Evening star., 1918-06-04
TO STRIKE.
KEYMEN ARE TOLD
D. c. Council of TeIegraphers
Notified, But Date Not
Made Known.
Conference HELD TO-DAY.

Strike calls were mailed out today
to approximately 500 members Of the
District Council of the Commercial
Telegraphers' Union of America by
the local organization committee. Al
though the date has been definitely
set for the walkout. 1t was not made
pubic. Reports also stated that
strike orders were being mailed to
locals from the Chicago headquarters
OF the union. fixing a date late next
week for q general strike. unless re-
called by wire. The strike order viii
affect approximately so.oso organized
telegraphers OF the Western Union
ana Postal Telegraph companies.
Conference Held.
Samuel Gompers. president Of the
j. konenkamp. president of the
telegraphers' union. and members of
Congress were in conference this
morning a the Offices of the American
Federation of Labor. Mr.. Konenkamp
announced this morning that a deci-
sion as to whether he will call strike
OF the telegraph operators will be
made after he reaches Chicago. whence
he will go tomorrow.
We are not in a hurry about going
out" he said.
Mr.. Konenkamp made the announce
Ment prior to the conference with Mr..
Gompers and members of Congress at
which he discussed the possibilities Of
government control Of wire lines. The
strike. II called. Mr.. Konenkamp said.
roads. Where operators handle both
railroad and commercial business they
will refuse to handle commercial mes
sages, he said.
Men Ordered to Prepare"
The order to prepare for a general
walkout which was mailed to the lo~
cal members Of the union read as fol-
lows:
:" To All Telegraph Workers:
Prepare for a strike. 1t will affect.
the Western Union and the Postal.
The date ie set and we are working
toward it.
Konenkamp to all Washington teleg-
raphers. and Washington District
Council expects every telegrapher in
the District to be guided by 1t.
The National War Labor Board has
told the Western Union officials what
that all telegraphers have the right
to exercise the privileges OF an
American workingman and have
roundly scored the telegraph COM
panies for their un-American labor
policies. They have explained to the
public just what the companies are
doing in violation Of the principles
laid Down in President Wilson's proc
lamation and how the telegraph trust
has defied both the President of the
Labor Board.
Only One Reason Cited.
There is but one reason for this
attitude. The telegraph companies be-
lieve they have removed every ounce
of red blood from the veins of their
employees. They have assured every
body that the telegraphers would
never nsnf f1r or tne,r own heisHa ibis
to be true. although we know just how
badly fooled they will be when the
test comes
'.rhe members of the Washington
district are urged to defer their vaca-
tion arrangements until after the
strike has been declared: to cooper
ate with the officers of the union in
attending meetings. by assisting on
committees and in rendering every
support possible
':Self-respect demands we show the
nation that we are proud enough to
fight for our freedom: that we still
have the punch and that the day OF
our emancipation is at hand.
I'VE urge every telegrapher to pre-
pare now for what seems unavoidable.
ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE,
Commercial Telegraphers' Union OF
America, District Council. No. "a"
q. s. May Take Over Lines.
It was intimated today that il the
strike should materialize 1t is almost GER
tain the government will take over the
during the time the trouble
lasts, or possibly for the period of the
war. This step will be taken because
the stoppage of telegraphic communities
ton at such a time as this would amount
to a national calamity.
Postmaster General Burleson has is
sued statement urging the speedy ac-
ton for federal control and operation of
been one Of the leaders in the campaign
FOR government control for several years.
When asked what he thought Of govern
ment operation in view Of the failure Of
and the submarine situation.
he said that it was more urgent now
than at any other time.
Need for Military Secrecy.
One Of the new reasons given today
lOI Inc ldhlHS ONCT "a luc SYSTEM l8
he need Of greater protection for mil
tary secrecy and for ship movements.
It was stated that there was ground
to believe that the Germans had OBJ
tanned through surreptitious means
news of the sailing of ships through
handled by the companies,
although there was no Implication
that the companies had been negli-
gent in taking proper precautions.
Officials of the Western Union Com
pany here stated that q strike would
not cripple the service in this city.
but they cannot speak for the rest
Of the company. They maintain that
the company will positively stand by
rs decision, which ended all further
with the Taft-walsh
labor board Of the Department of
Labor.
Bristol, Va.-Tenn., have become
..wheatless" cities. Twenty thousand
persons, making up the twin COM
munities, have pledged themselves to
do without wheat until the next
harvest.