New-York tribune., 1918-06-03

and held to be the inalienable right Of
all American laymen.
"President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor has asked me tc
confer with him before declaring 3
strike. am going to Washington to-
night for that purpose.
Instructions Sent to Members
"Confdental instructions will be
more than 200 cities"
Asked if the Postal would be affected
by any strike order IN view of the fact
that it's case had not been considered
by the board, he said he thought it
would be.
"If we cannot get any more from the
Postal than from the Western Union,
he asked, "whv should we wait?
at is certain that unless some way
is developed of bringing the companies
to time, some way of compelling them
to recognize the right to organize, there
will be a strike. SO far as government
control is concerned. we have been in
favor OF that since 1908"
Any strike order, Mr.. Konenkamp
said, would affect 10000 commercial
telegraphers. How many of these would
strike he refused to predict
In formal statement issued by Mr.
Carlton the Western Union denied that
any of its employees have complained
to the War Labor Board. So far as the
Commercial photographers Union is
concerned, it is, he says, an organza-
tlon of 800 men, principally residents
OF Canada, who arc not employed by
the company. AS far as the company's
he says, are satisfied with existing CON
ditions and do not wish to Join the
union.
Explains Company's Attitude
THE telegraph company" says Mr.
carton, explaining its attitude toward
the Labor Board, understands that in
organizing the National War Labor
Board it was intended that organiza-
tions that were unionized should re.
main so and those pursuing the policy
OF an open shop should not be changed
By inference it is equally clear that
organizations non-union in character
should also pursue that policy during
the period of the war.
III this is not true, and if these
principles are interpreted as COMPEL
ing this company and others in like
situation to abandon their settled poll
clcs, and leaving outside organization
tree to work as they may see fit among
their employees, then the hands of the
employers are tied and the PRINCIPLES
of the War Labor Board furnish 9
cloak behind which propaganda for
the unionizing of labor in every indus
try may be carried on without let OF
hindrance.
"Tho Western Union has no ouarre'
with tho principles of unionism. and
thcre are associated with the company
many employees who are members ri
various unions. but it holds to the be-
i'ef and the practice that it can
not surrender control of the essential
employees to an outside organization.
The Western Union is not seeking
TO deprive any one of their inalicna
blc rights, but it recognizes that its
employees must choose employment
with the company and membership in
the Z. I. U. A. with employment in
the many other telegraph positions
open to them.
"The Western Union employs less
than 20 per cent Of the total teleg-
raphcrs in the United States. The
company says in effect to it's employees
If you desire to join the C. T. u. A
then we must part. SO long as YOU
retain your position with the company
you will have every protection and a
1uil right of appeal, but we cannot
agree that you shall join any organi-
zation which imperis the continuity
of the telegraph service which this
company is expected to provide fo,
the government and public of the
United States"