New-York tribune., 1918-06-19
President Is Expected to
Summon Carlton and
konenkamp
Board Order Rejected
Western Union Refuses to
Sanction Men Joining La
Dor Organization
Especial Dispatch to The Tribune ,

western Union Telegraph Company IS
expected to be taken by President Will
son soon in the shape of request
that President Carlton of the Western
Union, como to Washington for con-
ference on the dispute.
While the refusal of President Carl
ton to abide by the decision of the
War Labor Board was discussed at to-
days Cabinet meeting, it is understood
that before the government will decide
to take over the operation of the tele-
graph companies President Carlton
will have another opportunity to state
his case to the President.
The operation of the telegraph COM
panies by the government, it was
stated, would not be resorted to until
every means of amicably composing the
differences Of the employees and en-
ployers have been taken.
President Cartoons letter Of refusal
to abide by the decision of the War
Labor Board, directly contrary to the
view taken by President Mackay Ct
the Postal Telegraph Company, was not
unexpected by labor leaders, who de-
clared tonight that government own
ership seems to be the only solution
of the differences
May Summon Konenkamp
The expected summons to the White
include President S. j. Konenkamp Of
the telegraphers, who has set a tenta-
tive date for walkout OF his asso-
ciates. In view of the statement CO l.
tained in President Cartoons letter to
President Wilson referring to "t2e
character and temper of the union," it
was believed likely that the President
would ask President konenkamp to
come to Washington in the hope that
some agreement might be reached that
would compose the differences of the
two organizations.
In reply to the letter of President
Wilson urging the the Western Union
Telegraph Company to accept the de-
cision of the National, War Labor
Board in the controversy between the
company and the telegraphers' union
Mr.. Carlton reiterates the company op-
position to allowing it's employees to
join the Commercial Telegraphers'
Union of America. He says that there
are only two ways of settling the dis
pute-by compulsory arbitration, as in
the plan Of an organization of employees
already outlined by the company.
Sees Union Propaganda
Mr.. Carlton accuses the union. in
waving it's right to strike during the
war under the labor boards plan, of
proposing to carry on propaganda to
enable 1t to make use Of the strike
after the war. The letter, made pub
ment that the company "would deeply
deplore being forced to lay aside the
safeguards that experience has shown
to be requisite and which are believed
to be essential to the preservation Of
effective telegraph service"
LET me assure you, Mr.. President"
the letter reads, in part, "that our de-
sire to support the National War La
bor Board in their conciliatory and
mediatory functions is expressed in our
willingness to submit to their arbitra-
tion any dispute which might arise be-
tween the management and the en-
ployes over a question of pay or work
ing conditions. We believe, however,
that we are entitled during the war to
maintain the dictum which the Secre-
tary of Labor has SO we'll expressed in
these words:
Objects to Change Now
"'Where either an employer or an
employe has been unable under normal
conditions to change the standards to
their own liking they should not take
advantage Of the present abnormal con-
ditions to establish new Standards
eve have for years maintained the
position that our essential employees,
those working the wires, should not
affiliate with organizations employing
the strike either for their own benefit
or, sympathetically. for the benefit of
others. This policy has long been
known to our employees, and we have
considered abstention from such affiilia-
tion a condition of their service, and
to-day there are no members of such
organization in our employ.
owe desire to be perfectly frank with
you, sir, as we have been with the
board. We are not favorable to sharing
the responsibility of conducting great
public service with the peculiar feat
ures Of the telegraph, which the ext
gencies Of the war have increased many
fold, with members Of an outside or
ganization, whose interests are per-
sonal, rather than public.
"The telegraph business that comes
to us is about 80 per cent of the total,
and this volume involves about 1,5OO,-
100000 landings a year. Obviously,
properly to handle so vast volume
promptly and accurately requires COM
Elementary effort and cordial CO.
operation between all employees"
The quality Of telegraph service, Mr..
Carlton goes on to explain, depends
absolutely upon the spirit of individ-
ual employees, just as in the postal and
railroad service, and he points out
chat small minority of operators
not cordially cooperating may serious
ly interfere with the speed and accu-
racy Of messages
Objections to Union
The letter continues: "Under The
plan Of Mr.. Walsh, concurred in by Mr.
Taft. an outside union which has for
many years been frankly hostile to the
company, would. under the pretext of a
war emergency, waive its right to
strike during the war, but carry on a
propaganda for the purpose of enlist
ing enough Of the company's employees
for no possible result that it could at
tain during the war, but only that it
might furnish the nucleus for the dis
organization of our service through de-
moralized discipline and the use of the
strike Immediately after the exigencies
of the war had ceased and released 1t
from its promises. AS indicative of the
character and temper of this union,
permit me to quote the following words
from an official circular issued by
it. calling a meeting in Chicago for
June 9: Come armed, if you deem it
necessary
81 need not remind you, sir, that the
primary obligations of telegraph SER
q 4