The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-19
FEDERAL CONTROL
Of TELEGRAPH IS
BEFORE CABINET
Western Union 8 Refusal
Of War Board Ruling
Raises Question.
CARLTON OBJECTS
Chief Complaints to Way
Members Reached
Their Decision in
Matter.
CARLTON OBJECTS

Washington, June is,--Geverrment
control OF telegraph lines Ia under
stood to have been brought sQuarely
70 an Issue at today's cabinet meeting.
The basis Of the deliberations was
= letter from President Newoomb Carl
ton. of the Western Union Telegraph
company, refusing to abide by the de-
cision OF the war labor board giving
operators the right to organize.
Ten days ago, President Wilson in
= letter addressed to the officials OF
both the Western Union and the
Postal Telegraph companies urged the
acceptance of the decision for tho
period OF the war. The Postal Teie-
graph company. through Clarence II.
Mackay. its president, agreed to the
proposal.
The reply from President Carlton.
Of the Western Union. Is regarded a.
q purely technical objection 70 the
manner in which the war labor board
reached its decision. He asserts that
Ave of the twelve members of the
board voted against II when there
should have been a unanimous vote to
make the decision binding. President
Carlton also charged that although
the union had waived the right to
strike during the war period. they
were planning to organize with SUM
Giant strength to "demoraliZe dtsct-
piine" when released from this promise
A. a counter suggestion he urged
urn Union employees.
The letter asserted there La no dan
ger Of q telegraphers' strike and that
the company feels 1t would not DO do
ing Justice to the public If II permit
al npeSiAA nntnya Nfn infer$ara vy4f n
its work.
The Carlton letter is understood to
have materially strengthened senti-
ment in the cabinet favoring govern
ment control of all telegraph Inca.
Postmaster General Burieson has re-
peatedly urged action in that dtrec
ton. He declined, however. TO dis
cuss the situation when leaving tho
White House today.
To Act Promptly.
II is understood the administration
proposes to act promptly. but will ex-
ercise extraordinary caution in the
matter of legal rights, In this con-
nection, Attorney General Gregory has
been asked to render an opinion as
to whether new legislation Is needed.
Former Justice Charles e, Hughes.
now associated with the attorney gem
said to have informed the president
the blanket authority granted by con-
gress IL sufficient to justify any move
he may decide to make.
The next move by the administra-
ton will be to forward President
Carlton's letter to the war labor board
for consideration In connection with
the regulation which the Western
Union official claims has bean violated.
Tho regulation follows:
When the board after due effort
Of it, own. through sections, local COM
nittees or otherwise. hnds It impoesi-
Bile to settle a controversy, it ahail
then sit a. q board Of arbitration. de-
eide the controversy and make An
award. X 1t can reach 4 unanimous
conclusion. II Il cannot do this than
It shall select an umpire. a. provided.
and shall sit with the board. review the
issues and render his award"
II the board rules that President
Wilson was regarded as tho umpire
whom the case was referred to him
al preliminaries will have been end
ed. according to one administration
authority. The board may also re
view tho evidence and take another
vote, which II unanimous would make
An umpire unnecessary.