The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-08
1ElEGRAPHERS
DECIDE TO WAIT
ON GOVERNMENT
Threatened Strike Called
Of at Request OF Sec
rotary Wilson.
GOMPERS AGREES
House Approves Plan
for President to Take
Over Lines-Senate
to Act Next.
COMPERS AGREES

Washington, July THE Com
mercial Telegraphers' strike has heen
postponed pending action by congress
TO give the president authority 20
take over tho lines.
Action to this effect came late this
evening. after Secretary Of Labor VIII
son. at the instance Of President Will
son. had made special request Of :.
J. konenkamp. international prcsi~
dent of the Commercial Tcleeraphers'
union.
Secretary Wilson called konenkamD
on the long distance telephone AZ
Chicago. whore he was then in confer
ence with union leaders laying tho
final plans for the walkout in tho
morning.
Secretary Wilson had been working
On the sifuafiou since 2 o'clock in
fhe afternoon and was understood 20
; '. neen In conference at the White
House
reaues to Konenkemp was
backed Up nv Samuel GomrerS.
president Of the American Fotera-
ton Of Lab Teiegrams from Secre ,
tarv Wilson and fsop,pers To kooen-
kamp had hren prepared when tho
secretary got the te1eGraPhers head on
the wire. He repd both. and kouro-
kamp assured him that as soon rs
they were received formal action
wDufd he tax II. n fhNf HNRHAF NHi1 n9
would have n consult his executive
committee. then In session, and also
would have 10 get In long distance
touch with his New York committee,
After further conversation. the
secretary said. konenkamp had AS
sured him the strike would be with
drawn and that congress would he
given time To corn plete It's dclthcra.
fion in the matter.
ha al
resolution authorizing this president 10
take over lines and the senate inter
state commerce committee IS planning
to hold hearings on II r was ey-
rected at tho capitol last night Nhen
congress adjourned over sunday that
II would take the senate about two
weeks to complete its Investigations
The message which Secretary WILL
son read Konenkamp over The tele-
phone and later telegraphcd him
were:
From Secretary Wilson: ~ earn
estiy request in view of the general
situation and the imperative necessity
of avoiding interference with the
prompt transmission OF communica-
tions, which may be of vital import
snce In the prosecution of the war
that steps 10 prevent any strike he
taken, until can have conferen Ce
with you and others Since the strike
vote of your organization was taken.
the circumstance surrounding the
situation have materially changed,
. You know that ii is generally ggreed
and that the president several TINS
has declared that in this crucial time
no strike is justified II any orhs r
mSans of adjusting Ertivances are
available or in sight The congress is
now dealing with the subject and
undoubtedly exact Justice will he done
all the parties at interest This re-
quest Is made in the interest OF our
country. i feel sure II will he headed
by you"
From Samuel Gompers: This af-
ternoon Secretary Wilson, OF the de
partment of labor. invited me to con-
fer with him in regard TO the thre.~t-
ened Geographic situation and he
showed me the telegram he sent you.
/ am In entire accord with the views
he expresses, A strike of the tele
graphers at this time and while there
In a fair chance for an early fair and
honorable adjustment, would he most
unfortunate and generally held to be
most un1ustifiable and perhaps de-
feat its very object, You as well as
the telegraphers know how thorough
~ am in accord with you and them
In the proven and admitted wrongs
the telegraphers have endured and my
earnest desire to have the wrongs
rectified and to aviod any hindrance
to our governments War program
even In the slightest degree is my war
rant to urge you at once to exercise
your every power to postpone the
strike for time and give every
agency the opportunity of making
good and doing Justice
A few minutes later came the
formal announcement from Konen-
kamp at Chicago that the strike would
be postponed pending action by con-
gress.