The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-18
Head of Western UnSsn Points
Out Irregularity.
Rules Require Unanimous Vote
of Entire Board.
FIVE VOTED AGAINST DECISION
Declares Employees VIII Not &c
ON the Strike.
Satisfied With Their Present
Employees Association.

New York, June 1S.-President
Newcomb Carlton of the Western
Union Telegraph company, in i letter
to President Wilson, made public to-
day, virtually declined to accept the
ruling of the war labor board in the
dispute between the company and the
Commercial Telegra piers Union Of
America, as requested by the presi-
war government.
Decision Not Unanimous.
He said the war labor boards deci-
sion was not binding, as it was not
unanimous, as provided in the presi-
Dental proclamation creating the
board. He says that there is no danger
of a telegraphers' strike and that the
company feels it would not be doing
Justice to the public if it permitted an
outside union to interfere with its
work.
The letter in part follows:
Dear Mr.. President:
Permit me to thank you for your
letter of June IL, which 1 acknowl-
edged by wire on Friday.
Refers to Presidents Proclamation.
THE foundation upon which rests
the procedure of the national war Ia
Dor board is contained in the follow
ing clause of the official paper issued
with your proclamation of the eighth
of April:
"'When the board, after due effort
of its own, thru sections local COM
mittees or otherwise finds 1t impossi-
BILE to settle a controversy, the board
shall then sit as a board of arbitra-
ion, decide the controversy and make
an award IL it can reach a unanimous
conclusion. If it cannot do this. then
it shall select an umpire, as provided.
who shall sit with the board, review
the issues and render his award
No Umpire Appointed.
I'm view of this required procedure,
l think we are entitled to state tho
facts, which are that the Taft-walsh
plan which has been referred to as
the decision of the board was rejected
| by the board under the above proceed
ure by five votes. Following this fall
| ure of unanimous action, there was
no appointment of an umpire and
| therefore, under the prescribed pro-
cedure of the board itself, no deci-
| sion. ~
Puts Power In Hands of Outsiders.
Under the plan of Mr.. Walsh, con-
CURED in by Mr.. Taft, an outside un-
| ion 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
l "1A, DoS SoiAy oH d propaganda IOT
| the purpose Of enlisting sufficient of
| the company's employees for no pos
| sible result that it could attain during
| the war, but only that 1t might fur
| nish the nucleus for the disorganiza-
ton OF our service and the demoraliza-
| ton of discipline and use the strike
Immediately after the exigencies of
the war had ceased and released it
| from Its promises. As indicative of
the character and temper of this uu.
ion, permit me to quote the following
words from an official circular issued
by 1T calling a meeting in Chicago for
June 8:
! "'Come armed If you deem It nee
essary.'
Two Plans of Procedure
| L nee not remind you, sir. that
the primary obligation of a telegram
service Is to provide continuity and
competence and that we desire to pro-
tect these essentials not only during
TINS emergency, but at all times. To
TINS END there are. it seems to us. two