed, pending action by Con-
gresS.
Strike Long Threatened.
The strike has been pending for sew
eral months. Controversies between
the union and the companies regard
ing recognition of the union, hours OF
work and low pay were referred to
the War Labor Board. Complaint re-
garding discharge of operators for
union membership was referred by II
TO the special section Of the board
consisting of Joint Chairmen W. H
Taft and Frank P. Welsh. They found
in favor OF the men and their finding
was accepted by the Postal Telegraph
Company. The Western Union Com
pany continued to discharge operators
for wearing the union button, the mer
charged, and they acclaimed a virtua
lockout by the company.
The Western Union defended its po.
sition by saying that 1t had agreed tc
accept the decision of the War Labor
Board but that it had never agreed 10
accept the action Of one section oi
the board.
TeIegraphers charged that the com.
pany had asked war exemptions fol
nonunion operators within draft ag'
on the grounds of their necessity fol
the Transmission of government bust
ness, and had then discharged otheI
operators for union affiliations. Pres
ident Carleton, of the Western Union
declared his company's attitude or
unfonism was the same as the Post
office Departments.
The men have claimed that the COM
pany would welcome the government
taking over the lines on the same
basis the railroads were taken. which
would guarantee the company sub
stantial dividends on its stock.
Action In Congress.
The controversy reached Congress
last week, when the House passed q
resolution authorizing the President
to take over the lines as a wal
necessity and the Senate sought tc
adjourn to August Il without sucf
action. The President prevented the
adjournment. and Congress will meet
today with the Senate Committee con-
sidering the situation. 1t was said on
the hill that the Senate's action was
inspired by a fear that the govern.
ment might raise telegraph rates,
once II took over the lines and the
resolution when finally passed may
contain provision against such ac-
=. ton.
The War Labor Board has refused
urther action since the decision OF
Taft and Walsh on the union issue,
and the matters OF hours OF work
and low pay are still pending before
it, No action Is expected on these
until after pending Congressional ac-
ton.
Union leaders as well as Con-
eressional leaders believe the only ac-
ton which would prevent the gov
ernment's taking over the lines would
be the submission by the Western
Union to the decision Of the War La
Dor Boards special section. and its
reinstatement Of the discharged union
operators. The union men insist.
however. that further Congressional
action Is not necessary and that the
President now has power to act under
] an act of Congress passed in 1866, inn
. mediately after the civil war.