The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-08
Say They Were Locked Out by
Western Union Sunday.
All Union Operators Discharged
at New Orleans.
SENATE TAKES UP WIRE LAW
Will Hold Hearings This Week
on House Resolution.
Congress Down to Business
After Failure of Recess.

Chicago, July. S.--Reports received
by s. ]. Konenkamp, president of the
Commercial Telegraphers' union. indi-
Gated that lockouts and strikes ac-
count for the absence of approximate
ly 242 men from their keys in West
ern Union offices today.
From Atlanta Mr.. Konenkamp re-
ceived word that $50 men were out
there Twenty were reported out at
Oklahoma City. There was no trou-
BILE at Chicago.
Says Strike Plan Failed.
President Newcomb Carlton of the
Western Union gave out the following
statement this morning.:
1.-The cold facts are these:
"On Sunday afternoon strike meet
ings were called by the Commercial
Telegraphers' union in all the princI-
pal cities. In many cities there were
so few present that the meetings were
abandoned. Out of our 40.0O0odd
operating employees. exactly fifty-six
attended and Joined the union for the
purpose of a strike. This is the one
and only reason why the proposed
strike was called off"
Atlanta, Ga, July S.-One hundred
and fifty telegraph operators employed
here by the Western Union company
| left their keys early today following
| d :on by the company in locking out
| union employees over Sunday.
| Union officials sent message to
President Wilson telling him the action
| was taken only because he telegraph
! company failed to play square and
! issued lockout orders.
May Spread Over Southwest.
strike of telegraphers thruout the
southeast because of the wholesale dis
charge of men by the Western Unicn
| yesterday is predicted by President A.
| F. Joyner of the local union. BY noon.
he said, there will be no more than six
or seven men left in the office here.
ts-. Strike Is Local.
Atlanta, Ga, July 8.-Union teieg-
raphers of the Western Union did not
go on strike in the southeastern dis
| trict in accordance with the latest or
der of S. ]. Konenkamp, president of
the national organization, except at At
/ lanta, where thirty-two men prema-
turely left their keys, according to II.
c. Worthen, general superintendent of
the Western Union. Mr.. Worthen saiu
his reports showed conditions in the
southeastern district normal.
Lockout at New Orleans.
New Orleans, July S.-Members of
the Commercial Telegraph Union of
America. who reported for work at the
local offices of the Western Union TEL
egraph company this morning were
| told that the company had no further
need for their services. More than
/ elSntY men VINO ndd Deen refused dd-
mittance to the Western Union offices
were gathered at union headqua rters
for q special meeting of the local this
morning. Union officials said that ac-
cording to their reports less than a
| dozen nOn-union operators were at
work.
Officials of the telegraph company
said sfxty-four operators were at work.
The local office normally employs
between 135 and $50 operators.
Lockout in Oklahoma, Too.
Oklahoma City, July S.-Fourteen
union telegraph operators employed
here by the Western Union Telegra phi
and Gable company, were notified to-
day by, cards signed by c. M. Thomp-
son. chief operator. that their services
were mo longer required because of
your undesira bic affiliations" Eight
members of the Commercial TeIe-
graphers union of America were dis
missed yesterday for the same reason.
according to o. J. Pickle. manager of
the Oklahoma City. office.
Denial From n. Y. Office.
New York, July S.-Western Union
officials here today disclaimed any
knowledge of lockout orders issued in
Atlanta and declared business at all
points was going ahead as usual
General Situation Now Up to Congress.
Washington. July S.-The speed