New-York tribune., 1918-06-05
u. s. Control
OF Wires Now
Seems Near
Continued from page 1

he pointed out that what had been done
on the Pacific Coast was by mutual
agreement, and that unless the tele-
graph companies were agreeable the
department would be unable 20 do any
thing"
Mr.. onenkamp said that decision
as to whether he will call strike of
the telegraph operators will be made
after he reaches Chicago eve are not
IN hurry about going out" he said.
He made the announcement prior to
the conference with Mr. Gompers and
members of Congress, at which he
discussed the possibilities of govern
ment control Of wire lines. The strike.
If called. he said, will not affect the
operation Of railroads. Where opera
tors handle both railroad and CONNER
cial business they will refuse to han
dlo commercial messages, he said. The
order to prepare for a general walk
out which was mailed to the local
members of the union read as follows:
"To all telegraph workers.:
prepare for strike. 1t will affect
the Western Union and the Postal
The date is set, and we are working
toward it.
"This is the message of President
konenkamp to all Washington teleg-
raphers, and Washington District
Council expects every telegrapher in
the district to be guided by it,
Calls Companies Defiant
"The National War Labor Board has
told the Western Union officials what
they should do. They have declared
that all telegraphers have the right to
exercise the privileges of an American
worklngman and have roundly scored
the telegraph companies for their un-
American labor policies. They have cx-
planned to the public just what the
companies are doing in violation of the
principles laid down in President Will
sons proclamation, and how the tele-
graph trust has detied both the Presi-
tional War Labor Board.
There is but one reason for this
attitude. The telegraph companies be-
lleve they have removed every ounce
OF red blood from the veins of their
employees. They have assured every
body that the telegraphers would never
tight for their own freedom. The Of
f1clals OF the companies believe this
to be true, although we know just how
badly fooled they will be when the test
comes.
"The members of the Washington
district are urged to defer their vaca-
ton arrangements until after the
strike has been declared; to cooperate
with the officers of the union in at
tending meetings, by assisting on com
mttees and in rendering every sup
port possible
"Self-respect demands we show the
nation that we are proud enough to
fight for our freedom; that we still
have the punch and that the day of our
emancipation is at hand.
I'VE nrPa eVarV t2le ~.
pare now for what seems unavoidable.
Save your money; make your arrange
ments for tie-up
"ORGANIzAT'ION COMMITTEE.
Commercial Telegraphers' Union of
America, District Council, No. "a"
War Aids Men
Men here in a position to know saw
that # there were no complication Of
war emergencies strike on the West
ern Union would have but short dura-
tion. Since the big strike about twelve
years ago, it is said. the Western
Union has been most Jealous in weed
ing out from among Its employees those
who Joined the union. AT The same time
1T has attempted to win over its en-
ployes by granting most of the conces-
slons which had been demanded. in
cluding free typewriters and better
pay. 1t has sought to train it's own
men, with the result that it is declared
that only very small percentage of
its employees are now identified with
the union.
For these reasons the Western
Union. it is pointed out. refused to
surrender the position it has had
through so many years, at the demand
Of the War Trade Board that it admit
the principle of collective bargaining,
which meant, to the telegraph company
ofilcials, pure and simple recognition
of the union.
Following is the text of the bill in
troduced by Mr.. Lunn providing for
government operation, not only Of all
telegraph lines, but telephone lines as
we'll:
"Be it enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives of the United
States of America, in Congress assem-
hled. that the Presidant In orda. 4 q l.,