The sun., 1918-07-07
CONCESSION BY W. U.
IRRITATES WIREMEN
Telegraphers' Union Insists
Strike Order Will Be in
Effect Tomorrow.
CARLTON EXPECTS FIZzLE
Rival Camps Disagree on Prob
able Results Of the Con-
trOversy.

trOVerSy.
The concession made by the Western
Union Telegraph Company to It's en-
pioyees, allowing them the privilege OF
forming a union with a strike clause In
Its constitution. has irritated rather than
appeased the officials of the Commercial
Teiegraphers' Union of America. From
the offices OF the local branch of the
union word went forth yesterday that
there was no abatement Of the unions
Intention of putting Its nation wide
strike order into effect tomorrow morn
ing.
The Western Unions action In grant
ing its employees the privilege to strike,
the union officials maintained, was not
a bona fide concession but merely sop
thrown out to its employees to keep
them in line and deter them from Joining
the ranks Of the strikers. the only con-
cession on the part Of the Western I'm
lon that could actually avert the strike.
the officials maintained. would be the ex-
tention to its employees Of the right to
Join the Commercial Telegraphers
Union. but this the company had stead
lastly refused to do In spite Of Presi-
dent Wilson's appeal and the example
set by the Postal Telegraph Company.
Newcomb Carlton, president. and the
other officials Of the Western Union
however. refuse to become agitated over
the continued belligerence of the union
men. They predict that the strike will
either fizzle or be called of. with the ac-
cent on the latter possibility. The strike,
they declare, Is now directed solely at
the Western Union which has few II any
union men in the ranks Of its employees
Therefore, they maintain. the company
cannot possibly be crippled by the walk
out and since 1t does so per cent. OF the
wire business Of he country there can
not possibly be a serious tieup In the
country's telegraphic communication
even II the strike Is called.
Declare Union VIII Yield.
Furthermore. It is the consensus in
non-union circles that the union realizes
II has not the strength to pursue sue
cessful strike and that 1t has merely
been keeping up pretence OF cockiness
In order to Impress the Administration at
Washington and In that way to force the
Western Union eventually to yield to its
demands in order to avert Government
ownership.
With the passage OF the wire control
bill by the Senate still thing OF the
future the union. 10 the non-union
prophets figure, would not dare risk the
chance of an unsuccessful strike at this
time for fear Of convincing Washington
that the situation was not crucial and
that Governmental control Of the wire
facilities was not a necessary expedient.
There is growing sentiment among
non-union men that the union will save
it's face at the eleventh hour by calling
of the strike on the pretext of render
ing a patriotic service to the nation.
Although the House Of Representa-
tives has passed the wire control bill the
non-union forces fnd ray of comfort
in the fact that the Senate has decided
to refer the measure to its Committee
on Interstate Commerce before taking
definite action.
This seems to indicate" said Mr.
Carlton Of the Western Union. last
night that the Senate is living up to
traditions and has refused to be hur-
ried into a precipitate consideration Of
the bill To all appearances the Sem
ates Interstate Commerce Committee in
tends to sit during July and hear the
testimony of interested parties before
passing or rejecting a measure which
is so vitality related to the welfare of
the nation.
LAS far as ! know" continued Mr.
Carlton. the situation with regard to
the strike order Is unchanged. Our en-
ployees stIll remain loyal to the company
and l have received thousands Of tele-
grams to that effect from our various
offices throughout the country"
Message to Wilson Cited.
As an indication of the attitude OF the
Western Union employees Mr.. Carlton
| pointed to the action of the 1000 West
| ern Union telegraphers In Chicago, who
sent resolutions to President Wilson on
| Friday protesting that the Commercial
| .relegraphers Union did not represent
! them and that they would not heed the
order to strike tomorrow.
In the opinion OF Percy Thomas. dep
uty International president Of the Com
mercial Telegrahers Union, however, the
Western Union men merely signed the
resolution in order to save their Jobs.
III the telegraphers mad not signed
that message" said Mr. Thomas, they
would have been given about one minute
| to get their hats and coats and leave
the Office. but they preferred to sign
| and walt until the time set for the
unions walkout order before leaving.
| ''Ihere mas Deen SOME tdht dDout tne
Western Union men being allowed the
privilege OF forming a union OF their own
and striking II they want to. They will
be given the right to buttonhole superin-
tendents, but the right to strike they
will not have That alleged concession
will not cause the union TO falter in its
determination to start a general strike
at the time appointed by international
President Sylvester j. Konenkamp.
AT the meeting to be held in Terrace
Garden at $3.50 o'clock Sunday afternoon
| the photographers will organize finance
committee and n general strike commit
tee, which will have charge OF all the
picketing arrangements. The strike will
he against the Western Union Telegraph
Company. and we are expecting the CO.
operation OF all the electrical workers
and the railway telegraphers. We be-
lieve that the unions generally will aid
our strike fund"
Mr.. Thomas added that he was en-
deavoring to get w. Bourke Cochran to
address the meeting this afternoon.
WARNS STRIKERS To RETURN