The sun., 1918-07-06


equal or better protection without the
jeopardy of a strike. and give them the
right Of collective bargaining. This Is
not n plan to fight union, but 10 give
our people what they are entitled TO ana
never Naturalization and protection
against tyranny
idea started In Chicago.
The idea OF the new organization. with
the inclusion Of the strike clause, IL was
said last night. originated not with MI
Carlton butt with n group OF employees
of the company in Chicago. l,ooo OF
whom signed the petition which was for-
warded to the president. The employees
IL was added, believe implicitly In Mr
Cartons good faith In granting this
petition and intend to give the new
scheme two weeks trial II. how
ever there are any evidences OF insin-
certify on the part OF the company after
this period OF grace the employees VIII
Join the Commercial Telegraphers Union
of America, according to MIR. Miller. who
will attend the convention In Chicago as
one OF the two delegates from the West
ern Union Office in this city.
I'VE believe Mr.. Carlton Is on the
square with us and We are going 10 or
ganize the Association OF Western Union
Miller THAT nssocalon will be to all
intents and purposes a labor union. We
will know after two weeks whether the
Western Union IL on the square with
it's employees. but II we find after that
time that II Is trying to bunco all OF
its employees ana the United States Gov
eminent as well we will be ready TO a
man to Join the c. T. L. OF A. Until
that time we think we are capable OF
taking care OF our own affairs
The idea of. organizing the Associa-
ton of Western Union Employees orlgi-
mated in the ranks OF the company's
employees Mr.. Carlton told them they
were free to form union and issued
tentative suggestions for its organiza-
ton on June 13 These suggestions,
however, were not thoroughly under
stood and committee of employees was
appointed to call op Mr.. Carlton recent
ly. They We're then told that they might
organize any kind OF an association or
union they saw 1T and II they wanted
the strike clause included they could
have Il, for thev might need II"
May Restrict Activities.
"wnl membership in this association
automatically bar an employee from be-
longing to any outside union?' Mr.. Mil
That will be taken up at the con-
vent.on of Western Union employees
in g. TO-" he replied
~ . the delegates from this city go
to 80, go to fight for or against the
EN- ,Gunent of such a proviso In the con-
ST n or bylaws OF the organiza-
ton? ne was next asked.
The delegates Will go TO Chicago
without any instructions whatsoever"
was the reply.
we don't believe that the people Of
the country want a strike now and We
don't believe the employees OF the West
ern Union want a strike" added Mr.
Miller I'VE have no cause for d strike
although we have grievances. Prices
have gone up. but our wages have not
Increased proportionately. We have been
given time and quarter overtime,
whereas all other corporations allowing
any compensation at all for overtime
have granted their men time and one
half and even double time.
'Since Mr.. Carlton has been made
president our conditions have been much
better. however. Before the strike Of
1907 we had nothing. Now we are at
least given small bonus. and we have
had n few raises in salary during Mr.
Cartons regime. We have also been
granted two weeks vacation with pay and
sick benefits for a maximum period OF
thirteen months. We also have been in
sured by the company under the group
system. the policies being equivalent to
years pay and all this | believe we
owe to Mr.. Carlton.
MIR. Carlton has even placed himself
on record to the effect that our strike in
1907 was a justifiable one. We belonged
TO the Commercial Telegraphers Union
OF America then. but the experience we
had caused us to withdraw, and at the
present time 10 employees OF the West
ern Union are openly members Of that
union.
Both Mr. Miller and Mr. Pancake ad-
mtted there might he some truth to the
contention Of the officials OF the Com
mercial Te!egraphers Union that they
had secret members among the ranks OF
the Western Union employees, but they
did not believe that such members were
very numerous.
Carlton SIN Cheerful.
With the strike only forty-cight hours
off President Carlton still preserves at
least an appearance OF cheerful opti-
mism. In an interview yesterday he pre-
dicted confidently that there would be
no trouble in spite Of the unions order
making the strike effective Monday
morning. He based this prediction on
his firm belief that the union officials
we're playing at the old game OF blum.
when we we're young we have all
had the experience OF holding two deuces
and tyring to make the other fellow be-
lieve we had something worth while.
OCca sionally We induced somebody IN