Evening star., 1918-06-05
UP PROCUREMENT
!. TO PREVENT STRIKE
TeIegraphers' Threatened
WaIkout Seems Certain,
Labor Leaders Believe.
EFFECT ON WASHINGTON

A nationwide strike Of members
Of the Commercial Telegraphers'
Union can be averted only by inter-
vention of the federal government,
labor leaders declared today. The date
and instructions for carrying on the
strike will be issued to all telegra-
piers from Chicago by S. J. Konen-
kamp president Of the Commercial
Telegraphers Union.
Labor leaders also predicted a gen.
eral response to the nationwide
strike call. It 10 regarded as fore
gone conclusion that the government
either will operate tho wires until the
contemplated strike 10 adjusted or
during the period Of the war.
How D. c. Will Be Affected.
All members of the District coun-
ell. No. "a. are expected to walk out
when the call Is issued, Milton T. Egg
lin. president of the local, declared
today. Not only will the members of
the union In Washington strike. Mr..
Eg1in stated. but many Western
oAAoA opCIdlOIS WHO are AFRAID, TO
join the union for fear of losing
their positions also will walk out. A
number Of girls employed in the tele-
graph ofhces here are members Of the
local. Mr.. Eglin said.
Ofhctals Of both commercial tele.
graph companies here, however. stated
that their operators are perfectly
satisfied with the present conditions
and that they don't expect many to
quit when the strike is declared
Plans to Call Walkout.
Mr.. Konenkamp left Washington
last night, after a two-day confer
ence with labor leaders and admins
tration officials. for Chicago. Upon
his arrival there he plans to mail out
the call for a walkout as the result
Of the refusal of the Western Union
Telegraph Company to submit to the
jurisdiction OF tho national war labor
board, which sought to compose DIFF
ferences between the companies and
the men.
Mr.. Konenkamp stated before he
left Washington last night that he
had been assured by Samuel Gompers.
president Of the American Federation
Of Labor, OF his interest and SYM
pathy and Of such assistance as the
union. Mr.. Gompers. however, made
no statement.
Mr.. Reynolds Makes Statement.
Edward Reynolds. vice president and
general manager of the Postal Tele-
graph Company, issued a statement say
ing there were not enough union oper-
ators to make q strike, and that IL a
strike was called not Q per cent Of the
telegraphers would respond.
Mr. Reynolds also denied q statement
that the average salary Of the telegra-
pliers Is from $1S q week to 1894 as a
This 10 absolutely untrue" he said.
We have telegraph operators in our en-
.ploy who are receiving more than $40
a week OF six days of regular working
hours. The telegraph service is a twenty
four-hour service. and telegraphers
working day is based upon seven, eight
and nine hours service, according to the
which he works"
Says Many Earn $50 Week.
"If he cares to work more than q
regulation day and is a good operator
he can Garland many Of them do
actually earn-in our service more than
$50 week.
THE talk of our employees being
overworked and having long hours is
all nonsense. They do not work be.
yond regular hours, except yolun-
tartly. for which they are paid time
and one-half based upon seven hours
MI. Reynolds stated that the Posta,
company is opposed to government